Oobi Kids' Book Club: Lessons from a Colorful Elephant Named Elmer

On the beauty of standing out

Lately, bedtime at our house has revolved around one very colorful elephant.

“Elmer” by David McKee - looks different from his elephant friends he is a patchwork of bright squares and even brighter spirit - has become a fast favorite in our rotation. At first glance, it’s a simple story about an elephant who looks different from the rest. But as I’ve been reading it (again and again and again, as parents do), I’ve realized it’s quietly one of the most profound little books on joy and belonging that I’ve ever read.

Elmer tries to fit in. He paints himself gray to look like the others, only to discover that the herd is dull without his color. When the rain washes away his disguise, everyone laughs — not at him, but with him. And in that laughter, he realizes that being different is exactly what makes life vibrant.

I read Elmer as a kid, but it’s a story that lands differently as an adult. I’ve caught myself thinking about how much energy we spend -as parents and as humans - trying to blend in, when the world actually needs more patchwork. More texture. More permission to be unmistakably ourselves.

As a mom, I love that Oliver hears, night after night, that it’s okay to stand out. That color is worth celebrating - including his own. That being “the silly one,” “the loud one,” “the curious one” - or whatever his patchwork looks like - can bring joy to others.

And as a business owner, I see Elmer as a reminder that difference is the foundation of belonging — not the barrier to it. The brands, the communities, the people we love most are the ones unafraid to show their colors. It is scary to but yourself out there sometimes, and Elmer reminds us that authenticity is what makes life beautiful, not sameness.

So this week, our bedtime lesson has doubled as a bit of brand therapy. Be the patchwork elephant. Embrace what makes you different… because it also makes you - YOU!

1. If you were a patchwork of colors what colors would you be?

2. You can pull out the paint and make this an art project.

3. What makes you or your family colorful?

4. What are the quirks, traditions, or personalities that make your home uniquely yours?

5. What color do you bring to your family?

6. Maybe it is humor, calm, creativity or chaos - but it’s what makes the whole herd brighter.

Happy Reading,

Alexis Anderson

Founder, Oobi Shoes