Elmer and the White Bear

Elmer and the White Bear

David McKee

Marysia Milewski

Andersen Press, 2026

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781839134807

For decades one of the earliest go-to reads that I shared with my just-starting-out-on-reading students was Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. Like Elmer, I loved to shout BOO and startle them just as Elmer startled the other elephants in his herd. As well as being an entertaining story that led them to clamour for others in the series, it also led to their first investigative project as we asked, “What did this story teach us about elephants?”  and “What do we need to check?” and “What more can we find out?” They loved becoming their own version of David Attenborough and going on the discovery trail.

Now, many books later, and celebrating Elmer Day 2026,  we are blessed to have one more story that author David McKee was working on before he died in 2022, this one completed by his friend Marysia Milewski.  The manuscript and early sketches for the book, plus a further title to come in future, were discovered  by his children amongst David’s effects after his death in 2022, and they have dedicated the book to their “Dad and Grandad: The Story Teller. “

These notes and manuscript were found alongside rough thumbnail illustrations for the books, but no colour artwork had been started. Andersen Press

And just like that first one that gently explored the theme of diversity, this one also has an underlying message – that of the world’s warming because of climate change.  The last thing Elmer and Wilbur expect to find in their warm African jungle is a white polar bear! But when they listen to the bear’s story of how he arrived there and now just wants to return home, they know they have to help him.  They can take him as far as the snowline – although that’s a little higher these days – and then the birds will take over as far as they can… But as Elmer and Wilbur reflect on their meeting, Wilbur asks, “But what do you think about the world getting warmer?”  To which Elmer replies, “That, dear, Wilbur, is something we must seriously talk about,” opening the door to further conversations and investigations by the rapt listeners…  McKee himself felt that it was important to start conversations about environmental issues with young children, “without patronising or trying to offer a particular solution.” and this book certainly does that. 

So celebrate Elmer’s special day with this new book for those who have already met him, or go back to the beginning and binge-share all the stories throughout the day. Follow the theme – GO ALL IN!