Elmer and the Rainbow

By: David McKee
Publisher: Anderson Press
Publication Date: January 2011
ISBN: 978-0761374107
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Reviewed: March 2011

Sheets of rain and lightning could be seen from inside a cave where Elmer, the “patchwork elephant,” and his friends were hiding out waiting for the storm to pass. Elmer loved storms because, as he claimed, “we might see a rainbow.” When everything quieted down Elmer and the birds ambled though the jungle looking for the rainbow, but plop, plop, plop … there were still a few drops coming down. One of the birds thought the rainbow was crying because “It’s come out too soon and lost its colors.” It was impossible to imagine a rainbow without its beautiful colors, but there it was high in the sky over the jungle looking very pale indeed.

Elmer raised himself up on his rear feet as the birds flew under the funny looking rainbow. He knew there was only one thing to do and that was to give the rainbow his colors. One of the birds claimed that in order to do that “you’ll have to find where it touches the ground.” Naturally finding where it touched the ground would be very difficult because no one had ever found where it did. Elmer started his search and the animals of the jungle wanted to know what he was looking for. The lion, the tiger, and the bunnies looked at him in amazement when he said, “The rainbow’s lost its colors. I can give it mine, if we can find the end.” The search was on, but if Elmer gave his colors up to the rainbow would he lose his?

Elmer, the endearing patchwork elephant, will charm everyone as he searches for the end of the rainbow. Anyone who has ever met Elmer before will recognize him immediately, but those who haven’t will quickly get to know and love this colorful patchwork pachyderm. Children will also learn many lessons from Elmer including the value of friendship, cooperation, generosity, and happiness. The spritely, colorful artwork is uniquely “Elmer” and is quite appealing. This is a perfect story to read and discuss in circle or story time in the homeschool or classroom setting.

Quill says: If you’ve never met Elmer, it’s high time you did. Perhaps you just might find him at the end of that rainbow!