Elmer and Grandpa Eldo by David McKee

Elmer and Grandpa Eldo by David McKee
Buy Elmer and Grandpa Eldo by David McKee at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: For Sharing
Reviewer: Keith Dudhnath
Summary: Another excellent Elmer book from the always excellent David McKee. The theme makes it a perfect present from grandparents, although it's a delightful read for everyone. Warmly recommended.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 32	Date: July 2010
Publisher: Andersen Press
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1842708392
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Elmer the patchwork elephant is back, and this time he's visiting Grandpa Eldo. Elmer reminds Eldo of all the things they did together when Elmer was really little, but Eldo can't remember them (or so he says) so Elmer keeps reminding him and reminding him, as they revisit old haunts. Grandpa and grandson, sorry, grandelephant, spend a lovely day together, enjoying one another's company.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: the Elmer books are deserved classics. We recently loved Elmer On Stilts by David McKee and we love Elmer and Grandpa Eldo. David McKee's illustrations are as gorgeous as always, the writing is clear, gentle and direct, and... well, it's a patchwork elephant - what's not to love? It's a sweet tale of spending time together, slowly unfolding, revealing the warm heart page by page, mixing in a few funny moments.

If picking between On Stilts and Grandpa Eldo, I'd lean towards the former, as it has wider appeal. Whilst any adult and child combination will enjoy Grandpa Eldo, it certainly works best when read by or a present from a grandparent. One of the last lines feels a little icky - but best of all, you remembered to visit me. It brought to mind images of grandparents sitting lonely and alone, desperate for grandkids to visit. (But I'm also the person who swears blind that Charlie and Lola are orphans, with Charlie weaving an elaborate web of lies to keep social services from putting them in a home, so I might well be reading too much into it!) The line doesn't detract from an otherwise wonderful story, but it does make me say oh to myself every time.

David McKee's work is always great. You know exactly what you're getting with the Elmer books, and they're well-worth a place on any bookshelf. Warmly recommended.

My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.

Old Dog by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross is another book that grandparents will love to get for and/or read with their grandchildren, as are White Owl, Barn Owl by Nicola Davies, Driving Down To Grandma's by Ian Whybrow, That's Not Funny by Adrian Johnson and The Flying Diggers by Ian Whybrow and David Melling. Elephant fans will love Elephant by Petr Horacek.

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