Oggie Cooder #1 (Hardcover)

by Sarah Weeks (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Oggie Cooder has a talent -- he can charve better than anyone else in Truman Elementary School. (Charving, for the uninitiated, is the carving of a piece of cheese with one's teeth.) Oggie doesn't think this is anything special -- but his whole school will soon be disagreeing with him. Because after he inadvertantly charves during a nationwide hunt for unusual talents, his charving puts him on the path to fame and forture. Suddenly, he's the star of the school . . . but he's not sure that he wants to shine that way.

This is Sarah Weeks at her best -- funny, clever, and kid-friendly.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439927919
• ISBN-13: 978-0439927918
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #195,841 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable chapter book with lively, whimsical illustrations, August 11, 2008

By	Kidsreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Fourth-grader Oggie Cooder is often described by teachers as unique, odd and quirky, while other kids consider him to be a weirdo, a dork and a doofus. Neither Oggie nor his parents are disheartened by these names. Mom and dad are proud that Oggie is so different, wearing mismatched clothes from their thrift store Too Good to Be Threw and crocheting his own shoelaces. Oggie also has honed an unusual talent: he nibbles off bits from cheese slices, forming the slices into recognizable shapes. He calls this chewing/carving talent "charving."

Donnica Perfecto, who is in Oggie's class, has one goal in life --- to be famous. Unfortunately, Donnica has no talents. She does have a posse of friends, though, who echo her snobby comments and finish her words for her. Donnica describes her feelings for Oggie this way: "EEEEW." And she doesn't hesitate to say it to his face.

One day, Donnica discovers a flyer on the school bulletin board that just may be her ticket to fame. It's an invitation from the popular TV show "Hidden Talents" for all kids with unusual talents to audition for the program. Donnica immediately takes the flyer, all the better to minimize the competition. But, alas, even Donnica must admit that her lack of talent of any kind is going to be a problem. Her spirits lift when she spies charving artist Oggie showing his dog an American cheese slice shaped exactly like Texas. All of a sudden, Donnica is Oggie's best friend as she persuades him to teach her to charve.

Good-natured Oggie is happy to instruct Donnica in his art form, especially after she says that she needs to perform for her friend's little sister's birthday party. But since Oggie is on his way to help his parents at Too Good to Be Threw, Donnica must accompany him to the thrift store. After much coaching from Oggie ("take small bites"), Donnica feels she is ready for Hollywood. She stays home from school in order to practice, puzzling her mother with her sudden appetite for cheese. Meanwhile, Oggie discovers that Donnica's story about the birthday party is a lie.

Donnica sneaks out of the house to attend the "Hidden Talents" audition. Everyone wonders where she has disappeared to, until Oggie discovers the crumpled invitation. He and Donnica's friends join Mrs. Perfecto as they head to the audition to find Donnica. They are unaware that they are about to set her plan spinning in a direction no one could have predicted.

OGGIE COODER is an enjoyable chapter book with lively, whimsical illustrations. The main character is delightful, and although Donnica Perfecto is a stock figure "mean girl," at least her friends learn and grow throughout the course of the story. Oggie's adventure delivers a message about staying true to oneself, but the lesson is never cheesy; it is as light-hearted and tasty as Oggie's charving lessons.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SAY CHEESE!, May 8, 2008

By	Savvy Sal (NYC) - See all my reviews

"Oggie Cooder is a great book for kids. You'll learn some new words and have fun doing it. This book is funny! It is about a a boy who has a cool talent. If you want to find out what Oggie's talent is and what he does with it, please read the best book -- Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks!"

A Grade 3 reader from Indiana

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun tale of an unusual champi, June 15, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Sarah Weeks' OGGIE COODER tells of a boy whose talent is chewing and carving pieces of cheese into any shape he wishes. His talent doesn't seem unexpected - until a TV show comes to town looking for weird talents, making Oggie an unexpected star. A fun tale of an unusual champion evolves.