The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman [Paperback]

Darcy Pattison (Author), Joe Cepeda (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2009 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

How does a wooden man make it all the way across the country? With a lot of help from lots of friendly people! Join him on an unforgettable trip across the USA.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-A map of the United States appears on the front endpapers of this book, and the title page shows an African-American girl sitting at a desk, writing a letter as she smiles widely. Tameka has invited her Uncle Ray, who lives in South Carolina, to visit her in California. Unable to get away, he builds a life-sized wooden man and sends it in his place. A note in Oliver's pouch asks people to help him get to his destination and to send Ray a note if they do. Their letters and postcards form the basis of this story as Oliver travels in a truck with a Brahman bull, a station wagon, and a moving van. The boldly colored, textured illustrations were made with oils over an acrylic under-painting on boards, and the unframed panoramic spreads portray the countryside and the assorted colorful characters who assist Oliver at various legs of his cross-country trek. Uncluttered paintings move viewers' eyes across the pages. Small, interesting details abound, and children will be pleased with the satisfying conclusion. A map at the back shows Oliver's route. A fresh, unusual tale.
Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. Tameka invites Uncle Ray, who lives in South Carolina, to visit her in California. Uncle Ray writes back that he can't come, but he is sending a friend, Oliver K. Woodman, a life-size, hinged wooden man that Uncle Ray has carved. Ray puts Oliver by the road with a note asking travelers who pick him up to send postcards to Ray along the way. People are happy to oblige; postcards come from Arkansas, New Mexico, and Utah, revealing a diverse array of travelers and responses to Oliver. Oliver finally arrives, and the journey comes full circle when Tameka's family and Oliver travel (this time by air) to visit Ray. The quirky story, though whimsical and imaginative, is filled with ambiguities: Oliver is sometimes treated as an inanimate object (he's tossed in a cactus field) and sometimes as a person (he sits with families for meals), which makes for some oddly disconcerting moments, and the target audience seems unclear. It's Cepeda's paintings that save the day. Vibrant, textured, rainbow-hued, with a mostly cheerful multicultured cast, they are the highlight of the book. For large collections. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 52 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; Reprint edition (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152061185
• ISBN-13: 978-0152061180
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 10.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #293,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Darcy Pattison is an Arkansas children's book author and writing teacher.

WRITING TEACHER:
In 1999, she created the Novel Revision Retreat, which she now teaches across the nation. For more, see http://www.darcypattison.com/speaking/ Books about how-to write include:

NOVEL METAMORPHOSIS: Uncommon Ways to Revise
PAPER LIGHTNING: Prewriting Activities to Spark Creativity and Help
Students Revise Better

CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR:
Translated into eight languages, her four picture books and one middle grade novel, have been recognized for excellence by starred reviews, Book of the Year awards, state award lists and more. She is the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children's literature. Titles include:

THE JOURNEY OF OLIVER K. WOODMAN
SEARCHING FOR OLIVER K. WOODMAN
19 GIRLS AND ME
THE RIVER DRAGON
THE WAYFINDER (Now in Kindle format!)

2011 TITLES:
THE SCARY SLOPES
PRAIRIE STORMS
11 WAYS TO RUIN A PHOTOGRAPH

2012 TITLES:
WISDOM THE ALBATROSS: SURVIVING THE JAPANESE TSUNAMI
DESERT BATHS

For more see darcypattison.com/about

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Find!, July 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman (Hardcover)

I found this book today at a teacher's Literacy Conference and fell in love with it. As I was reading so many ideas popped into my head. I can't wait to for school to start so I can teach from this book. Geography, Kindness, and family love are just a few things I will teach from this book. I hope everyone who reads this book will enjoy it as much as I have.