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Elmer
Elmer si strainul
Elmer Solves the Problem!
Elmer is faced with a very unusual problem, especially for an elephant: how to teach a kangaroo to jump! All over the world, children eagerly await each new adventure of their favorite patchwork elephant, and this is his silliest yet.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2000
2 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
David McKee
621 books110 followersDavid McKee was a British writer and illustrator, chiefly of children's books and animations. He also used the pseudonym Violet Easton. He is frequently referenced as David (John) McKee. He has been commended for his gentle, playful but insightful stories.
For his contribution as a children's illustrator he was UK nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006.
For his contribution as a children's illustrator he was UK nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 30, 2025
Absolutely loved *Elmer and the Stranger* by David McKee. It’s a wonderful story that really highlights kindness and acceptance, wrapped up in McKee’s vibrant illustrations. The characters, especially the kangaroos, are just fantastic—those kangaroos are so cool, always bouncing around like Tigger on a sugar rush! It’s such a fun detail that adds a lively, cheerful energy to the story. A lovely read for children and adults alike. I’d happily give this five stars—definitely a book to keep in the collection!
March 13, 2021
I love how this book shows that sometimes our mindset has to do more with what is easy or hard than the actual task itself. For example the kangaroo thought that bouncing was easy and jumping was hard. When jumping and bouncing were the same thing. What roadblocks does your mind have and how can you change your mindset to makes things easier?
June 9, 2018
Cute and engaging story. The illustrations are gorgeous.
June 4, 2022
A lovely children's story.
August 17, 2022
*shrug* Not my favorite.
January 12, 2023
Elmer & pals come upon a stranger (Kangaroo) who needs help learning to jump.
March 10, 2025
Cute story with a moral about not thinking about the hard things and being friends. Hard vocabulary -enormous.
August 2, 2013
This was given to my son Hugh for his second birthday from my older sister. David McKee has written a whole series of books about Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, and I'm ashamed to say I hadn't heard of any of them! As a kid I loved McKee's Not Now Bernard! (I got a copy for Hugh already), even though it was a rather scary book from the perspective of Bernard; Elmer is a very different book from that older one.
This is the story of Elmer and his friends, Lion and Tiger, and how they help Kangaroo, a stranger. They come across Kangaroo in the forest, acting very strangely, and he seems sad. Kangaroo is going to enter a jumping competition with the other kangaroos, but he's thinking about jumping so much that when he tries to jump he just falls over! But he's awfully good at bouncing, that's easy.
Privately, Elmer, Lion and Tiger think bouncing is the same thing as jumping, but Kangaroo is quite certain there's a difference. Still, they decide to help him, and by distracting Kangaroo with something else, manage to show him how high and how far he can "bounce" when he's not trying so hard. They accompany him to the contest and with their encouragement, he wins! It's a happy day all round.
This is classic McKee work - and I can say that even though I've only read one of previous books (and a much older one at that!) because his style is so very distinctive. He doesn't write sweet, moralising stories. His stories are just a bit weird, just a bit strange, and plenty compelling. His illustrations, too, are off-beat. At two years old, the kids are a bit too young to appreciate the artwork or the story, but older kids would really enjoy this I think. It has a very positive message combined with adult irony and fantastical illustrations - no need to get hung up on the unrealistic detail of having a lion, elephant, tiger and kangaroo all living in the same place!
This is the story of Elmer and his friends, Lion and Tiger, and how they help Kangaroo, a stranger. They come across Kangaroo in the forest, acting very strangely, and he seems sad. Kangaroo is going to enter a jumping competition with the other kangaroos, but he's thinking about jumping so much that when he tries to jump he just falls over! But he's awfully good at bouncing, that's easy.
Privately, Elmer, Lion and Tiger think bouncing is the same thing as jumping, but Kangaroo is quite certain there's a difference. Still, they decide to help him, and by distracting Kangaroo with something else, manage to show him how high and how far he can "bounce" when he's not trying so hard. They accompany him to the contest and with their encouragement, he wins! It's a happy day all round.
This is classic McKee work - and I can say that even though I've only read one of previous books (and a much older one at that!) because his style is so very distinctive. He doesn't write sweet, moralising stories. His stories are just a bit weird, just a bit strange, and plenty compelling. His illustrations, too, are off-beat. At two years old, the kids are a bit too young to appreciate the artwork or the story, but older kids would really enjoy this I think. It has a very positive message combined with adult irony and fantastical illustrations - no need to get hung up on the unrealistic detail of having a lion, elephant, tiger and kangaroo all living in the same place!
May 8, 2013
This book is a very colourful book with nice and eye catching pictures. I read this book to children in year one and they loved it. The moment I started reading the book right till the end all the children were engaged and focused in the story. I asked them questions as I read the book which made them think about what is the difference between jump and bounce, if there is any.
The book is also good to be used as a PSHE lesson to make children think about the importance to help others like Elmer helped the kangaroo win the jumping competition. The book is also good for to make children think about how kindness is important to make new friends. The book is suitable to be used as an introduction to friendship, kindness, helping others and above all not to give up and believe in yourself.
This book is suitable for children in EYFS and KS1.
This book can be used for PSHE lessons, guided reading or for the book corner in the classroom.
The book is also good to be used as a PSHE lesson to make children think about the importance to help others like Elmer helped the kangaroo win the jumping competition. The book is also good for to make children think about how kindness is important to make new friends. The book is suitable to be used as an introduction to friendship, kindness, helping others and above all not to give up and believe in yourself.
This book is suitable for children in EYFS and KS1.
This book can be used for PSHE lessons, guided reading or for the book corner in the classroom.
December 20, 2011
This is a book about a kangaroo who thinks he can't jump, yet he can bounce very high;He is entering a jumping competition with the other kangaroos. Elmer and his friends help Kangaroo to understand that a jump is like a bounce, although it took some convincing, he came to realise this through his experience of getting around in the jungle. Kangaroo was able to draw on this experience to overcome his fear and went on to win the competition. This book is suitable for EYFS and Key Stage 1, as I read it to both my 6 year old and my 3year old and both understood it. The text contains some repitition and the illustrations quite colourful.
March 20, 2016
12/09: I never knew there were other "Elmer" books until running across this one. We liked this one, but it doesn't recreate the magic of the original.
Inside Cover: Elmer solves the problem! Elmer is faced with a very unusual problem, especially for an elephant: How to teach a kangaroo to jump! All over the world, children eagerly await each new adventure of their favorite patchwork elephant, and this is his silliest.
Inside Cover: Elmer solves the problem! Elmer is faced with a very unusual problem, especially for an elephant: How to teach a kangaroo to jump! All over the world, children eagerly await each new adventure of their favorite patchwork elephant, and this is his silliest.
December 2, 2011
This book has good pictures in it.
November 27, 2011
Elmer the elephant and his friends Lion and Tiger help a kangaroo who thinks he can't jump.
April 16, 2016
MOJA RECENZJA: http://3telnik.pl/elmer-slon-w-kratke...
January 25, 2015
Sure. Why not? Elephants can help kangaroos with a jumping contest.
March 23, 2017
I thought this was lengthy and not as magical as the first Elmer.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews