It's not easy being Green! (and blue, and red, and yellow!) (Elmer - David McKee)

Member Name: cstag

Product:	Elmer - David McKee
Date:	09/03/09 (267 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely story teaching children that it's ok to be different

Disadvantages: None!

Elmer is a lovely children's story with the underlying message that it's ok for everyone to be different!

The story focuses on Elmer the elephant. He isn't like the other elephants in his herd. They are all grey - whereas he is patchwork and lots and lots of different colours! Although Elmer keeps all the other elephants happy with his fun nature, by making them laugh and playing tricks - deep down he starts to feel saddened by the fact that he looks so very different. He wonders if the other elephants aren't laughing with him, but are actually laughing at him!

The next day Elmer leaves his herd and heads off into the jungle. He comes across a bush covered with grey berries - the same colour grey as all the other elephants in Elmer's herd. He shakes the berries to the ground and then rolls himself in them, until he is the same grey as any other elephant.

When Elmer returns to his herd, he is delighted that his plan has worked and none of the other elephants recognize him. However, after a while he notices that all the other elephants look unhappy. When he cannot stand it anymore, Elmer shouts, 'Boo!' All the elephants laugh with Elmer when they realise it is him. It begins to rain and all the dye is washed off and Elmer is back to his patchwork self.

All of the elephants agree it was one of the best jokes that Elmer had played on them. They decided that each year they will have a special day where all of the other elephants will decorate themselves and Elmer will paint himself grey in return.

This is a great book for teaching young children about the differences between people and how being different isn't a bad thing. It demonstrates that people have different qualities to offer - (e.g. Elmer looks different - yet he always kept the other elephants entertained and happy and they were miserable without him!). It also allows children to have discussions about how changing to be like others - doesn't always make you happier.

The text is very simple and is easily understood by young children. With a younger age group you can use Elmer's multicoloured patchwork body to identify different colours. Children also enjoy decorating elephant outlines in different designs - like the elephants do on 'Elmer day' in the story.

There are many other books in the Elmer series - however this is my favourite! There are also various other products in the Elmer range - including jigsaws and board books. I have a lovely, soft toy, cuddly version which children love to play with and reenact the story for themselves.

Summary: A classic children's tale!