Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, David McKee’s beloved children’s book character, has returned to Elephant Park, London; where a colourful trail of community-designed statues can be found ahead of this year’s World Book Day, for all to enjoy.
Elmer is a renowned champion of diversity and inclusivity; he helps to teach children to accept each other’s differences and celebrate our uniqueness. To echo this, the herd of Elmers in the trail were designed by a range of community groups and artists local to the area in 2019. Primary schools, pensioners, youth groups and local residents were all involved in the design of the sculptures, which can be found around Elephant Park, just a five minute walk from Elephant & Castle station.
Back in Elephant Park to tie in with World Book Day on 3 March 2022, participants in the self-guided trail will be able to download a map from the Elephant Park website, or pick up a copy at the Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library, which is also the start of the trail. As you seek out all 10 Elmers, the trail will lead you around Elephant Park, taking in aspects such as the new two-acre park, and popular rocky landscape and water feature, Elephant Springs.
Kristy Lansdown, Project Director of Elephant Park for Lendlease, comments: “Elmer’s values around diversity and inclusion are so important, perhaps now more than ever, and we look forward to visitors taking on the trail and discovering for themselves how Elephant Park is a place where everyone is welcome.”
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder at Wild in Art comments: “We’re delighted to be able to bring the Elmers back to the community of Elephant & Castle and to bring colour and conversation to Elephant Park once again.”
Paul Black, PR and Brand Director at Andersen Press comments: “The community spirit shone through in the Elephant & Castle trail and we are delighted that the public will be able to experience these brilliant Elmer sculptures again in such great surroundings.”
David McKee has written and written and illustrated 30 Elmer books, with the first published by Andersen Press in 1989 and the latest, Elmer and the Gift, set for release in September. The books have been praised in how they encourage children to respect each others’ differences and have confidence in their own true colours. The Elmer franchise has become an international success, selling over 10m books worldwide in over 60 languages. In 2020 David McKee was named Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards and received the Book Trust Lifetime Achievement Award.
