David John McKee was a British writer and illustrator, chiefly of children's books and animations.
McKee produced several characters who formed the basis of book series, including Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. He illustrated books by other authors, including some of the more recent Paddington Bear books.
He was awarded a BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, in recognition of his whole body of work. He declared it a "shock" but "fantastic", and said he'd "never been one for the spotlight or winning awards". McKee was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Plymouth College of Art in 2011.