Elmer

Name: Elmer
Author: David Mckee

A story that explores respect and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

Read the Guiding Questions Find this book →

♥ This book teaches: Respect. seeing the worth in every person.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: Showing respect means to use words and actions that show we care about all people and things. In short: Value others, honor differences. Summary: Elmer looks like a patchwork quilt, unlike all the other elephants who are grey. Because he is ridiculed, Elmer eventually leaves the herd. He finds a berry bush with elephant-colored berries and rubs himself all over with the berries. All grey now, Elmer returns to the herd, unnoticed now because he looks like all the other elephants. Then one day, Elmer decides to surprise the herd, and does something that changes everything. What was offensive about Elmer before is now celebrated with great excitement. Elmer learns to respect himself with his unusual characteristics, and the herd recognizes Elmer’s uniqueness. Lesson Objectives:

Students become more curious about people who are different from themselves, and this helps them develop more self-acceptance and respect for others.

Guiding Questions:

Have you ever seen an elephant?
If so, have you ever seen an elephant that looks like Elmer?
Is this a true story or make-believe? Why?
What does the word “patchwork” mean? If you don’t know, ask someone.
Why did Elmer leave his herd?
What did Elmer do to try to change his color so he was grey like all the other elephants?
Why do you think the herd changed their minds about Elmer in the end?
All skin colors are beautiful. What is the color of your skin and what is beautiful about it?
All eye colors are beautiful, what color are your eyes?
What do you like the best about yourself? Ask your family members what they like the best about you.

🌿 Virtue Connection: Respect means seeing the worth in every person.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.