Oswald - Hardcover

Yaccarino, Dan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 068984252X ISBN 13: 9780689842528

Publisher: Atheneum, 2001

Synopsis

Oswald the bright blue Octopus and his hot dog, Weenie, make many new friends when they move to Big City, in a tale based on characters who will soon appear in their own Nickelodeon TV series.

About this title

About the Author

Dan Yaccarino has written and illustrated many books for children, including the uproarious fable Deep in the Jungle. He is the creator of Oswald, the preschool series on Nick Jr.® His work has been featured in magazines, newspapers, ad campaigns, and animated television commercials. His large-scale paintings have been exhibited in galleries in New York City, Tokyo, and Rome.

Reviews

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.

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.

Ages 3-7. Oswald and his pet hot dog, Weenie, have just moved to a new city, and Oswald is worried that he will have trouble making new friends; Weenie knows better. As the two try to move Oswald's beloved piano, the instrument slips away and rolls through the city streets. As they try to retrieve it. Oswald and Weenie meet up with a surreal cast of generous locals--pumpkin-headed men, walking trees, gingerbread figures, eggs in fedoras--who help push the piano home and stay for a party--dancing and eating cake like old friends. The character of Oswald is rooted in an upcoming television show to appear on Nick Jr. in the fall, and the story, filled with motion and sound effects, may have more impact on screen than on the page. But Yaccarino's spare, computer-generated illustrations will delight preschoolers with their zany, random comedy, and the cumulative story will make for rowdy, interactive story hours. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Atheneum
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 068984252X
• ISBN 13: 9780689842528
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Yaccarino Dan
• Number of pages: 32