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Stuck

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From the illustrator of the #1 smash The Day the Crayons Quit comes another bestseller--a giggle-inducing tale of everything tossed, thrown, and hurled in order to free a kite!

When Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, he's determined to get it out. But how? Well, by knocking it down with his shoe, of course. But strangely enough, it too gets stuck. And the only logical course of action . . . is to throw his other shoe. Only now it's stuck! Surely there must be something he can use to get his kite unstuck. An orangutan? A boat? His front door? Yes, yes, and yes. And that's only the beginning. Stuck is Oliver Jeffers' most absurdly funny story since The Incredible Book-Eating Boy. Childlike in concept and vibrantly illustrated as only Oliver Jeffers could, here is a picture book worth rescuing from any tree.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 10, 2011

55 people are currently reading
5022 people want to read

About the author

Oliver Jeffers

98 books2,763 followers
Oliver Jeffers' work takes many forms. His distinctive paintings have been exhibited in galleries worldwide, and HarperCollins UK and Penguin USA publish his award-winning picture books, now translated into over 30 languages.

In 2007, Jeffers was the official illustrator for World Book Day, and in 2008 Lost and Found became Oliver's first book to made into animation by London-based Studio AKA.

Jeffers won a NY Emmy in 2010 for his collaborative work with the artist and director Mac Premo, and in 2013 Jeffers co-directed the video for U2's Ordinary Love with Premo. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Jeffers now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

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5 stars
5,567 (48%)
4 stars
3,694 (32%)
3 stars
1,648 (14%)
2 stars
407 (3%)
1 star
143 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,202 reviews
Profile Image for Dream.M.
1,038 reviews652 followers
August 23, 2024
وقتی یاد میگیری برای حل یه مشکل، مشکلات بزرگتر بوجود نیاری
Profile Image for Spencer Orey.
600 reviews207 followers
October 12, 2018
This is so so funny. Wow. It's the old lady who swallowed a fly meets Katamari Damacy or something like that. Unexpected and the illustrations are lovely. Floyd is a gem. Get this and have some great laughs :)
Profile Image for Maggie Stiefvater.
Author 64 books172k followers
March 25, 2014
We've had this one for awhile, but tonight I read it with the wee maggots again and realized I had never recommended it to others.

It's like black-humor-for-babies. It's not really dark in the slightest, but it subverts typical moralistic picture books in a way that my kids find hilarious — they love that the narrator never makes the good choice.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
4,784 reviews
February 8, 2012
I didn't really "get" this one, I'm afraid. The humor didn't amuse me, and I felt so annoyed with the boy for being selfish and irresponsible. I know it's supposed to be outrageous and unrealistic, and funny, but I guess it just didn't work for me... I did find some humor in the illustrations, but I have to agree with other reviewers here who found the cursive-like style of the writing a bit difficult to read and don't think this would be the best book for a child learning to read.
Profile Image for Erin.
759 reviews
December 3, 2011
I am so, so disappointed in this book. I read a pre-pub review and thought it sounded really cute, possibly even storytime material. However, although the premise is great, the pictures and more importantly the text are not. The font used for the book is a pseudo-handwritten script, which is not only indecipherable to children, but also pretty hard to make out as an adult. It was really frustrating to try to read even with it in front of me, and I can't imagine trying to make it out at an angle that would be good for storytimes. The pictures have a minimalistic look to them that has been popular in some picture books as of late... while this works in some books, it just doesn't here. The idea behind this book is so fun, so it's a disappointment that the result is so mediocre.
Profile Image for Alan.
Author 15 books191 followers
February 18, 2013
Clare (my wife) is an infant teacher, but she's recently been tasked with setting up and stocking the library, so she occasionally brings home books to show me. The ones she thinks I'll like. For example The Red Tree. This time it was two Oliver Jeffers' books (this one and The Incredible Book Eating Boy). I have to say they are just about perfect. Funny, silly, delightful and addictive. In this one a boy gets his kite stuck up a tree and throws a shoe to dislodge, but the shoe gets stuck as well, so he throws other things up and they all get stuck, so then he fetches a ladder, and... well that would be giving it away.

Strangely the day after reading I picked up the Guardian and there was an article by Jeffers about the debt he owes to Maurice Sendak (that's why the boy in his first picture books has a stripey jumper, an homage to his favourite monster in Where the Wild Things Are) and also how his books are not children's books, but simply picture books. Because as he says I don't believe they are just for children. I have met countless adults that collect picture books for themselves, and they are growing in confidence about openly admitting this in a book-signing queue. It's not for my daughter, or a friend's nephew. It's for me. Exactly.
Profile Image for Hamed Manoochehri.
328 reviews39 followers
October 17, 2024
این درباره سرکوب خشم بود؟
در عین بامزگی واقعا مطلب سنگینی رُ داره بررسی میکنه.
البته زیاد چیز خاصی جز همون کلیت استعاره. نقاشی ها درخور تم و موضوع نبود اونقدرا.
Profile Image for Lisa Vegan.
2,912 reviews1,316 followers
February 4, 2013
What makes this story funny is its ludicrousness. I enjoyed the cumulative nature of the story, and loved the fact that Floyd’s favorite shoe is his left shoe. It is pretty amusing all that’s needed to retrieve a kite from a tree. I do wish the ending had been different though. I expected certain things to follow the kite coming out of the tree and they did not happen, so: weird ending, one that I didn’t really enjoy but think young kids will get a kick out this book. The font is strange (more difficult to read that simple print) for a picture book so I guess this book would be best either for read aloud or for children age 8 and older. Kids who like silly stories will probably love it. I liked some of the pictures better than others, the whale, the tree, the full tree, but the style in general isn’t my favorite. 3 ½ stars
Profile Image for Jaksen.
1,611 reviews91 followers
January 3, 2018
My first book of 2018! And yes, a children's book, but who cares?

I own Jeffers' book, 'The Incredible Book-Eating Boy,' which I often read to my five-year old grandson. We love that darn book, and yes the MC EATS BOOKS! So I decided to check out other books by Jeffers...

This one is also great, where a boy loses a kite in a tree and proceeds to throw things at it, trying to knock it down. (I explained to my grandson that this really happens; it happened to me; and that his grandfather and I threw sticks at the darn kite 'til it fell down. A simple story and he loved it.)

Anyhow when the boy throws a ladder at the kite, my grandson immediately said, 'Why didn't he climb the ladder?' and my response was ''cuz he's a boy in a book.'

A great book regardless, easy to read, fast, silly, delightful, another favorite. I'll probably need to buy this one, too. :D
Profile Image for Khue Dinh.
156 reviews246 followers
June 5, 2016
Đọc cuốn này cũng... ở tiệm Kafka 54/2 Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Q1. Lạy trời, mình có khi thành vua đọc cọp của cái tiệm này rồi. Đọc một lần 5 cuốn luôn. Thành "dua" đọc cọp nó mất rồi. Haha.

Cuốn này rất khủng, không khéo gọi là siêu phẩm chứ chẳng chơi.

Cuốn này có mèo, có cá doi, có xe cứu hỏa và các chú cứu hỏa và tá lả các thứ có khác.

Và...

Có một cái kết kinh khủng khiếp dữ dội và mộng mơ đến tan hết cả bơ.

Như một giấc mơ.

Profile Image for JMarryott23.
293 reviews7 followers
November 9, 2022
I can’t believe I’m reviewing this, but we just bought this book for family friends who are having a kid. When looking at the quality of a kids book, I’m looking at three things…
1) Illustrations 5/5 - the art is beautiful in this and people of all ages will surely love it
2) Story 5/5 - the story is random and simple but hilarious and hooks you immediately. Towards the end of the book there are some punchlines that really land for both young and old readers
3) Message/Themes 2/5 - if you are looking for a message to pass onto little ones, this book won’t provide that. Maybe determination by the young boy to retrieve his kite? Still, his behavior is not meant to be praised.

Round it all up, it’s four stars for this book that is shorter than my review.
12 reviews
December 17, 2013
Stuck is a hilarious little story about a boy, Floyd, who gets his kite stuck up in a tree. The story follows Floyd in his not-so-logical thinking around how to get the kite down. Firstly by throwing his shoe, and yes, that does get stuck too, he comes up with many other strange and wonderful objects to throw up there!

I came across this book whilst working in a Reception class in school. The class teacher had decided to read it to the children before lunchtime and they absolutely loved it; it was so engaging! The illustrations in Stuck (as with other Oliver Jeffers’ stories) are wonderful and I love how they have so much expression; they are really good at visually portraying emotions and feelings, which children will be able to identify with.

This book is ideal for young children in an Early Years setting as well as in Key Stage 1 (ages 4-7 years) as it is a very simple story that is based around child humour. The story is great for questioning and getting children to imagine and come up with their own ideas. What’s going to happen next? How is Floyd going to be able to get the kite down? The story allows for lots of discussion and open-ended questions, children are fully involved in the story and they will find it so funny to predict what is going to happen next. I love how the end to the story is also left open-ended, allowing for even more discussion and encouraging children to use their imaginations! This story would be a great foundation for introducing story-telling; getting children to write their own endings to stories, or even for children in the Early Years to draw or use role play to tell their story endings.

I really love this book and it has introduced me to the other wonderful stories by Oliver Jeffers, which have just as much humour along with the beautiful illustrations!
Profile Image for Abigail.
7,972 reviews265 followers
November 7, 2019
When Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, he throws his shoe up to dislodge it, only to find that the shoe gets stuck as well. Soon his other shoe, a cat, a ladder, and a succession of ever-larger and ever more absurd objects and creatures are stuck in the three, as Floyd chucks them at the problem. When the tree is laden with everything from a blue whale to a firetruck (complete with firefighters), his kite is finally freed, and Floyd runs off to play. After a full day, he goes to bed, haunted by the feeling that there is something he has forgotten...

Author/artist Oliver Jeffers delivers an absurdly hilarious madcap romp in Stuck, one in which the zany illustrations are more than a match for the narrative hi-jinks. The surreal humor here rests not just upon Floyd's unorthodox manner of confronting his problem, but also upon the speech-bubble comments of the people who are dragged into his messy solution, and stranded in the treetop. The artwork is quirky and appealing, in the inimitable Jeffers way that I find difficult to describe, and that, despite not necessarily being to my taste aesthetically, always works just right with the story, and keeps me amused. The scene in which whale, lighthouse, and ship are all sticking up from the tree won a particularly appreciative chuckle. Recommended to all Oliver Jeffers fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books with a somewhat surreal silliness.
Profile Image for Jami.
19 reviews2 followers
June 3, 2012
Audience: This is a fantastic book for kids who like funny, silly stories. It is great for kids who like to read for humor as well as for teachers looking for a book to teach the reading strategy of making predictions. It would also be a great choice for a teacher looking for a book to use as a spring board for a fun writing assignment or a lesson on problem and solution. The larger size and non-conventional printing of the text as well as the strong illustration to text correlation would make it a good choice for a frustrated or reluctant reader to have a fresh fun start with a book.

Appeal: The silly and outrageous nature of this book form the basis of it's appeal. It is a fun and easy book to enjoy over and over and has endless possibilities for continued story telling. Because it is written in a mix of cursive and print it may be a bit harder for younger kids to read it for themselves but it would make a really fun read aloud.

Awards List: This book is a nominee for 2012-2013 Wyoming Buckaroo Book Award (Wyoming's state award for picture books geared toward grades k-3).
Profile Image for Nikoleta.
101 reviews2 followers
February 3, 2019
Откривам символика, че когато нещо важно е зациклило, понякога трябва да жертваш всичко останало, за да го отциклиш.
Profile Image for Maria Johansen.
206 reviews100 followers
February 23, 2018
Oliver Jeffers er manden bag Træet, og han er også forfatter til storsuccessen Barn af bøger. I Træet møder vi en anden side af den talentfulde forfatter og kunstner, for her er historien båret af den humor børns umiddelbare logik ofte fører med sig. Bogen anbefales til børn i 4-6-årsalderen, men jeg tør godt udvide anbefalingen til også at inkludere voksne, som drages af de morsomheder, der ligger gemt i børnelogikken. Hvor sjovt er det for eksempel ikke, at Fredes opfindsomhed og stædighed får ham til at kaste en brandbil med drejestige og tjenstvillige brandmænd op i træet, fremfor at benytte sig af deres ressourcer og hjælpsomhed. Den lille drengs snedigheder er så fjollede og absurde, men alligevel vækker de genklang for læseren, som udmærket ved, at den eneste måde at få ting ned fra et træ er at kaste nye ting op.

Læs mere her: https://bookmeupscotty.blogspot.dk/20...
Profile Image for Laura.
1,520 reviews253 followers
March 12, 2012
I adore Oliver Jeffers! But it makes me sad to say this outing was a disappointment.

I loved the idea of the book and determination of the young boy trying to get the stuck kite down. I mean who hasn’t gotten a ball, kite, kitten, or kid stuck up in a tree? Hehe…

The story’s pace and language felt stifling and sluggish at times to me though. Just when I thought the energy or flow would pick up, a word or picture would clog up the tale again almost making a reader stumble or back track a bit.

My biggest disappointment was the presentation of the words. The half cursive, messy, curvy writing made it extremely difficult for kids to recognize words. It broke my heart to see the disappointment, confusion and downturned faces when the children asked what a particular word said and realized—oh, I know that word. Very discouraging at times!

This book was not for me. :(


3/11/12
Profile Image for Kaethe.
6,567 reviews534 followers
January 23, 2018
It's a silly story about the time the kite got stuck in the tree and everything else got thrown up into the tree to knock the kite loose. That's it. Improbable things stuck in a tree.

Library copy
Profile Image for Netta.
611 reviews42 followers
December 15, 2016
אחד המצחיקים שקראתי השנה.
אל תקראו את תקציר הספר. חבל להרוס.
Profile Image for Judy.
608 reviews67 followers
July 28, 2025
Funny! The kind of book a grandma could read joyfully over and over again. 👵
Profile Image for Gert De Bie.
488 reviews61 followers
January 20, 2022
Meest hilarische prentenboek ooit (overdrijving is een stijlfiguur :) ) en jarenlange favoriet bij mijn 3 kinders.
Frisse, speelse tekeningen, overdrijving als stijlfiguur (recht in onze winkel, me dunkt) en een leuke plot die je telkens weer bij de neus neemt.
Topper.
(Als ik aanvul dat ik het boek de afgelopen jaren tussen de 100 en 200 keer voorgelezen heb, is overdrijving even geen stijlfiguur maar een feit.)
Profile Image for Jen.
1,060 reviews27 followers
June 9, 2012
While I really liked Jeffers' book "The Incredible Book Eating Boy," I didn't care for this book as much. After everything was getting stuck, it was monotonous and even my oldest who is 5 commented, "Mom, can he just go get a chainsaw and cut the tree down so that he can get everything out? This is nuts what he's doing!" I also have a concern about the cursive writing for the text. This isn't going to be something that smaller children will be able to try and read if they haven't had cursive yet and with many schools debating whether to teach it or not, that may be an issue.
Profile Image for Maritina Mela.
486 reviews97 followers
November 26, 2023
Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο, βγήκε στα αποτελέσματα μιας αναζήτησης Google που έκανα για βιβλία σχετικά με το περιβάλλον που να απευθύνονται σε παιδιά προσχολικής ηλικίας. Όποιος το έχει διαβάσει, ξέρει πως δεν έχει καμία σχέση βέβαια.
Πάμε όμως να πούμε τι πραγματικά συμβαίνει σε αυτό εδώ το βιβλίο κι όχι τι νόμιζα ότι θα συνέβαινε.

Πρόκειται για μια σύντομη ιστορία που αφορά έναν χαρταετό, ο οποίος κολλάει σε ένα δέντρο και το αγοράκι που τον έχασε, πετάει στο δέντρο διάφορα αντικείμενα για να τον κάνει να πέσει κάτω.

Δεν ξέρω τι φταίει, αλλά περίμενα να έχει πιο πολύ ζουμί η ιστορία. Αντ' αυτού, μού θύμισε το τραγουδάκι I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, όπως έχουν πει κι άλλοι αναγνώστες στις κριτικές τους.

Ακόμα, το τέλος ήταν αρκετά απότομο, τόσο που αναρωτήθηκα αν έλειπαν σελίδες από το ebook που διάβαζα, αλλά όχι.

Δεν έχω πολλά αρνητικά πράγματα να πω για αυτό το βιβλίο, κάτι που να το κάνει να αξίζει χαμηλή βαθμολογία. Δεν έχω όμως και πολλά θετικά. Που στα θετικά, σίγουρα βάζω την εικονογράφηση και το ότι χρησιμοποιεί γλώσσα που θα είναι ευκολονόητη στους μικρούς αναγνώστες. Όμως σε γενικές γραμμές, δεν με συγκίνησε και σίγουρα έχω διαβάσει και καλύτερα/πιο ενδιαφέροντα βιβλία που να απευθύνονται σε παιδιά προσχολικής ηλικίας.

If you made it this far, congratulations!
'Til next time, take care :) :) :)
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