ELMER PLAYS HIDE-AND-SEEK. A Lift-the-Flap Book.

First edition, first printing. Hardcover. Signed by the author, with an original drawing. Publisher's original illustrated laminated boards, with titles printed in black to the upper board and spine, without dustwrapper as issued. Richly illustrated in colour throughout, and retaining all nine pictorial card flaps in fine condition, as issued. A very near fine copy, the binding square and firm, bright and fresh, with just a touch of bumping to the spine tips. The contents are clean throughout, and without previous owners' inscriptions or stamps.

Signed and dated by David McKee and with an original drawing of the character Bird in black ink on the front pastedown. The twelfth 'Elmer' book. The adventures of McKee's beloved patchwork elephant Elmer span 45 children's books published between 1969-2025, and have inspired a musical stage production (which embarked upon a UK tour in 2019), a short film in the 1991 animated television programme 'Anytime Tales', and a wide range of merchandise. David McKee was awarded the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 in recognition of his contribution to literature and illustration.