Elmer and the Rainbow

by David McKee, David McKee (Illustrator)

Overview

Elmer and the other elephants are waiting for the storm to end so they can see the beautiful rainbow. But something dreadful has happened—the rainbow has lost its colors! Elmer decides to give his own colors to the rainbow. But what will happen to Elmer if he gives the rainbow his own colors? Will he lose them forever?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761374107
Publisher:	Andersen Press USA
Publication date:	01/28/2011
Series:	Elmer Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	441,465
Product dimensions:	9.70(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD400L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

David McKee's books are published in numerous languages throughout the world. He divides his time between London and the south of France.

David McKee's books are published in numerous languages throughout the world. He divides his time between London and the south of France.

Editorial Reviews

Patchwork elephant Elmer is back and concerned about a pale "rainbow without colors." Planning to donate his own colors, Elmer seeks out the rainbow's end, along with several jungle animals that wonder what will happen to Elmer's colors if he gives them away. Elmer succeeds in giving the rainbow a boost of color, and happily his trademark checkerboard hide remains intact. The message—"Some things you can give and give and not lose any. Things like happiness or love or my colors"—lands with a bit of a thud, but ensures that Elmer will continue to brighten his friends' lives. Ages 4–9. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"Patchwork elephant Elmer is back and concerned about a pale 'rainbow without colors.' Planning to donate his own colors, Elmer seeks out the rainbow's end, along with several jungle animals that wonder what will happen to Elmer's colors if he gives them away. Elmer succeeds in giving the rainbow a boost of color, and happily his trademark checkerboard hide remains intact. The message—'Some things you can give and give and not lose any. Things like happiness or love or my colors'—lands with a bit of a thud, but ensures that Elmer will continue to brighten his friends' lives." --Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Elmer tries to cheer up his friends during a thunderstorm by telling them that when the storm is over they might see a rainbow. One friend, a bird, didn't understand what was wrong. A pale colorless rainbow appeared and the bird thought perhaps it had come out too soon. Where were its colors? Elmer, always to the rescue, offers his patchwork colors to the faded path that used to show red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Sounds like a simple solution to the problem. Now the animals must find either end of the rainbow to deliver the colors. Maybe a leprechaun could search for the pot of gold and help them to restore the seven colors to the rainbow? Another problem! Can Elmer share his emblems without losing his patchwork colors? After getting advice from every animal in sight, the fish wisely sends Elmer to a waterfall. Tiger brings up another question: would the rainbow then be in patchwork? David McKee has created a jungle with textures that look like a quilt. Other Elmer books are Elmer, Elmer and the Rose, Elmer and the Hippos and Elmer's Special Day. All five of them are a riot of color that lends themselves to intense study by young readers. Reviewer: JoAn Watson Martin

Children's Literature - JoAn Watson Martin