Elmer and the Big Bird

Elmer

by David McKee

One day, Elmer notices that there are no birds around. How strange! Soon he finds them hiding from the nasty bully bird in a nearby cave. The bully bird is mean and likes to frighten the little birds. Led by Elmer, the animals work together to frighten off the bully bird — and succeed!

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

David 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.

Reviews

[Sophia Triad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elmer shows to the little birds how they can be united in order to scare off the big bully bird.
Nice illustrations, simple story.

[✨️ Louise Allen ✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved "Elmer and the Big Bird"! It's such a charming story that really captures the imagination. Elmer is as colorful and lovable as ever, and the way he helps the Big Bird is both heartwarming and fun. I couldn't stop giggling at the silly antics and vibrant illustrations. David McKee’s storytelling is playful and engaging, making it a perfect read for young children. Definitely a five-star book that I'll be returning to again and again!

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not fond of bullying the bully to make them go away. Elmer goes out to talk to the large bird but doesn't have success. So, he creates a plan to scare the bully bird off with an even larger bird. This works and the bird flies away. I like the cooperation among the friends, but I don't care for the message of scaring them away rather than working to resolve the problem.

[Le Maistre Chat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems like one of the better Elmer books, as Elmer, Wilbur and all the birds work together to make one big bully bird thing there's a bird bigger and stronger than he is.
Lovely fable about power and cooperation, which every child needs to learn sooner or later, from this book or some other source.

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple story with pretty illustrations about dealing with a bully.

[Jennifer B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

That Elmer knows how to handle anything and anyone!

[TREVIS C]

A big bully bird scares away a bunch of little birds. Elmer the elephant helps the little birds scare off the big bully bird.

[Araceli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro interesante que les enseña sobre el trabajo en equipo.

[Tapani Aulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elmereissa on jotain hauskaa vaikka tarinat ei aina niin mahtavia olekaan.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Umm. . . . .not to read things in that aren't there, but has anyone else noticed that the bird looks like an eagle and has red and blue tones to some of his feathers? Is he representative of America? Is America supposed to be the bully?
I have liked the Elmer books up to this point (and we have also read Elmer, Elmer and Friends, Elmer and Papa Red, and Elmer and Super El), but I agree with the review saying the plot has been done. It's been done in Leo Lionni's Swimmy; it's been done with the story of the Trojan horse; it's been done in A Bug's Life with the giant bird. I'm glad all the other animals came up with a way to save the little birds, and yet. . .somehow this book seemed, to me, to be both unsettling and unoriginal.
All that said, I like the patchwork elephant very much and don't find his appearance distracting from the story at all. Maybe we're just used to him.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a terrific book to illustrate community and how to deal with a bully. The theme is great! I am not familiar with the main character, Elmer. I read about the creator, David McKee so I now understand the appeal of this elephant character. However, without a familiarity with a patchwork elephant (and what's up with the black and white elephant?) I found it was distracting to see a patchwork elephant. I cannot recommend buying this book unless you are already a fan of the character. I really like the anti-bully theme, though.

[Rachel]

Elmer and the Big Bird is a book about dealing with bullies. The main character Elmer realizes that all of the birds are missing. He finds them hiding in a cave because they are frightened by the new big bird. This bird was not nice at all but was in fact bullying them. Elmer devises a plan to scare the bird away. By the help of all of the other animals in the forest as well as the little birds they were able to scare the big bird away. This would be a good book to use when teaching students about community and kindness as well as helping others out when it comes to bullying. 1-3rd grade

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have you read Leo Lionni's Swimmy? Then you know the plot of this book. But this version is much more wordy, almost too wordy.

Frankly, I don't care for Elmer. The illustrations just aren't that great.

[Jody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first Elmer book that I read, but this one didn't do much for me at all. My 6.5 year old liked it enough to borrow from the library, but I enjoy it less and less on each reading - which is never a good sign.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Elmer the patchwork elephant learns that a bully is bothering the smaller birds, he devises a plan to teach the bully bird a lesson.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the Elmer books look great, and I'm building an appreciation for how tidy they are narratively as well.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good addition to the classic Elmer story, but nothing that stands out.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elmer helps out his little bird friends who are being bullied by a bigger bird.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Elmer book! I like it. It deals with bullying in a nice way.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story with colourful elephant Elmer about what you can reach of you work together and help each other, but also about giving second chances. I thought it was wonderful!