Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

How is it we’ve never done an Oliver Jeffers book on this podcast? Well, that stops today, folks. Kate wanted something light and goofy, and by gum I’d say this book fills the bill. First off, it came out in 2005 (which means it just barely crests our 20-year rule). Second, it’s cute and it’s what, I truly believe, put Oliver Jeffers on the map in America. Today we’re talking about penguins in all their myriad forms. Kate challenges me to think of another picture book with a tidal wave and so if you folks could help me out, I’d really appreciate it. Any ideas come to mind?

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, PlayerFM, Audible, Amazon Music, or your preferred method of podcast selection.

Show Notes:

Should you wish to read my write-up of the Oliver Jeffers story from back in the day, check out The Children’s Choice Book Awards Gala or I’m Ready for My Close-Up, Mr. Scieszka. And this was the tux:

Since there’s no knocker and no doorbell, we are under the distinct impression that the penguin just waited there until someone happened to open the front door.

Considering that this penguin has no facial features, look how Jeffers so cleverly makes it clear that the penguin is sad, simply by the slump of its shoulders. Beautiful.

This should be on my family crest for the Bird family: “Some birds are like that.”

Why does this image work as well as it does? Multiple reasons, but one of them is the fact that it has the world’s smallest anchor in that upper-left porthole. As Kate points out, Jeffers isn’t huge on details so the small details are easily noticed and appreciated.

Kate was the one who noticed the price tag that somehow remains attached to the umbrella. Both in the book and even on the cover.

Apparently I’m on a tidal wave kick this month. First Rainbabies, now this. Kate is insisting that I find a third picture book that features one. Any suggestions come to mind?

In the pantheon of hugs in the whole of children’s picture books, few would argue that any hugs are quite as sweet and meaningful as this one. This is an image for the ages. Trouble is, I completely agree with Kate that this page should have been the last one in the book. The one after this? Utterly superfluous. It feels like the book originally did end here and some editor requested the page after it. Boo.

Kate Recommends: Clean Slate
Betsy Recommends: Knives Out

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate