Picture Book Author: Oliver Jeffers

LOST AND FOUND       By: Oliver Jeffers        4 Stars                         DVD: 5 Stars (Favorites!)

Like many of the entertainment forms, I found LOST AND FOUND at my local library. The movie was the first thing I noticed. The cover was brightly colored with the simple picture of a penguin and boy floating in an umbrella. It was too much for me to ignore. Who said you can’t judge something by the cover? When the cover stated it was based on a picture book by Oliver Jeffers, I had obtained it as well as the sequel, UP AND DOWN.

I watched the movie with a few choice little ones; one of which always chose to follow the movie along with the picture book. I am sure it will sound familiar to some of you that even when an entertaining movie is on everyone still has other electronics out. As if the one activity is simply not enough to allow your full attention. That was not the case with this movie. Like the book, it is a story of few words causing everyone to pay closer attention. The kids were compelled by the movie and were completely lost in the story of friendship.

LOST AND FOUND is a story of a penguin that appears on a boy’s doorstep. The boy, thinking the penguin is lost, tries to find out where he comes from and return him to his rightful home. This leads to a trip to the South Pole. Over the course of the story the boy realizes the penguin was actually just lonely and a close friendship evolves.

The reason I gave the movie more stars (and added it as one of my favorites) was based on the fact that you get more of the story and relationship of the characters. You see how the boy wants to do the right thing, yet he doesn’t seem overly friendly to the penguin. The penguin is just one of those characters you can’t help but adore. In fact, this movie was so adorable I could barely stand it. Even the little ones seemed to feel emotions for the characters friendship that make the story endearing to all of us. Add in the brilliant colors and simplicity (yet detail within its simplicity), I just couldn’t help but be completely entranced within the story.

 

I had to read other books by Oliver Jeffers as I was enthralled with his story-telling ways. I haven’t read all of them, but below is a list of a few favorites.

 

THE INCREDIBLE BOOK EATING BOY             5 Stars

What literary person wouldn’t love the idea of books increasing our knowledge? Plus, the illustrations are amazing! Many of the pages illustrate pages of other books as the background. Other times there are random words, letters, maps and numbers strewn about. Then when you get to the end there is a bite mark on the corner of the book as if the boy had taken a chunk out of the exact one you are reading. Brilliant.

 

HOW TO CATCH A STAR                     4.5 Stars

The illustrations are still good, but not quite as creative as THE INCREDIBLE BOOK EATING BOY. The ending of the story is just to perfect to not love the entire book.