https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=David_McKeeDavid McKee - Revision history2026-06-07T08:29:59ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.2https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=David_McKee&diff=374646&oldid=previmported>Jean-de-Nivelle: deleting duplicated "the"2025-09-26T20:54:55Z<p>deleting duplicated "the"</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|British writer and illustrator (1935–2022)}}<br />
{{about other people|the British illustrator and author}}<br />
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = David McKee<br />
| image = Montreuil - Salon du livre jeunesse 2011 - David McKee - 001.jpg<br />
| alt = A portrait photograph of David McKee<br />
| caption = McKee at the Montreuil Book Festival in 2011<br />
| birth_name = David John McKee<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|01|02|df=yes}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Tavistock]], [[Devon]], England<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|04|06|1935|01|02|df=yes}}<ref name="Guardian Eccleshare obit">{{cite web |last1=Eccleshare |first1=Julia |author1-link=Julia Eccleshare |title=David McKee obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/apr/08/david-mckee-obituary |website=the Guardian |access-date=8 April 2022 |language=en |date=8 April 2022}}</ref><br />
| death_place = [[Nice]], France<ref name="Guardian Knight">{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Lucy |title=Elmer and Mr Benn author David McKee dies at 87 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/apr/07/elmer-and-mr-benn-author-david-mckee-dies-at-87 |website=The Guardian |date=7 April 2022 |access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref><br />
| occupation = Author, illustrator<br />
| notable_works = {{ublist|''[[Elmer the Patchwork Elephant]]''|''[[Mr Benn]]''|''[[Not Now, Bernard]]''}}<br />
}}<br />
'''David John McKee''' (2 January 1935 – 6 April 2022), was a British writer and illustrator, chiefly of children's books and animations.<br />
<br />
For his contribution as a children's illustrator, he was UK nominee for the biennial international [[Hans Christian Andersen Award]] in 2006.<ref name=ibby2006/><br />
<br />
==Early life==<br />
David John McKee was born on 2 January 1935 and raised in [[Tavistock]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jul/12/25-years-elmer-elephant-david-mckee|title=25 years of Elmer the elephant|first=Stuart |last=Jeffries|work=The Guardian|date=12 July 2014}}</ref> [[Devon]], England. After attending [[grammar school]], he studied at [[Plymouth College of Art]].<ref name="Guardian Eccleshare obit" /><br />
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While still at college, he began selling one-off cartoons, particularly to the national press. On leaving college, he continued this to support himself while painting, drawing regularly for, among others, ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]'', ''[[Reader's Digest]]'', and ''[[Times Higher Education|The Times Educational Supplement]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Author: David McKee |url=http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/authors/david-mckee |publisher=[[Random House]] (UK) |access-date=17 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413171851/http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/authors/david-mckee |archive-date=13 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><br />
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The first book he sold was of a story he had told at college, ''Two Can Toucan''.<ref name="Guardian Eccleshare obit" /> It is about a [[toucan]] who can carry two cans of paint on its enormous bill. This was published by Abelard-Schuman in 1964;<ref name="Guardian Eccleshare obit" /> a 1985 edition with new illustrations by McKee was re-issued in 2001 by Andersen Press.{{cn|date=April 2022}}<br />
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==Writer and illustrator==<br />
McKee produced several characters who formed the basis of book series, including ''[[Elmer the Patchwork Elephant]]''. ''Elmer'' was first published by [[Dobson Books]] in 1968, and was re-issued by [[Andersen Press]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/insight/mckee-reflects-three-decades-elmer-iconic-elephant-turns-global-970686|title=McKee reflects on three decades of Elmer as the iconic elephant turns global|date=12 March 2019|first= Charlotte|last= Eyre|work=[[The Bookseller]]}}</ref> His 29 Elmer books have sold more than 10 million copies and have appeared in more than 60 languages being adapted as a stage play and an animated series.<ref>{{cite news|last=Moore|first=Sam|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/david-mckee-death-cause-books-mr-benn-b2052834.html|title=David McKee death: Author of Elmer and Mr Benn books dies aged 87|newspaper=The Independent|date=7 April 2022|access-date=7 April 2022}}</ref> The character has spawned a range of merchandise, including soft toys, from London Emblem and [[Elmer the Patchwork Elephant|Elmer]] board books. McKee illustrated the songs "Toy Boy" and "Lonely Alcoholic" in singer-songwriter [[Mika (singer)|Mika]]'s extended play ''[[Songs for Sorrow]]''.{{cn|date=April 2022}} One of McKee's earliest books, ''Six Men'' (1972, 2011), teaches how a war can develop.{{cn|date=April 2022}}<br />
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He illustrated books by other authors, including some of the more recent [[Paddington Bear]] books.<ref name="Guardian Eccleshare obit" /> He also illustrated books written by his mother, Violet McKee, and by his son, Chuck McKee.{{cn|date=August 2022}}<br />
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He also published books under the pseudonym '''Violet Easton'''.<br />
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==Films and television==<br />
The [[BBC]] used some of McKee's books on television and asked about the possibility of a more extensive project. The result was the development of a series about one of McKee's characters, the resulting series was ''[[Mr Benn]]'', which ran for thirteen episodes first broadcast in 1971 and 1972 and was repeated regularly over the following two decades.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Beaumont-Thomas|first1=Ben|last2=McKee|first2=David|last3=Brooks|first3=Ray|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/mar/07/how-we-made-mr-benn-david-mckee-ray-brooks-interview|title=How we made cult cartoon Mr Benn|work=The Guardian|date=7 March 2017|accessdate=7 March 2017}}</ref> Five films for the [[Save the Children]] fund followed, then a series of films based on the [[King Rollo]] books, with two friends, Clive Juster and Leo Nielsen.<ref>{{cite web |last=Billen |first=Andrew |title=Billen and Benn |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3192413.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013030037/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3192413.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 October 2008 |work=[[The Times]] |date=19 January 2008 |accessdate=12 March 2010}}</ref> The company [[King Rollo Films]] was started. The company maintained its success, with McKee being involved on projects usually as a writer.<ref name="Guardian Eccleshare obit" /> They have been responsible for various films, including [[Tony Ross]]'s [[Towser]], [[Eric Hill]]'s [[Spot the Dog]], and Lucy Cousins's [[Maisy]]. The company plans to produce 26 animated films of Elmer.{{When|date=April 2022}}{{cn|date=April 2022}}<br />
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King Rollo Films has produced many other animations, including ''[[Spot the Dog]]'' and the animated stories within the [[BBC]]'s children's programme ''[[Fimbles]]''.{{cn|date=April 2022}}<br />
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==Personal life and honours==<br />
McKee had homes in [[London]] and the [[south of France]] where he lived with his partner Bakhta, a French-Algerian art-dealer. He shared with her an interest in collecting drawings and African tribal art.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anstead |first1=Mark |title=Elephant man who never forgot his bank |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2003/oct/18/features.jobsmoney2 |access-date=24 February 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=17 Oct 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bletchly |first1=Rachael |title=Elmer the Elephant believes Brexit or no Brexit that we need each other |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/elmer-elephant-believes-brexit-no-20380573 |access-date=24 February 2021 |work=The Mirror |date=1 Oct 2019}}</ref> He won the [[Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis]] in 1987. His previous wife was Barbara Ennuss, with whom he had three children.<ref name="Guardian Eccleshare obit" /><br />
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He was awarded a [[BookTrust]] Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, in recognition of his whole body of work.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elmer and Mr Benn creator David McKee wins BookTrust's Lifetime Achievement Award |url=https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/news/news-2020/elmer-and-mr-benn-creator-david-mckee-wins-booktrusts-lifetime-achievement-award/ |website=BookTrust |access-date=7 June 2021 |archive-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005073136/https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/news/news-2020/elmer-and-mr-benn-creator-david-mckee-wins-booktrusts-lifetime-achievement-award/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He declared it a "shock" but "fantastic", and said he'd "never been one for the spotlight or winning awards".<ref>{{cite web |title='The shock is hard to get over!' David McKee |url=https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2020/september/the-shock-is-hard-to-get-over-elmer-creator-david-mckee-on-winning-booktrusts-lifetime-achievement-award-and-his-incredible-career/ |website=BookTrust |access-date=7 June 2021 |archive-date=4 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004202227/https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2020/september/the-shock-is-hard-to-get-over-elmer-creator-david-mckee-on-winning-booktrusts-lifetime-achievement-award-and-his-incredible-career/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> McKee was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from [[Plymouth College of Art]] in 2011.{{cn|date=April 2022}}<br />
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==Death==<br />
McKee died on 6 April 2022 after a short illness. He was 87.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-61024415|title=David McKee: Mr Benn and Elmer author dies aged 87|work=BBC News|date=7 April 2022|accessdate=7 April 2022}}</ref><br />
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==Bibliography==<br />
*''Bronto's Wings'' (1964)<br />
*''Two Can Toucan'' (1964)<br />
*''The Poor Farmer and the Robber Knights'' (1969)<br />
*''Mr Benn'' (1970)<br />
*''Six Men'' (1972, 2011) {{ISBN|978-0-7358-4050-8}}<br />
*''The Magician and the Sorcerer'' (1974) {{ISBN|0-8193-0772-6}}<br />
*''Tusk Tusk'' (1978) {{ISBN|0-916291-28-6}}<br />
*''King Rollo and the Bread'' (1979) {{ISBN|0-316-56044-8}}<br />
*''King Rollo and the New Shoes'' (1979) {{ISBN|0-316-56044-8}}<br />
*''King Rollo and the Birthday'' (1979) {{ISBN|0-316-56044-8}}<br />
*''[[Not Now, Bernard]]'' (1980) {{ISBN|0-05-004559-8}}<br />
*''I Hate My Teddybear'' (1983)<br />
*''King Rollo and the Letter'' (1984)<br />
*''The Hill and the Rock'' (1984)<br />
*''Two Monsters'' (1985)<br />
*''The Sad Story of Veronica'' (1987)<br />
*''Snow Woman'' (1987)<br />
*''Who's a Clever Baby Then?'' (1988)<br />
*''Elmer'' (1989) {{ISBN|0-688-09171-7}}<br />
*''The Monster and the Teddy Bear'' (1989)<br />
*''Elmer Again'' (1991)<br />
*''Zebra's Hiccups'' (1991)<br />
*''Elmer on Stilts'' (1993)<br />
*''The School Bus Comes At 8 O’clock'' (1993)<br />
*''Elmer and Wilbur'' (1994) {{ISBN|0-06-075239-4}}<br />
*''Isabel's Noisy Tummy'' (1994)<br />
*''Elmer in the Snow'' (1995)<br />
*''Charlotte's Piggy Bank'' (1996)<br />
*''The Elmer Pop up Book'' (1996)<br />
*''Elmer and the Wind'' (1997)<br />
*''Prince Peter and the Teddy Bear'' (1997)<br />
*''Elmer Plays Hide and Seek'' (1998)<br />
*''Elmer and the Lost Teddy'' (1999)<br />
*''Mary's Secret'' (1999)<br />
*''Elmer and the Stranger'' (2000)<br />
*''Look! There's Elmer'' (2000)<br />
*''Elmer and Grandpa Eldo'' (2001)<br />
*''King Rollo and the New Stockings'' (2001)<br />
*''Mr Benn – Gladiator'' (2001)<br />
*''Elmer's Concert'' (2001)<br />
*''Elmer and Butterfly'' (2002)<br />
*''Elmer's New Friend'' (2002)<br />
*''Elmer and the Hippos'' (2003)<br />
*''The Adventures of Charmin the Bear'' (illustrated By Joanna Quinn, 2003)<br />
*''Who is Mrs. Green?'' (2003)<br />
*''The Conquerors'' (2004)<br />
*''Denver'' (2010)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Toynbee |first1=Polly |author1-link=Polly Toynbee |title=Charity is a fine thing, but it can't justify the wealth of the 1% |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/20/charity-cant-justify-inequality |access-date=9 April 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=20 December 2013 |language=en}}</ref><br />
*''Elmer's Walk'' (2018)<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist |25em |refs=<br />
<br />
<ref name=ibby2006><br />
[http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=545 "IBBY Announces the Winners of the Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2006"]. [[International Board on Books for Young People]] (IBBY). Press release 27 March 2006.<br><br />
&nbsp; [http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=273 "Hans Christian Andersen Awards"]. IBBY. Retrieved 2013-07-22.</ref><br />
}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Portal|Children's literature |Visual arts}}<br />
{{commonscat}}<br />
* {{LCAuth|n50013522|David McKee|104|ue}}<br />
* {{isfdb name |30720 }}<br />
* [http://www.andersenpress.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32551:229&catid=50:m&Itemid=74 David McKee at Andersen Press]<br />
* [[Andrew Billen]], [https://web.archive.org/web/20081013030037/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3192413.ece Billen and Benn] (interview with David McKee), ''[[The Times]]'', 19 January 2008. (via archive.org)<br />
* [http://bookvivisection.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/not-now-bernard-david-mckee.html Critical analysis of Not Now, Bernard]<br />
* {{discogs artist|David McKee (2)}}<br />
* {{imdb name|0571152}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McKee, David}}<br />
[[Category:1935 births]]<br />
[[Category:2022 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Alumni of the Plymouth College of Art]]<br />
[[Category:British children's book illustrators]]<br />
[[Category:English animators]]<br />
[[Category:English children's writers]]<br />
[[Category:Writers who illustrated their own writing]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Tavistock]]</div>imported>Jean-de-Nivelle