Once elephants came in two colors: black or white. They loved all other creatures, but each set wanted to exterminate the elephants that were not the same as themselves. Peace-loving individuals ran and hid in the deepest jungle, and battle commenced. The war-mongers all succeeded. For a long time it seemed that there were no elephants in the world at all, not of any color. But then the descendants of the peace-loving ones emerged from the jungle, and by now they were all gray.

David McKee's first book was published in 1964. His books are now published in many languages throughout the world, and many of them have been adapted for television. He is one of the leading contemporary children's book creators.