Advantages: Feel good picture book
Disadvantages: None

...Elmer Again by David McKee I think this is the second book written about Elmer the patchwork elephant. In the first Elmer story the elephants decide to have an Elmer day when they all colour themselves in bright colours and patterns and Elmer is the only grey elephant, because he colours himself grey. In this story, it is two days before the Elmer parade and Elmer is bored. He goes for a walk and when he sees his reflection in the water he has an idea. Armed with this idea he returns to the herd of elephants and whispers something to one of the elephants. At this stage, anyone who has "met" Elmer before will know he is up to some kind of trick…he loves playing jokes on the other elephants and can't stand it when he thinks things are boring. At night time, Elmer moves around the other elephants and when he has finished he sleeps... Read review

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Advantages: Teaches children not to go too far when playing tricks
Disadvantages: none

...***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 Elmer. 'Perhaps he's lost. Let's go and look for him.'" The elephants ask what he looks like but Elmer just tells them to wait and see for themselves to give them a surprise. He then goes on to explain that Wilbur... Read review

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Advantages: Colourful pictures, part of popular series
Disadvantages: None unless you dilike Elmer

...Another book in the much read Elmer series. It's best to read this story after the original Elmer book has been read so that children are quite familiar with this much loved patchwork elephant. I am going to write a brief synopsis of the story so that adults will have a better idea of whether or not this would appeal to their child. **THE STORY** Elme wakes one morning to find his friends very worried, the reaon being that the elephant hunters have been seen. Elmer promises to have a think about it, and goes for a "thinking walk"…we like this and do actually use the phrase, because I think it's a great description of times when people walk to sort things out in their heads. I digress. Whilst on his walk, Elmer looked on the ground and thought about how the hunters followed elephants footsteps to find out where they are... Read review

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Advantages: A lovable elephant with a moral to the story
Disadvantages: None

...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 her for who she is, not what she looks like. But there is someone else who's different in the jungle, her cousin, Wilbur, he's a black and white elephant. I mention Wilbur as he is the other main character in this particular book. As stated in my other reviews about Elmer books, I'm never sure of Elmer's sex, the name suggests female to me but I could be wrong. For the purposes of this review I will refer to Elmer... Read review

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Advantages: A bright, colourful book for young children. A lovely 'touch' on the last page!
Disadvantages: None

...~ Who is Elmer? ~ Elmer is a lovable elephant with a difference. He is a patchwork elephant, very different to all of the grey elephants in his herd. Elmer is really appealing to young children, they love his bright colours and the antics that he gets up to in the different books in the Elmer series, some of which I have listed below. * Elmer Again * Elmer on Stilts * Elmer and Wilbur * Elmer in the Wind * Elmer in the Snow There is also quite a bit of Elmer merchandise available. Try London Emblem on the internet for soft toys, jigsaw puzzles etc. ~ Elmer's New Friend ~ This book is all about Elmer's new friend. The herd of elephants all discuss how Elmer has a new friend. The zebra asks Elmer if he has a new friend and he replies with "Yes." All of the animals are intrigued to find out who this new friend... Read review

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Advantages: Colourful & Bright
Disadvantages: none

...It's a bright & colourful children's book to the ever growing Elmer the elephant franchise. A book in which Elmer the multi-coloured elephant finds a new friend, and everybody else questions her about her new friend. ~Who is Elmer~ Elmer is a multi-coloured elephant what is known to children everywhere. A play has been dedicated to Elmer, and tells the story of when he wants to be grey and not multi-coloured, which is touring around Britain from January-June 2006. Children learn art through Elmer, by teaching them paint, colour or stick coloured paper onto Elmer, plus ICT, where they use paint to colour Elmer in. In Canada Elmer is not a multi-coloured elephant, but he wears clothes and teaches the Canadian children about all kinds of safety, from traffic and bike safety to even internet safety. Also a range of merchandise has been... Read review

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Advantages: It's Elmer
Disadvantages: none

...***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. Elmer is a colourful patchwork elephant who lives in the jungle with his black and white cousin Wilbur and a lot of other grey elephants. ***The Story*** This Elmer story starts by introducing us to Rose who is a pink elephant. "A young friend of Elmer's named Rose Blushes from her head to her toes, Or sometimes instead From her toes to her head But never from her tail to her nose." This story sees Grandpa Eldo ask Elmer and his cousin Wilbur to look after a young elephant who has... Read review

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Advantages: Fun book with important message
Disadvantages: none

...***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. There have been a number of books written about Elmer, the colourful patchwork elephant, but this one was the one that introduced children to this lovable character way back in 1989. His popularity has gone from strength to strength and the complete series of books have sold more than 2 million copies around the world. ***The Story*** Elmer is the story of an elephant who is very different from all the other elephants in the herd. "Elmer was different. Elmer was patchwork. Elmer was yellow... Read review

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Advantages: Colourful pictures, feel good story
Disadvantages: just the bit when they skate on the frozen ice!

...nElmer in the snow Another story about the well known and well loved patchwork elephant, Elmer. ~~Story and Illustrations~~ Elmer is wandering amongst his friends who look quite unhappy, and when he questions them as to why they are sad they say it's because they are cold. With this cold spell of weather we are having right now, children are keen to talk about whether they like to be cold or not. Elmer suggests the elephants just need a walk and we see them taking a walk through the colourful and very warm looking jungle. They are soon warm but Elmer makes them keep walking. They notice that the trees are different, as do children, who realise that they are looking at fir trees. At last they come to the snowy part and the elephants are delighted! They decide that it's "cold but fun". The picture really shows them having... Read review

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Advantages: Children seem to adore this brightly coloured elephant
Disadvantages: none

...***The Author*** As well as being the author of many Elmer books, David McKee is also the creator Mr Benn and King Rollo, which I'm sure many of the older generation reading this review, will remember. The first Elmer book was written way back in 1989, the same year that my eldest daughter was born, so I've had many years of reading the stories, first to my older daughters and now to my younger son. This is one of the newer stories and was published in 2004. ***The Story*** In this Elmer book we learn all about tricks. The elephants want to play a trick on Elmer but can't think of anything so they decide to go and ask their friend Snake. Snake tells them to get everyone in the jungle to tell Elmer he is pale and that he should lie down and rest. He then shares his plan with Elmer so he can be the one who tricks them... Read review

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