There is no time to spare as Papa Red will be arriving for his annual Christmas visit in only 2 days! But who is Papa Red? And how will Elmer the Patchwork Elephant manage a herd of ‘youngsters’ caught up in the excitement of the holiday and all that that entails? 

The elephants couldn’t have been kinder to the environment with their choice of tree. Follow along as they carry the towering tree home to brighten their elephant world. And join in with the animals as they gather to admire their handiwork. 

 

Share your Christmas with David McKee’s elephants this year. 

Elmer’s Christmas is fun for the whole family. So do yourself and your children a favor and share this book with them. Better yet make this an annual tradition. Papa Red makes it his!

 

 

 

 

Narrator: “Elmer’s Christmas by David McKee”

 “Elmer the patchwork elephant smiled. It was two days before the annual visit of Papa Red. The young elephants were excited. ‘Take them for a walk, Elmer,’ said an older elephant. Then we can prepare the presents in peace.’”

 “‘Come on youngsters,’ Elmer called ‘we’ll go and get the tree.’”

“Squealing with laughter the young elephants hurried after Elmer.” 

 

 

‘Are we going where Papa red lives?’ they asked. ‘Close by,’ said Elmer. ‘Have you seen him Elmer?’ Elmer smiled. ‘Yes’ he said. For the rest of the walk they asked Elmer about Papa Red.”

 “The walk went up and up. The jungle became pine trees. Then, for the first time in their lives, the youngsters saw snow. Papa Red was forgotten.”

 

 

 “Elmer left the young ones to play in the snow and went to choose a tree. ‘Hello, Elmer,’ said a moose. ‘Let the young elephants see Papa Red tomorrow but keep them hidden. We’ll have a busy night ahead.’”  ‘I know,’ said Elmer.  ‘We won’t bother you.’” 

“Elmer chose a tree that would be easy to put back later. The youngsters helped to carry it. By now it was late. ‘Straight to bed when we get home,’ said Elmer. ‘We have a lot to do tomorrow.’” 

 

 

 

“The next next day everyone helped decorate the tree. ‘The presents, the presents!’ shouted the young elephants.” 

“The presents, wrapped and decorated, were placed around the tree. When it was finished the other animals came to admire it. ‘Wonderful,’ they said.” 

 

 

“That night when the big elephants were asleep, or pretending to be, Elmer collected the youngsters together. ‘This is is your chance to see Papa Red,’ he said. ‘Hide where you can see but not be seen.’  

“The youngsters had just hidden when from out of the sky came six moose pulling a sleigh with Papa Red aboard. They landed and Elmer helped load the presents into the sleigh. ‘Thanks Elmer,’ said Papa Red. Then he winked.‘I’m glad we weren’t seen.’ 

“Papa Red flew off and the young ones rushed out. ‘We saw him, we saw him!’ they shouted.  He took the presents. Elmer laughed and said, ‘This is the season for giving. We give and Papa Red takes the presents to whoever needs them the most.’” 

 

 

“Once all the elephants were finally asleep Elmer tiptoed among them. By each

young elephant he placed a present that Papa Red had left for them. Elmer

smiled. ‘Good old Papa Red,’ he said”

 

Transcribed and images from: cc video by Come Play Read Learn With Me, “Kids Book Read Aloud: Elmer’s Christmas / Children’s Books Read Aloud / Christmas Read Aloud “ (1) 

 

 

 

 

Source:

(1)  https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Kids+Book+Read+Aloud++Elmer%27s+Christmas++Children%E2%80%99s+Books+Read+Aloud+%2F+Christmas+Read+Aloud++Creative+Commons

 

 

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