Oliver Finds His Way [Hardcover]

Phyllis Root (Author), Christopher Denise (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A small bear looks for—and finds—courage and a way home.


While Mama hangs the wash out
and Papa rakes the leaves,
Oliver chases a big yellow leaf . . .

Oliver is so intent on following a blowing autumn leaf that he doesn’t even notice that he’s lost his way. All alone at the edge of the woods, he starts to cry. He cries and cries - but he is still lost. And so he rubs his nose and tries to think. . . .

With characteristic warmth, humor, and a firm faith in the power of pluck, Phyllis Root quietly captures a big, defining moment in the world of a small child.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Root (What Baby Wants) uses a minimum of text and Denise (The Fool of the World) alternates close-up portraits with panoramic view to bring a fresh poignancy to the familiar theme of a child so caught up in play that he suddenly finds himself lost and alone. On a gorgeous autumn day, while Mama and Papa tend to chores, Oliver the bear cub follows the airborne path of a big yellow leaf. In nearly cinematic views framed in a clean white border, the artist shows the cub getting farther from home. Before he knows it, Oliver is at the edge of the woods. With economic, staccato-rhythm prose ("Oliver looks for the leaf./ No leaf./ Oliver looks for the house./ No house"), Root evokes the flashes of realization that constitute a child's thought process. Denise's gold-toned charcoal and pastel pictures never distort the landscape into something frightening. The woods where Oliver finds himself may be shadowy, but glimpses of comforting blue sky show through the trees, and a squirrel and bunny who watch Oliver are far from threatening. Denise gets terrific emotional mileage from the interplay of Oliver's tiny eyes, huge head and clown-like snout; readers will have no trouble empathizing with his plight. And when Oliver figures out that he can find his way back through call-and-response roars with his parents, youngsters will cheer his noisy ingenuity, too. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Descriptive yet succinct language tells the story of a small bear who gets lost while chasing an autumn leaf. First he bursts into tears, but when he realizes that crying doesn't help, he devises a plan to get him back home to Mama and Papa and "tumble-down hugs." Denise effectively uses a red, orange, gold, and yellow palette of pastels and charcoal on paper to illustrate the seasonal story. Children see lots of white space until Oliver becomes lost. Then, the full-spread illustrations take on a darker palette to bring home the scariness of the situation. The happy ending is totally satisfying and will leave readers smiling.
Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; 1 edition (August 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763613835
• ISBN-13: 978-0763613839
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 0.4 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,174,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Phyllis Root has written many award-winning books for children, including TEN SLEEPY SHEEP, OLIVER FINDS HIS WAY, ONE DUCK STUCK, WHAT BABY WANTS, RATTLETRAP CAR, and BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD, winner of the BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect toddler book, April 2, 2009

By 

Thomas "toddler's mom" (Mount Vernon, WA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Oliver Finds His Way (Hardcover)

I've never written a review before, but I had to contribute here. The illustrations are cozy and charming (Oliver runs just like a toddler!), and Oliver shows commendable initiative (teaching little ones to think things over and come up with solutions). It's also a good participatory book: When Oliver "roars" his way back to his parents, our 2-year-old learned to do the roars. This has become our family's favorite book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I USE THIS ONE TO TEACH LESSONS, November 2, 2006

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Oliver Finds His Way (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful little book that I have found very, very useful in teaching children safety. Oliver, a small bear, wonders away from his family's home and becomes lost in the woods. This is something that most kids do. I remember that well over sixty years ago I had adventures quite like that of our foolish little bear in this story. I use this work to teach children what to do and what not to do when lost. How it is not a good idea to wonder off without telling Mom or dad, and what to do when actually list. Oliver did some things right and somethings wrong. It is an excellent work which children seem to understand and relate to. As to the illustrations. The price of this book is well worth ever dime you spend just for the wonderful art work found in this work. It is truely impressive! All in all I highly recommend this one.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book, October 21, 2005

By 

Grace Everett "Grace" (Vermont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oliver Finds His Way (Hardcover)

This book is absolutely amazing. The story is a timeless one, told sparingly and with a child's viewpoint in mind. The illustrations are some of the best I've ever seen, filled with emotion that leaps off the pages.
As for J.H., who found the book dangerous: I think your sort of thinking is dangerous. Deciding a book is less worthy because it discusses a real life problem makes no sense, and is the sort of thinking that leads to censorship. Children get lost. Not reading a book about it will not keep it from happening. Use this book as a way to discuss the topic, instead.
And by the way, try keeping your kid in a cart next time.