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Books Like Elmer

A personal project — every book hand-picked by a London dad 🇬🇧

For readers who responded to Elmer’s colour, humour, and questions about fitting in, these books explore individuality and belonging through equally accessible stories.

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12 hand-picked books

How to use this shelf

Decide whether to follow the visual appeal or the emotional idea. Bold picture books preserve the immediate pleasure; stories about courage and self-reliance extend the conversation for children ready to think more deeply about difference.

Quick comparison

6 varied places to start. Compare the age, format, and themes, then read the notes or check current UK editions.

Not Now Bernard
David McKee · Picture Book · ages 3–6 · family and humour
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Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
Martin Waddell · Picture Book · ages 2–5 · family and kindness
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Giraffes Can't Dance
Giles Andreae · Picture Book · ages 3–6 · perseverance and self-reliance
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Odd Dog Out
Rob Biddulph · Picture Book · ages 3–6 · self-reliance and courage
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Room on the Broom
Julia Donaldson · Picture Book · ages 3–6 · kindness and friendship
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The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Charlie Mackesy · Picture Book · ages 4–16 · kindness and friendship
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Not Now Bernard book cover
Not Now Bernard
David McKee
Ages 3–6
Not Now Bernard
David McKee
Not Now Bernard, a picture book by David McKee, is selected for children aged 3 to 6. Compare it with other books exploring family and humour.
Why it fits: another title by David McKee, the same picture book format and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book1980
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Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? book cover
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
Martin Waddell
Ages 2–5
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
Martin Waddell · Barbara Firth
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?, a picture book by Martin Waddell, is selected for children aged 2 to 5. It is illustrated by Barbara Firth. Compare it with other books exploring family, kindness and courage.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and courage and overlapping age guidance for 2–5.
Picture Book1988
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Giraffes Can't Dance book cover
Giraffes Can't Dance
Giles Andreae
Ages 3–6
Giraffes Can't Dance
Giles Andreae · Guy Parker-Rees
Choose Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae for children aged 3 to 6. It is illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. This picture book is shelved with books about perseverance, self-reliance and kindness.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of self-reliance and kindness and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book1999
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Odd Dog Out book cover
Odd Dog Out
Rob Biddulph
Ages 3–6
Odd Dog Out
Rob Biddulph
On the shelf for children aged 3 to 6: Odd Dog Out, a picture book by Rob Biddulph. It connects with self-reliance and courage.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of self-reliance and courage and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book2016
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Room on the Broom book cover
Room on the Broom
Julia Donaldson
Ages 3–6
Room on the Broom
Julia Donaldson · Axel Scheffler
A witch repeatedly makes room on her broom for animals who recover her lost belongings.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and courage and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book2001
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The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse book cover
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Charlie Mackesy
Ages 4–16
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Charlie Mackesy
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy is a picture book for readers aged 4+. A useful choice for reading about kindness, friendship and courage.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and courage and overlapping age guidance for 4–16.
Picture Book2019
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The Lion Inside book cover
The Lion Inside
Rachel Bright
Ages 3–6
The Lion Inside
Rachel Bright · Jim Field
The Lion Inside, a picture book by Rachel Bright, is selected for children aged 3 to 6. It is illustrated by Jim Field. Compare it with other books exploring courage and self-reliance.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of courage and self-reliance and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book2015
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Willy the Wimp book cover
Willy the Wimp
Anthony Browne
Ages 4–8
Willy the Wimp
Anthony Browne
Choose Willy the Wimp by Anthony Browne for children aged 4 to 8. This picture book is shelved with books about courage, self-reliance and perseverance.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of courage and self-reliance and overlapping age guidance for 4–8.
Picture Book1984
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After the Storm book cover
After the Storm
Nick Butterworth
Ages 3–6
After the Storm
Nick Butterworth
For readers interested in kindness, nature and resilience, compare After the Storm by Nick Butterworth. It is a picture book for children aged 3 to 6.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book1992
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Alfie Gets in First book cover
Alfie Gets in First
Shirley Hughes
Ages 3–5
Alfie Gets in First
Shirley Hughes
Alfie Gets in First by Shirley Hughes is a picture book for children aged 3 to 5. A useful choice for reading about family, humour and courage.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of courage and overlapping age guidance for 3–5.
Picture Book1981
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Burglar Bill book cover
Burglar Bill
Janet Ahlberg
Ages 3–7
Burglar Bill
Janet Ahlberg · Allan Ahlberg
For readers interested in honesty, humour and kindness, compare Burglar Bill by Janet Ahlberg. It is illustrated by Allan Ahlberg. It is a picture book for children aged 3 to 7.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and overlapping age guidance for 3–7.
Picture Book1977
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Guess How Much I Love You book cover
Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney
Ages 2–5
Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney · Anita Jeram
First published in 1994, Guess How Much I Love You is a picture book by Sam McBratney for children aged 2 to 5. It is illustrated by Anita Jeram. Its themes include family and kindness.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and overlapping age guidance for 2–5.
Picture Book1994
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