The genius behind Elmer, Not Now Bernard and Mr Benn. School Gate talks to David McKee

Courtesy of the new Children's Laureate, Anthony Browne, it looks as if picture books are back in vogue. And today I'm delighted to have spoken to one superb picture book author, David McKee, a man who says the "air is full of stories!"

Some authors know just how to capture a child's imagination, and, often through one character, they create something particularly special. David McKee, however, has managed to do this with at least two, Mr Benn and Elmer. He's also managed to remain very modest about it all.

For those of a certain age, it's Mr Benn who will evoke the greatest memories (the clip of this introduction to the show on You Tube has had over 200,000 views!), and McKee is clearly proud of his old creation. "It was traditional, but fairly strong," he says. "The concept happened to be right." He also adds that he had always hated "those stories when it all turned out to be a dream." Mr Benn, it's clear, does go to all the places we see on screen (or read in the books). After all, once the shopkeeper appears, Mr Benn always has a souvenir.

But David McKee hadn't intended to become a children's book writer, or, in fact an artist, even thought he had always loved art. He did join Plymouth Art College after school, but says that his plan, "was to avoid work."

He started selling cartoons to newspapers and magazines before he left college, and thought about becoming a teacher. The inspiration for his writing was a book called Crocodile Tears by Andre Francois, and his first book was called Two Can Toucan (which was recently reissued). Elmer came much later, firstly with a publisher called Dobson, in 1968, and then, 20 years ago, with Andersen.

Many parents of young children will know McKee's books, and not just because of Elmer. My daughter used to laugh and laugh at the insults contained in the Two Monsters (McKee says children used to ring him, just to insult him!), and was also very tickled by Not Now Bernard. My son, however, has always loved Elmer. My husband and I are fans of pretty much all of them.

"I'm conscious of that dual audience," says McKee, who's now 73. "Picture books should be shared books, which can be looked at again and again by parents and child. I like to think that I'm writing for the adult that the child will be, and the child that the adult still is,"

Elmer is a wonderful creation who's currently celebrating his second decade with Andersen Press. The patchwork elephant has made many friends over the years, and also delivered many a message to young children, whether they realise it or not. Elmer's very being - a colourful elephant, in a world of grey, "normal" elephants, shows that being different can be positive and fun. And this theme, of fitting in, and being nice to others who may not be from the same place as you, is seen again and again in McKee's books. Just because they're picture books, and written without many words, doesn't mean they're just simple stories.

"Yes, I'm conscious of the messages," he says. "And of seeing other people's point of view. I was brought up very morally and my parents were quite correct about things. It's difficult to get over that. The books aren't supposed to have a moral, but very often they do."

The Elmer books are a joy because they are beautifully illustrated (McKee says he was strongly influenced by Paul Klee), have a sense of humour and are also quite surreal. The author finds it amusing that he gets criticised for giving Elmer, who lives in the jungle, "unrealistic" friends like Kangaroos and Polar Bears. "It's not the real world," he says. "Elmer is patchwork."

His latest offering, Elmer's Special Day, is a celebratory Elmer book which ties in beautifully with the first ever Elmer tale he wrote. This time all the animals are invited to the special Elmer parade at the end of the year.

McKee, who's now a grandfather of three, adds that he's always had a "headful of stories". "It used to worry me that I had all these damn ideas and that I could never do them all," he says. "The ideas come and I don't really have a choice." But while some books are written quickly, others take years.

The Conquerors, an indictment of the Iraq war, which only came out in 2004, was begun years before. But, says McKee, although he'd had the idea for the book, he just couldn't write it properly. However, his fury about the war prompted him to finish it in a week.

His books, he agrees, are sometimes political, as well as moral. Tusk, Tusk is another connected with war.

"People just won't accept differences" says McKee, a note of despair in his voice. "But it would be so boring without those differences, and we accept them in animal and plants. We feel threatened, but we shouldn't."

And for now, he's got no plans to stop writing. There's an Elmer Christmas story in the pipeline, a Robin Hood one for Mr Benn and another on money and greed (that'll be the more "political" one then!). The ideas just keep on coming, but McKee admits that he's relieved he's not starting out in the business now. He thinks the 21st century is a much harder time to try to become a picture book writer. 

"In the 60s, there was lots of freedom and visual excitement," he says. "Now there are too many books. Sometimes publishers need the number of titles for their list and they forget their obligation to the culture and literature. But I won't stop. I'm only myself when I'm working."

Read School Gate:

The top 20 picture books

The new Children's Laureate - and why picture books matter

40 years of the Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle speaks to School Gate

Comments

[Cathy]

What a nice chap he sounds! I'm sure I'm not the only 40-something who goes a bit misty at the thought of Mr Benn (but who did the lovely voice-over on TV?).

I like 'Not Now, Bernard' even more. It's good for all ages - the Infants laugh at the unobservant parents and Juniors ask unspeakable questions like 'Ah, but has he REALLY been eaten?' All marvellously Freudian.

[Catherine]

My daughter's name is Veronica so 'The Sad Story of Veronica Who Played the Violin' has always been a favourite with us - once I got over my reluctance at exposing my Veronica to a story where a Veronica gets eaten by a lion. She just thought it was funny though.

We also love that one about the baby who says 'dog' all the time.

[A M Phillips]

As an ex KS1 teacher, Elmer has always been a firm favourite with my children and I have to admit, with me. I remember watching Mr Ben with my own children, who adored he adventures. Who did the voice over. Was it the guy who played Mr Mainwaring in Dad's army?

[Cathy]

Sorry, AM Phillips - not Arthur Lowe but Ray Brooks (I gave in and googled!). But I think AL did the voice-over for something .... oh bother!

[Kath]

@ Cathy: Arthur Lowe did the voice-over for the Mr Men stories.

[Cathy]

Kath: So he did!Thanks :)

[matt green]

it would be great to see another mr benn book - do you have any more info on this ??

[Rosalie]

I always used to love Elmer at school, and I'm delighted to find that its author seems like such a genuinely nice person!