He was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration in 2006.

One series of his began in 1968 with "Elmer, the Story of a Patchwork Elephant." (Most of the "Elmer" books were written from 1991 to 2012.)

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61024415

David McKee, the children's author and illustrator known for the Mr Benn series, has died at the age of 87.

The Devon-born writer, who also created Elmer the Patchwork Elephant and Not Now, Bernard, sold more than 10 million books around the world.

In a statement, his publisher Andersen Press announced the "beloved" author's death "with great sadness".

"All at Andersen Press hope his spirit lives on for many more generations through his joyful, heartfelt stories."

McKee's character Mr Benn famously wore a black suit and bowler hat and went on a series of adventures.

In each story, Mr Benn visited a fancy dress store and tried on a different outfit, before leaving the shop through a magic door and going on a journey related to his costume.

The concept was later adapted as an animated television series, originally transmitted by the BBC in the early 1970s...

(snip)

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/apr/07/elmer-and-mr-benn-author-david-mckee-dies-at-87
(this includes a photo of the Duchess of Cornwall meeting Elmer)

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/david-mckee/
(multiple reviews - your jaw will drop when you see what "Denver" is about, regardless of your economic politics)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/58401.David_McKee
(reader reviews)

https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.books.childrens/c/xmkgjZQTqj0/m/oA4_GQqiybsJ
(birthday post from 2015, with a LONG booklist)

Excerpt:

http://biography.jrank.org/pages/1424/McKee-David-John-1935-Sidelights.html
(long article about his work)

"McKee is well known in his native England as the creator of series
books featuring Mr. Benn, an unassuming banker who becomes involved
in fantastic adventures when he tries on different suits of clothes;
Elmer, a jovial elephant with a patchwork hide; Melric the Magician,
a sorcerer who struggles to maintain his position in a medieval court;
and King Rollo, a childish monarch. The author is also known for
individual picture books such as Not Now, Bernard and I Hate My Teddy,
which have been viewed by some critics as controversial due to their
satiric views and surrealistic art. As an illustrator, he is recognized
for providing the pictures for series of books by such authors as Michael
Bond, Hazel Townson, and David Tinkler as well as titles by L. Frank
Baum, Christine Nöstlinger, Ursula Moray Williams, and Robert Swindells,
among others. He has also illustrated books by his wife Violet McKee and
son Chuck McKee."

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1152&bih=594&q=%22david+mckee%22+books&oq=%22david+mckee%22+books&gs_l=img.3..0.916.916.0.1362.1.1.0.0.0.0.65.65.1.1.0.msedr...0...1ac.1.60.img..0.1.65.AbVS9fW1vrk
(artwork)