Elmer's Special Day (Elmer)

by David McKee (Author) David McKee (Illustrator)

Elmer's Special Day (Elmer)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: Elmer
It's almost Elmer's Day again, and the elephants are busy painting themselves in bright colors just like Elmer. But in all the excitement they are making an awful lot of noise and upsetting the other animals. So Elmer changes the rules, and invites every single animal to join in the parade. Illustrations.
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Publishers Weekly

In this latest story to feature Elmer the patchwork elephant, McKee subtly instructs readers on the making and keeping of friends. Deep in the jungle, the elephants are preparing for Elmer's Day, painting their hides in kaleidoscopic patterns (Elmer, in contrast, rolls around in brownish-gray elephant-colored berries until he looked just like an ordinary elephant). Although Elmer's Day sounds self-indulgent, the herd is enthusiasticso enthusiastic that a lion, tiger, giraffe and other animals request peace and quiet. The jubilant elephants promise to hush, but like excited children, they can't help getting louder. Elmer solves the problem very simply: he invites all the animals to participate. Soon, the other animals were just as messy and noisy as the elephants, and they even wear elephant masks to participate in the elephant parade. McKee illustrates in a loose, folk-art style. Elmer visually clashes with the foliage and his friends, and the whole enterprise exudes cheery, unassuming goodwill. The elephants' nonexclusive event provides a model for any peaceable kingdom. Ages 48. "(Sept.)" Copyright 2009 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2Elmer the patchwork elephant is back. Once a year the gray elephants decorate themselves and have a parade, and this story takes place on that day. The other animals are complaining about all of the noise made by the excited elephants as they prepare for the big event. Elmer recognizes the feelings for what they really are, jealousy, and he invites them to join in the celebration. McKee does a great job of creating the jungle environment and the festivities in vibrant, exciting colors. The textures and the patchwork-quilt look of the jungle will invite readers to take a closer look. The impact of the creatures coming together as a community to celebrate is a satisfying conclusioneveryone is having a great time and no one feels left out. A strong addition to the popular series."Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ" Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
David McKee

David McKee's most famous creation is Elmer the Patchwork Elephant which is now published in more than 40 languages.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781840593990
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Andersen Press
Publication date
September 01, 2004
Series
Elmer
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002260 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Zoos
JUV002080 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Elephants
Library of Congress categories
Animals
Elephants
Parades

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