David McKee
Encyclopedia
David McKee is a British
author
and illustrator
, chiefly of children's books and animations. He has used the pseudonym Violet Easton. He is frequently referenced as David (John) McKee.
, 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 in order to support himself while painting, drawing regularly for, among others, Punch
, Reader’s Digest
, and The Times Educational Supplement
.
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 atop 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.
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. The company King Rollo Films Ltd
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.
McKee has produced several characters that have been 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.
. 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.
McKee has written and illustrated over 30 titles for Andersen and these include:
books. He also illustrated books written by his wife, Violet McKee, and by his son, Chuck McKee.
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
'.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
, chiefly of children's books and animations. He has used the pseudonym Violet Easton. He is frequently referenced as David (John) McKee.
Biography
McKee was born in DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. After attending the local grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
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 in order to support himself while painting, drawing regularly for, among others, Punch
Punch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
, Reader’s Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
, and The Times Educational Supplement
The Times Higher Education Supplement
The Times Higher Education , formerly Times Higher Education Supplement , is a weekly British magazine based in London reporting specifically on news and other issues related to higher education...
.
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
Toucan
Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae of near passerine birds from the Neotropics. The family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, often colorful bills. The family includes five genera and about forty different species...
who can carry two cans of paint atop 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.
Film
The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
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
Mr Benn
Mr Benn is a character created by David McKee who appears in several children's books, and an animated television series of the same name transmitted by the BBC in 1971 and 1972. Whether in a book, or on television, Mr Benn's adventures take on a similar pattern...
. Five films for the Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
fund followed, then a series of films based on the King Rollo
King Rollo
King Rollo was a children's character created by David McKee in 1979, starring in a series of books, animations , and a comic strip in the magazine Buttons...
books, with two friends, Clive Juster and Leo Nielsen. The company King Rollo Films Ltd
King Rollo Films Ltd
King Rollo Films is a production company set up in 1978 by David McKee. It was based on the show of the same name.-Programs & Shorts:King Rollo Films has done the following shows;*Mr Benn *King Rollo *Victor & Maria...
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
Eric Hill
Eric Gordon Hill OBE is a popular author and illustrator of children's picture books, best known for his character Spot the Dog...
’s Spot the Dog
Spot the Dog
Spot the Dog is a series of children's books by Eric Hill, which were later made into a popular children's animation series, known as Spot, for BBC television by David McKee's King Rollo Films....
, and Lucy Cousins’s Maisy. The company plans to produce 26 animated films of Elmer.
McKee has produced several characters that have been developed into book series, including King Rollo and Mr Benn. Another famous creation is Elmer the Patchwork Elephant
Elmer the Patchwork Elephant
Elmer the Patchwork Elephant is a children's picture book series by the British author David McKee. They are published in the United Kingdom by Andersen Press. Over 20 book titles have been created since 1989, and it has sold nearly 5 million copies in 40 languages around the world. The Japanese...
. 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.
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 ElephantElmer the Patchwork Elephant
Elmer the Patchwork Elephant is a children's picture book series by the British author David McKee. They are published in the United Kingdom by Andersen Press. Over 20 book titles have been created since 1989, and it has sold nearly 5 million copies in 40 languages around the world. The Japanese...
. 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.
McKee has written and illustrated over 30 titles for Andersen and these include:
- The Magician and the Sorcerer (1974) ISBN 0819307726
- 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 BearPaddington Bear
Paddington Bear is a fictional character in children's literature. He appeared on 13 October 1958 and was subsequently featured in several books, most recently in 2008, written by Michael Bond and first illustrated by Peggy Fortnum....
books. He also illustrated books written by his wife, Violet McKee, and by his son, Chuck McKee.
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
Spot the Dog
Spot the Dog is a series of children's books by Eric Hill, which were later made into a popular children's animation series, known as Spot, for BBC television by David McKee's King Rollo Films....
and the animated stories within the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's flagship children's program Fimbles.
He recently illustrated the songs 'Toy Boy' and 'Lonely Alcoholic' in singer-songwriter Mika
Mika (singer)
Mika is a British singer-songwriter.After recording his first extended play, Dodgy Holiday EP, Mika released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion, on Island Records in 2007. Life in Cartoon Motion sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and helped Mika win a Brit...
's extended play 'Songs for Sorrow
Songs for Sorrow
Songs for Sorrow is the second extended play by singer Mika. It was released in digital form on May 15, 2009, and in a limited edition book & cd physical form on June 8, 2009. The song "Blue Eyes" was used to promote the EP, and was A-listed on the BBC Radio 2 playlist. The EP received the name...
'.
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.External links
- David Mckee at Andersen Press
- Times interview with David McKee.