David McKee, Born 1935
writer and illustrator of children’s books
Born in Devon, McKee received a degree from the Plymouth College of Art before entering the British Army; he served as an instructor in the Royal Army Educational Corps and earned the rank of sergeant. In 1959 he received a second degree from the Hornsey College of Art and became a freelance painter and illustrator. He began his career by doing cartoons for newspapers and for the satirical magazine Punch. He then became an extremely successful writer and illustrator of children’s books. The characters he has created, each of which led to a series of books, include Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, Mr. Benn, Melric the Magician, and King Rollo. There are 22 Elmer books in print, which have sold between them more than seven million copies worldwide.