David McKee

McKee at the Montreuil Book Festival in 2011

David McKee (born 2 January 1935) is a British writer and illustrator, chiefly of children's books and animations. He has used the pseudonym Violet Easton. He is frequently referenced as David (John) McKee.^[1]

For his contribution as a children's illustrator he was UK nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006.^[2]

Biography

McKee was born and brought up in Tavistock,^[3] South Devon, England. After attending the local grammar school he studied at Plymouth College of Art. While still at college, he started 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, Reader's Digest, and The Times Educational Supplement.^[4]

The first book that he sold was of a story he had told at college, Two Can Toucan. It is about a South American bird who can carry two cans of paint on its enormous bill. This was published by Abelard-Schuman in 1964; a 1985 edition with new illustrations by McKee was re-issued in 2001 by Andersen Press.

McKee was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Plymouth University in 2011.

Film

The BBC used some of McKee's books on television and asked about the possibility of films. This led to McKee's first films, a series about Mr Benn. 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.^[5] The company King Rollo Films was started. The company maintained its success, with McKee being involved on projects usually as a writer. 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.

Books

McKee has produced several characters that have developed into book series, including King Rollo and Mr Benn. Another famous creation is Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. Elmer is now published in more than 20 languages and has spawned a range of merchandise, including soft toys, from London Emblem and other companies worldwide.

One of his first books still in print is Six Men (1972, 2011) ISBN 978-0-7358-4050-8. This book teaches how a war can develop.

McKee has written and illustrated over 30 titles for Andersen and these include:

• The Magician and the Sorcerer (1974) ISBN 0-8193-0772-6
• Tusk Tusk (1978) ISBN 0-916291-28-6
• Not Now, Bernard (1980) ISBN 0-05-004559-8
• I Hate My Teddybear (1983)
• Two Monsters (1985)
• The Hill and the Rock (1984)
• Elmer (1989) ISBN 0-688-09171-7
• Elmer Again (1991)
• Elmer on Stilts (1993)
• Elmer and Wilbur (1994) ISBN 0-06-075239-4
• Elmer in the Snow (1995)
• Elmer and the Wind (1997)
• Elmer and the Stranger (2000)
• Elmer and the Lost Teddy (1999)
• Elmer Plays Hide and Seek (1998)
• The Elmer Pop up Book (1996)
• Look! There’s Elmer (2000)
• Elmer and Grandpa Eldo (2001)
• The School Bus Comes At 8 O’clock (1993)
• Isabel’s Noisy Tummy (1994)
• The Sad Story of Veronica (1987)
• Snow Woman (1987)
• Zebra’s Hiccups (1991)
• Who’s a Clever Baby Then? (1988)
• The Monster and the Teddy Bear (1989)
• King Rollo and the bread (1979) ISBN 0-316-56044-8
• King Rollo and the new shoes (1979) ISBN 0-316-56044-8
• King Rollo and the birthday (1979) ISBN 0-316-56044-8
• King Rollo and the Letter (1984)
• Two Can Toucan (1985)
• Charlotte’s Piggy Bank (1996)
• Prince Peter and the Teddy Bear (1997)
• Mary’s Secret (1999)
• King Rollo and the New Stockings (2001)
• Mr Benn – Gladiator (2001)
• Elmer’s Concert (2001)
• Elmer and Butterfly (2002)
• Elmer’s New Friend (2002)
• Elmer and the Hippos (2003)
• The Adventures of Charmin the Bear (Illustrated By Joanna Quinn, 2003)
• Who is Mrs. Green? (2003)
• The Conquerors (2004)
• Denver (2010)

Other works

He has also illustrated books by other authors, including some of the more recent Paddington Bear books. He also illustrated books written by his wife, Violet McKee, and by his son, Chuck McKee.^[1]

McKee has produced Elmer board books, bath books, colouring books, an Elmer flap book, an Elmer hole-in-the-page book and an Elmer pop-up book.

King Rollo Films has produced many other animations including Spot the Dog and the animated stories within the BBC's flagship children's program Fimbles.

He recently illustrated the songs 'Toy Boy' and 'Lonely Alcoholic' in singer-songwriter Mika's extended play 'Songs for Sorrow'.

Personal life

McKee has homes in London and the south of France where he lives with his partner Bakhta, a French-Algerian art-dealer with whom he shares an interest in collecting drawings and African tribal art.

Awards

He won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1987.

References

External links

• David McKee at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• David Mckee at Andersen Press
• Times interview with David McKee.
• Critical analysis of Not Now, Bernard