From Publishers Weekly
Oswald the octopus, whom youngsters may recognize from the Nick Jr. series, moves to Big City and meets many pleasant neighbors in this thoroughly polite picture book. Oswald, a violet-blue orb resembling Pac-Man with tiny tentacles and a bowler hat, drives into town with only "his pet hot dog," Weenie, for company. Right away, the two have trouble moving a piano into their building: "`Whew!' said Oswald as he caught his breath. `Creak!' said the stairs as the piano started to roll down them.... `Splinkie, splinkie, splinkie,' said the piano as it rolled down the sidewalk." To recapture the runaway instrument, Oswald enlists the help of a lazy penguin named Henry, a flower called Daisy and a baker-insect named Madame Butterfly. By the time the group pushes the piano back home, lonely Oswald has seven new friends. Yaccarino (Deep in the Jungle) adopts the earnest tone of a "Dick and Jane" reader. Weenie often says, "Bark! Bark!" and Oswald is described as a "friendly fellow." The author/illustrator balances the old-fashioned sincerity with smooth, digitally rendered images of oddball characters like his tentacled hero (who doffs his hat at each introduction), a stiff tree that walks on its roots and a snowman who sells ices. This cheery story of cooperation introduces a group of optimistic characters that readers may well hope will be back for more adventures. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-Oswald and his pet hot dog, Weenie, make the big move to the city. The octopus is nervous about making new friends but Weenie is confident that they'll do just fine, which turns out to be true. The precipitating factor in meeting a whole slew of city folks is the runaway piano that Oswald and Weenie are trying to move up the stairs of their new home. Before they know it, a penguin, a daisy, a snowman, and others are lending a hand. Each helper utters a unique exclamation, and soon there is a chorus of "'Umph, umph,' said Oswald. 'Bark! Bark!' said Weenie. 'Hoo-wee,' said Daisy," and so on. Preschoolers can join in on the refrain especially since the story is lengthy. The computer-generated artwork is postmodern 1950s. As in Yaccarino's An Octopus Followed Me Home (Viking, 1997), the text and deep pastel images float upon crisp white backgrounds. The city skyline is actually made from common objects such as a fishbowl and a rocket in clever disguise. If your patrons are fans of the Nick Jr. preschool program, Oswald the Octopus, this is a necessary purchase. Otherwise, other books on relocating and making friends such as Judith Viorst's Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move (Atheneum, 1995), Robin Ballard's Good-bye, House (Greenwillow, 1994), or David McPhail's A Girl, a Goat and a Goose (Scholastic, 2000) are more accessible to most preschoolers.
Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
