David McKee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David McKee
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David McKee at a book festival in 2011
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David John McKee
2 January 1935 |
| Died | 6 April 2022 (aged 87) Provence, France
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| Occupation | Author, Illustrator |
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Notable work
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David John McKee (born January 2, 1935 – died April 6, 2022) was a famous British writer and illustrator. He was best known for creating many popular children's books and animated TV shows.
In 2006, he was chosen as the UK's nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. This award honors authors and illustrators who have made a lasting contribution to children's literature.
Contents
Early Life and Art Beginnings
David McKee was born in Tavistock, England, on January 2, 1935. He grew up there and later studied art at Plymouth College of Art.
While still in college, David started selling his drawings. He drew cartoons for newspapers and magazines like Punch and Reader's Digest. This helped him earn money while he also worked on his paintings.
His first book was called Two Can Toucan, published in 1964. It was a story he used to tell in college. It's about a toucan bird that can carry two cans of paint with its huge beak!
Creating Beloved Characters
David McKee created many characters that became stars of their own book series. The most famous is Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. Elmer is a colorful elephant who teaches kids about being unique and accepting others.
The first Elmer book came out in 1968. Later, in 1989, it was re-released and became a huge hit. More than 29 Elmer books have been published, selling over 10 million copies worldwide. They have been translated into more than 60 languages! Elmer has even been turned into a stage play and an animated TV show. You can also find Elmer toys and board games.
David also illustrated books by other writers, including some of the newer Paddington Bear stories. He even illustrated books written by his own mother and son.
Bringing Stories to Television
The BBC network noticed David McKee's books and asked him to create something for television. This led to the popular animated series Mr Benn. The show first aired in 1971 and 1972 and was shown many times over the next 20 years. It followed Mr Benn, a man who would visit a costume shop and go on amazing adventures.
Later, David and his friends Clive Juster and Leo Nielsen started a company called King Rollo Films. They made a series of films based on David's King Rollo books. This company became very successful. David often worked as a writer for their projects.
King Rollo Films has produced many other well-known animations. These include Spot the Dog and the animated stories seen in the BBC children's show Fimbles. The company even plans to make 26 animated films about Elmer!
Awards and Personal Life
David McKee lived in both London and the south of France. In France, he lived with his partner, Bakhta, who was an art dealer. They both enjoyed collecting drawings and African tribal art.
He received several awards for his work. In 1987, he won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, a German youth literature prize. In 2011, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Plymouth College of Art, where he once studied.
In 2020, David was given a special BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognized all the amazing books and characters he created throughout his career. He said he was "shocked" but thought it was "fantastic," as he wasn't someone who sought out awards.
His Passing
David McKee passed away on April 6, 2022, after a short illness. He was 87 years old. His stories and characters continue to bring joy to children all over the world.
See also
In Spanish: David McKee para niños
