Elmer and Butterfly

One day, as Elmer is strolling through the jungle, he hears Butterfly cry for help. Elmer rushes to her rescue, and in return, she promises to help him should he ever need it. At first he cannot imagine how a butterfly could ever help him, but later, when he finds himself in peril, he realises she can help him after all.

David McKee reconstructs Aesop’s fable of the lion and the mouse around one of his signature characters, Elmer. Here, the tiny fragile butterfly shows that courage and determination are more important than size or strength. Ten years after its original publication, and over 20 since Elmer’s first appearance, the iconic illustrations have lost none of their appeal, Elmer’s brightly checked body standing out against the gentler background washes.