David McKee 1935 – 2022

We are so sad to hear of the recent loss of David McKee, creator of iconic children’s book Elmer. We are hugely privileged to have been able to work with him and Andersen Press to showcase Elmer as part of Elmer’s Big Art Parades. He leaves a truly wonderful legacy.

David wrote and illustrated 29 Elmer books over his lifetime and they have been praised in how they encourage children to respect and celebrate each other’s differences, be confident in their own true colours and to lead by example.

In a quote for The Guardian, David once said “we are all different, with so many differences, difference of colour, of accents, but also of size, shape and how we dress. The differences are what make the world so rich.”

Elmer’s Big Parades have helped raise over £1 million for charities across the UK, with Elmer art trails coming to Tyne and Wear, Plymouth, Suffolk, Elephant & Castle and Maidstone. David’s legacy will live on as Elmer is soon to march onto the streets of Belfast in summer 2022 to raise funds for Northern Ireland Hospice.