A modern classic, this story about prejudice and conflict is more applicable today than ever. Once, elephants were black or white, and the two different tribes were at war, destroying each other until it seemed there were no elephants left in the world.
However, one day the descendants of the peace-loving elephants emerge from the jungle, and they are all grey.
Once, elephants came in two colours: black or white. They loved all other creatures - but each set wanted to destroy the other. Peace-loving elephants ran and hid in the deepest jungle while battle commenced. The war-mongers succeeded: for a long time it seemed that there were no elephants in the world at all, not of any colour. But then the descendants of the peace-loving ones emerged from the jungle, and by now they were all grey.
'This book was one of my favourites as a kid, I simply relished in the gloriousness of a load of elephants battling it out in a bizarre forest. It wasn't until I was a bit older that I recognised the importance of the message that lay (not so subtly) underneath.' OLIVER JEFFERS
David McKee (January 1935 – April 2022) was born in Devon and studied at Plymouth Art College. In the early part of his career, McKee regularly drew and sold humorous drawings to magazines and newspapers such as The Times Educational Supplement, Punch and the Reader’s Digest.
David McKee wrote and illustrated over 50 picture books for Andersen Press and penned a number of children’s classics including King Rollo, Mr Benn, Not Now Bernard and of course, Elmer the Patchwork Elephant.
