This wonderfully jolly classic picture book is proof positive that the best books live and live and live, and Elmer will, I'm sure, go down in history. He is so alive, so vibrant, so full of fun that children can't help but love him, and at the same time, they are learning an important lesson about being one's self. Elmer is the only elephant who is not grey; he is a patchwork elephant and as such, is covered with all the colours of the rainbow. He is also very funny, and all the other elephants enjoy his jokes and fun. But one night he decides that he doesn't like being multi-coloured and really wants to look like all the other elephants. Perhaps then they won't laugh at him. Being a resourceful beast, he finds a tree with lots of elephant-coloured berries on it and rolls around in the juice. He's pleased to see that the other jungle animals don't recognise him when he passes by, and when he gets back to his elephant friends, they appear to be very quiet and still: 'The more he looked at the serious, silent, still, standing elephants, the more he wanted to laugh.' 'Boo,' he shouts, and all the elephants fall about laughing. They know it is Elmer under the grey berry juice, and are delighted to have him back because they enjoy him just as he is. When the rain comes, the berry juice disappears and Elmer is back to his colourful self. Such a lovely and sensitive story about feeling different and finally discovering he is loved just as he is. Outstanding!