Oscar and Hoo - Softcover

Theo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007107943 ISBN 13: 9780007107940

Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks, 2010

Synopsis

A moving story of an unusual and very special friendship, from the Bafta award-winning illustrator, Michael Dudok De Wit.

Oscar sits at his bedroom window, dreaming of a place high up, above the clouds and below the stars... This is the best place for his dreams.

But there’s no time for Oscar to dream. He’s going on holiday with mum and dad, and all is chaos and confusion. Then, quite before he realises what has happened, he is alone and his parents have disappeared. What is he to do?

And then he hears a voice in the desert – it is a little cloud called Hoo, as lost and lonely as Oscar. Together, the boy and the cloud set out to find Oscar’s parents, and become inseparable friends on their journey.

About this title

Review:

Oscar and Hoo by Theo is a sensitive and moving tale that explores the friendship that develops between a lost child and a lonely little cloud, reminiscent of the Antoine de Saint-Exupery classic The Little Prince.

Young Oscar is happiest when lost in his daydreams and is often chided for having his "head in the clouds". On holiday, he becomes separated from his scatty parents and finds himself stranded in the middle of the desert, alone and very frightened. Along comes Hoo, a small cloud who has become separated from the rest of his group. Oscar and Hoo comfort each other and share tales of their lives, developing a strong and mutually supportive friendship.

BAFTA and Academy Award-winning animator Michael Dudok de Wit's exquisite watercolour illustrations are reminiscent of a combination of the Saint-Exupery style and Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes cartoons. They complement Theo's story perfectly, the moral of which seems to be that having your head in the clouds isn't necessarily such a bad thing after all. Ages 4 upwards.--Alison Drury.

Review:

‘’A warm, gentle story, both touching and telling, with some lovely lines: ‘Oscar, I give you my cloud’s word, I’ll never leave you.’ Bravo!’’
Michael Morpurgo, Children’s Laureate

‘’Profound and evocative’’ The Independent

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0007107943
• ISBN 13: 9780007107940
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Dudok De Wit Michael