| Product: |
Lost and Found - Oliver Jeffers |
| Date: |
08/01/07 (77 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Quirky, original and adorable in every way
Disadvantages: Oliver Jeffers can do no wrong!
I am weak! My son's book collection is getting out of control. I have a problem and it is time I admit to it and learn to deal with it. I cannot stop myself from buying new Children's books every week! I pretend they are for my son's benefit - I tell myself encouraging my son to enjoy books is a positive thing so how can it be wrong that I over-indulge but the truth is, I buy these books because I like the clever little verses and storylines. I soak up the beautifully coloured pages like a sponge. I crave new characters with funny names and even funnier faces. Truth be told, I can't stop myself from sneaking upstairs to read the new purchases as soon as I get home. 30 years old and I have to be the first person to open these kids' picture books and peel back each page savouring the smell of freshly printed paper. It's is an illness and I can't be stopped.
Some of you will have read my gushing review of Oliver Jeffer's 'How to Catch a Star'. Those of you that did will know how impressed I was with not only his writing style but also his gorgeous and unique illustrations. Finding his award winning Lost and Found staring back at me from the WHSmith bookshelf was all the excuse I needed to buy another book for Kyle - well, it was one of three I just HAD to have!
There may be some duplication from the How to catch a Star review i.e. About the author etc.
Author/Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publish Date: September 2005
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Pages: 32
Age Suitability: 3-5
RRP: £5.99 at WHSmith Amazon: £4.79
***Who is Oliver Jeffers*** (Taken from How to catch a Star Review)
Oliver Jeffers, born in Western Australia but brought up in Belfast is a talented Artist, Designer, Illustrator and Writer - apparently he can play the spoons too! He studied and earned his first-class honours degree in Illustration and Visual Communication at University of Ulster.
As an artist he has enjoyed a great deal of success even seeing 16 paintings sold on the opening night of his Boys at the Bar exhibition in Belfast. He was also commissioned by Lavazza Coffee Company to paint for their Headquarters and to illustrate their Christmas Cards which led to his work being displayed at the Aroma Coffee Festival at the Rocks in Sydney in front of thousands of people. What made this exhibition even more interesting was that Jeffers illustrated on site using only coffee rings and black ink.
At just 29 years of age, Jeffers has only just begun his career in Children's books. Amazingly, How to Catch a Star, his debut as a children's picture book writer and illustrator saw him short-listed for the Booktrust Early Years Award for Best new Illustrator. It also went on to win a Merit Award at the CBI/Bisto Book of the Year Awards.
Lost and Found received similar admiration and critical acclaim winning the Gold Award at Nestle Children's Book Prize in 2005 and being short-listed for the Kate Greenway Medal.
***What's it all about***
Lost and Found centres around two characters; a Boy and a Penguin. Jeffers tends not to give his characters names or strong identities which allows the readers to form their own ideas of the characters, thus identifying with them more easily.
The story starts one day when the Boy finds the Penguin standing at his front door. Assuming the Penguin has been lost, he takes him to the lost and found office where no penguin has been reported lost. The boy tries to find someone who will help him return Penguin to where he belongs even trying to recruit the help of his rubber ducky, but ultimately, it is left up to the boy to rescue the poor Penguin and return him safely to his home.
With that, the two boys set off for Antarctica in the Boys' row boat taking everything they may need for the journey.
They reach Antarctica and the Boy says goodbye but can't help but notice Penguin looks even more sad then usual.
As he sets off for home it occurs to him that maybe Penguin had simply been lonely and looking for a friend when he turned up on his doorstep.
He turns around and sets off back to Antarctica to rescue his friend again. But will Penguin still be there?
***So how did I find the story***
Like Catch a Star, this was a lovely, quirky, unique and endearing story.
Interestingly, although as I have mentioned before, Jeffers doesn't give the characters specific characteristics, I still found myself warming to both the Boy and the Penguin. The simplicity and the innocence with which the boy wants to help his new black and white flippered friend is touching.
You also get a real sense of friendship between the two. Jeffers manages this despite saying very little about their relationship by focussing solely on the two main characters without any distraction from the world around them. You truly get a sense that they are alone in their own little magical world.
The story has the same cute humour in it as How to catch a Star does ensuring parents reading it with their kids will get the same enjoyment out of the book as their children.
It is obvious Jeffers is very in touch with his 'inner child' as he is able to relate to them in a manner which is not easy to find. He doesn't patronise his readers in anyway which is a huge turn off for me in TV programmes, films and books designed for children. He respects kids and gives them credit for understanding more than we always remember.
*So were the pictures good***
The illustrations were in the same fashion as How to catch a star and were equally beautiful. He keeps the images simple with vast and empty surroundings painted in a beautiful watercolour style. This helps to isolate the characters allowing the full focus of the reader to be drawn towards them once again reiterating that they are what matter in the story and the outside world is not relevant at all.
Jeffers uses simple shapes and simple drawings and embellishes them with soft and inviting colours which create a sort of textured effect to wraps around you in a warm, rich embrace. He doesn't bother with symmetry or scale. The boy for instance, has a big round head a striped body and tiny little match stick legs. This only adds to the magical feel of the story and encourages kids to use there imagination to add to the tale as they go along.
***Educational value***
Although there isn't an "in your face" life lesson to be learnt here, there is an underlying message of responsibility and camaraderie which I think is exceptionally important with younger children. So often we get caught up in teaching our children about colours, the alphabet, counting to 20 and so on that we sometimes forget that it is equally important to instil human kindness and as an integral part of their learning.
***And all in all was it worth the money***
Like my first Oliver Jeffers review, this is absolutely worth the money ten times over! If I could recommend only one author for parents to invest in, it would be Oliver Jeffers. I am anxiously awaiting his next contribution to the world of Children's books and truly hope he goes on to have a continued successful career entertaining and enlightening our children. He creates the books I wish I could.
Summary: A little boy makes a new friend who proves his loyalty
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Last comment:
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susie19 - 08/01/07 Sounds lovely (there's a spelling mistake in your title) ;o) xx |
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