Sunday 23 September 2012

We love Elmer

The original Elmer book by David McKee is one of my favourite ever stories, so I was very pleased when my little boy started to love it as much as I do.

Elmer is a beautiful, multicoloured patchwork elephant who decides he is tired of being different and disguises himself as a ordinary grey elephant, before realising that the other elephants love him for who he is. I think this message is particularly valuable for boys, as our society puts pressure on boys and men to appear to be dull and drab and not stand out in the way that they dress.

I recently spotted two more Elmer books in the local Oxfam Books and Music shop. My son usually asks me to read both of these stories together as they both feature Elmer's black and white cousin Wilbur.


Another Elmer item that came from a charity shop is this money box, which was bought on a trip to Buxton last autumn.


And my son calls this knitted blanket the 'Elmer blanket' because it is made of brightly-coloured squares. This was purchased in the local Oxfam shop.


Another handcrafted Elmer item is this cross-stitched picture I made using a chart from a book called More Storybook Cross-Stitch by Gillian Souter.


I'm linking up with Magpie Monday at Me and My Shadow. I'm looking forward to seeing what other pre-loved items people have found.

Me and My Shadow


This post was also added to a favourite blogpost linky at TheAnaMumDiary and 

WORLDBOOKDAY




14 comments:

  1. Well this post certainly woke my tired eyes up, love a bit of colour and that blanket and cross stitch are suberb. x

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    1. Thank you! The Elmer cross stitch was great fun. And given how much rain we've had, I felt like doing a colourful post :-)

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  2. Oooh Elmer-tastic!!

    Love that retro money box and the blanket.

    We love Elmer here too. x

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    1. Elmer is fab! The money box was a big hit with my little boy - partly cos it makes a heck of a racket when he shakes it x

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  3. Sorry I'm a bit late with the comment, but what lovely things! We are only just discovering Elmer, I love the money box!

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    1. Comments are always welcome - and it's good to hear you're discovering Elmer too!

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  4. How fab, combining your love of charity shopping and cross stitch, and your sons love of Elmer....perfect! Thanks for linking up x

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    1. My pleasure! It's a great idea for a linky and I'm really enjoying all the other posts x

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  5. Elmer books are a favourite in our house too - some fab finds in the charity shops!

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    1. It's always nice to come across more folk who like the Elmer books!

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  6. My Dad made an Elmer mobile for the youngest - I just love all the colours - love that blanket.

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    1. My Dad is a big fan of Elmer too. I can imagine an Elmer mobile would work really well.

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  7. I love your blanket, it's so lovely and colourful.

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    1. Thanks! I've managed to get a few nice handmade blankets from charity shops over the years.

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