David McKee dead: Children's author of Elmer and Mr Benn dies after short illness aged 87

express.co.uk:

"They’d much prefer to be in a room with an elephant than, say, a spider or a mouse," he added to The Guardian in 2019.Following the devastating news, fans of the beloved author took to Twitter to pay tribute.Fan account @therealmrbenn wrote: "I have just come off the phone with Clive Juster, and the sad news is true."David McKee sadly passed away peacefully in Nice yesterday."The word genius is overused, but David was definitely a genius and I feel so lucky to have known him.

RIP," they ended the post.Author and illustrator @mrjamesmayhew commented: "Very sad to hear that the legendary David McKee has died."Such a gentle, modest, generous man, who leaves an astonishing legacy, covering themes of acceptance & pacifism, as relevant today as ever."I guess Mr Benn has stepped through the shopkeeper's magic door for the last time!"Speaking about the impact the author had on children's literature, the CEO of charity BookTrust, Diana Gerald, said: "David’s incredible and unique contribution to children’s literature crosses cultures, languages and generations."Throughout his life, he has championed the importance of children’s books – how they shape attitudes and open doors to get children reading."We are so grateful for his long-standing support of our work, and we were honoured to recognise him with our Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.“His special books and iconic characters have brought so many smiles to children's faces across the generations, inspiring them to pick up their next book and we know they'll continue to do so.".