Elmer and Wilbur - David McKee

This is another great book in David McKee's series of books about Elmer. ~ Who is Elmer? ~ An elephant with a difference! Instead of being a bog standard grey elephant, this lovable patchwork elephant was first introduced to children in 1989 with the book entitled 'Elmer'. I particularly like the concept of Elmer as it demonstrates that we aren't all the same and how his friends and family accept him for who he is, not what he looks like. But there is someone else who's different in the jungle, his cousin, Wilbur, he's a black and white elephant. I mention Wilbur as he is the other main character in this particular book. ...  Read the complete review

***The Author*** David McKee is well known amongst parents because of the Elmer series, but a few of you probably aren’t aware that he also created Mr Benn and King Rollo. I may have lost some of the younger readers of this now, but if so, just mention them to your parents and I’m sure they will explain how big they were in the 70s. This book in the series is the one that introduces us to Elmer’s cousin, Wilbur. He is also a patchwork elephant but only in black and white. ***The Story*** The story starts with Elmer explaining to the other elephants that his cousin Wilbur is coming to visit. “‘He’s late,’ said ...  Read the complete review

Elmer, David McKee's loveable patchwork elephant is back and this time he has a friend, his black and white patchwork cousin Wilbur to join him in his mischief. As ever Elmer is full of practical jokes and he seems to have met his match in his cousin who as a talented ventriloquist, can throw his voice. This leads to a few misunderstandings, a lot of fun and a lesson about friendship. The typeface is clear, the illustrations beautiful, and the story is long enough to be told in one or broken into perhaps two readings. The story and pictures blend wonderfully, each page has one dominant colour and lots of fun detail (look for the cute blue ...  Read the complete review

In this story we have further adventures with Elmer the patchwork elephant who likes playing tricks and also meet his black and white checked cousin Wilbur. Wilbur is a ventriloquist so he plays just as many tricks as Elmer. Wilbur hides in a tree (don't ask how! Wilbur doesn't even tell Elmer)and throws his voice into all the other animals' homes to tease the elephants, who can't find him anywhere. Elmer gets his own back when Wilbur realises he's stuck, and pretends to walk off and leave him there. But if course it all ends happily. My son loves it when the elephants are looking for Elmer and disturb the tiger, and when Wilbur thinks he's being ...  Read the complete review