Saturday, November 24, 2018

Oliver Elephant

Oliver Elephant. Lou Peacock. Illustrated by Helen Stephens. 2017/2018. Candlewick. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Mommy and Noah and Evie-May Brown had gotten up early to go into town. They had lots to do, but they knew where to go--the Christmassy shop at the end of the row.

Premise/plot: Oliver Elephant accompanies young Noah on his Christmas shopping adventure. But will Oliver Elephant behave on this shopping trip?

The book is written in rhyme. On every spread, readers can see what the family--and Oliver--are doing. But Noah loses Oliver at one point, can they find him or will the book end in tragedy?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I did. I wasn't completely in love with the rhyming aspect of it. Having to rhyme does force the story in some ways.
While Mommy bought warm gloves
for Great Uncle Jock...
Oliver Elephant tried on a sock.
While Mommy found Emma
a tiny toy mouse...
Oliver Elephant hid in a house.
While Mommy found Granddad
Good Cooking for Two....
Oliver Elephant played peekaboo.
While Mommy bought lavender
soap for Aunt Mabel...
Oliver Elephant danced on the table. 
But the book has its delightful aspects. I loved the illustrations, for example.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

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