Elmer and the Rainbow

January 3, 2011
Patchwork elephant Elmer is back and concerned about a pale "rainbow without colors." Planning to donate his own colors, Elmer seeks out the rainbow's end, along with several jungle animals that wonder what will happen to Elmer's colors if he gives them away. Elmer succeeds in giving the rainbow a boost of color, and happily his trademark checkerboard hide remains intact. The message—"Some things you can give and give and not lose any. Things like happiness or love or my colors"—lands with a bit of a thud, but ensures that Elmer will continue to brighten his friends' lives. Ages 4–9.

July 1, 2011
Elmer the patchwork elephant sets out to help a rainbow find its colors. The other animals are afraid that Elmer will lose his own, but of course selflessness wins the day. There's not a lot of tension to the story, but the pacing--and the lively rainbow-hued illustrations--will likely keep readers' attention.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)