About the Author

Oliver Jeffers is a highly acclaimed talent in picture books. He graduated from The University of Ulster in 2001 with First Class honours and has since exhibited his paintings around the world. His outstanding talent has already been recognised by several high-profile awards, including the Nestle Children's Book Prize Gold Award, the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award and the Irish Children's Book of the Year.

www.oliverjeffers.com

Reviews

Praise for This Moose Belongs to Me:
‘As ever, Jeffers’s illustrations delight, inspire and susprise with their variety and ingenuity.’ The Guardian ‘A charming little gem’ The Telegraph Praise for Stuck:
‘Brilliantly silly’ The Telegraph Praise for The Incredible Book Eating Boy:
‘Mouth-wateringly irresistible’ The Guardian

It won't take readers long to see that Wilfred has moose problems. He tries hard to make Marcel the moose obey his many rules ("Rule 7 [subsection b]: Maintaining a certain proximity to home"), but Marcel is only vaguely interested in Wilfred. What he really likes are apples. Wilfred's role as moose owner is further cast into doubt when a random old lady greets Marcel as Rodrigo. "You're back!" she cries. (Marcel reacts warmly, but only because she has an apple.) Eventually, Wilfred is able to recognize Marcel's independence; it's a useful and unexpectedly heartwarming lesson in lowered expectations. Nervous Wilfred is dressed in a geeky bowtie and suspenders, while Marcel is the size of a garden shed, with antlers like towel racks. What really ups the ante are Jeffers's (Stuck) incongruously grandiose backdrops. Wilfred's struggle plays out against dawn-kissed mountain ranges, brooding spruces, and sweeping American plains, giving the proceedings an air of faux-solemn dignity that's hilariously at odds with Wilfred's dorky personality. The moose may not belong to Wilfred, but the laughs certainly belong to Jeffers. Ages 3-7. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

K-Gr 2-Wilfred wants a pet, so when a moose just happens to wander by, the boy claims him as his own and dedicates a lot of time to teaching Marcel the rules of being a good one. They fill their days exploring the countryside and taking long walks. One day, however, Wilfred discovers that his moose might have a whole other life that he knows nothing about. He must figure out how to process this shocking discovery and decide if he can accept the fact that he must alter the boundaries of their friendship. With its classic story of friendship and witty text, this beautiful picture book will appeal to children. The fonts are mixed between standard type and words that appear to be handwritten. Speech bubbles appear on some pages as well, to give voice to Wilfred and several other characters. The illustrations are a combination of oil paint onto old linotype, painted landscapes, and technical enhancements. The characters are whimsical and bright, and the appealing landscapes carry readers along on this journey of two unlikely friends. This Moose Belongs to Me will be adored by younger elementary students, particularly those who have longed to keep a wild animal as a pet.-Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.