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Oddrey
Oddrey
From Blue Spruce Award–winning author-illustrator Dave Whamond comes the story of Oddrey, a young girl who is a little bit different from everybody else. Every aspect of Oddrey’s world is a study in playful curiosity. Her adventures and flights of fancy, however, are often a source of some teasing at the hands of her classmates. Her technicolor snow sculpture has the rest of the playground gaping in disbelief. Her drawing of blue apples is met with a stern look from her teacher. But Oddrey, never one to let anything get her down, faces all of these discouragements with optimism and offhanded grace.
So when her class production of The Wizard of Oz is cast and Oddrey is given the rather spiritless role of a tree, she decides to make the best of the situation and vows to be the most unique tree ever. Sadly, her teacher has other ideas, and Oddrey dons an uninspired costume and sways in the back row. But when her classmates start forgetting their lines, knocking down props, and suffering from stage fright, Oddrey steps in to save the show — not by stealing it, but by helping her classmates rise to the occasion.
So when her class production of The Wizard of Oz is cast and Oddrey is given the rather spiritless role of a tree, she decides to make the best of the situation and vows to be the most unique tree ever. Sadly, her teacher has other ideas, and Oddrey dons an uninspired costume and sways in the back row. But when her classmates start forgetting their lines, knocking down props, and suffering from stage fright, Oddrey steps in to save the show — not by stealing it, but by helping her classmates rise to the occasion.
Hardcover
First published November 22, 2011
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112 people want to read
About the author
Dave Whamond
46 books11 followersDave Whamond is an award-winning illustrator and cartoonist whose work has appeared in books, magazines and newspapers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
May 17, 2019
Its always fun to be a bit different from others.
Book is here >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcUc-...
Book is here >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcUc-...
February 18, 2018
Really cute book about being yourself. I especially liked the clumsy lion in the play :)
February 26, 2019
Oddrey is happy to be her own person. She is unique and stands out from her classmates. This doesn't usually bother her. She's proud of who she is.
Use to talk about uniqueness in each of us.
Use to talk about uniqueness in each of us.
March 5, 2019
It’s good to be different
Read
April 20, 2020Oddrey is a young girl who notices that she does things differently from most people in her life. This causes her to be made fun of and earn disapproval from her teacher, but it doesn't stop Oddrey from being her unique self and brightening the lives of others. In the end, she helps others realize that being different is good and everyone should be themselves. I would recommend this book for children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
February 2, 2020
I just heard of this series a few days ago and decided to check it out to see if it was appropriate for the little kids in my life. Happy to say it's cute, well illustrated, and not overly moral. Also animal free.
November 11, 2020
This was a delightful book about not being ashamed to be different - and even starting trends accidentally. My six-year-old loved it. I know if both she and I like the same books, then it's an automatic 5 stars!
November 21, 2017
Picture Book (Read on Tumblebooks)
December 13, 2019
What a cute, laugh-aloud picture book. Wonderful illustrations, and a positive message. Highly recommended!
July 30, 2021
3 & 1/2 stars
An interesting story about a unique girl who loves being herself! Illustrations were whimsical & full of color!
An interesting story about a unique girl who loves being herself! Illustrations were whimsical & full of color!
March 21, 2025
Being unique
July 26, 2025
A sweet book about being yourself.
September 23, 2023
Oddrey liked to be different and do things her own way. When it was time for the school play, Oddrey planned to be the best costumed character but her teacher had a different idea for her costume. Oddrey was disappointed, but then shey found that she had to save the show when things started going wrong. Cute story about a very enthusiastic child with a positive attitude. Fun illustrations.
October 17, 2016
“She believed it was important to think for herself... But not everyone appreciated her unique style. Sometimes, Oddrey felt lonely.”
The upbringing of a child often entails the contradicting feelings of wanting to fit in and wanting to embrace one’s differences. This is evident in the quote included above. This is a dilemma that most will face at least once in their lives, and perhaps even throughout adulthood. However, Oddrey was never one to want to blend in with her peers... Her creative mindset often led her to ‘do her own thing’ and think for herself, but this bold independence occasionally left her feeling lonely.
However, Oddrey didn’t let things get her down for long… She quickly realized that individuality can really take you far, specifically when it comes to saving your school’s play... an environment where her creativity thrived. “After that night, Oddrey had to work a bit harder to be different…”
Dave Whamond does an excellent job conveying Oddrey’s vibrant personality through his illustrations. The cartoon-like characters are animated, colorful and fun to look at.
I fell in love with this book immediately after reading it. I find Oddrey’s unique zest for life quite inspiring, as her positive nature almost seems contagious. This is a must-have for an elementary school library, and I think it would be a phenomenal choice for a second grade classroom. I'm not the only reader with these opinions; Oddrey won the Blue Spruce award in 2014.
The message of the text is reflected by Oddrey’s actions and beliefs: It is okay to be different. For a follow-up activity, I would suggest some sort of artistic expression, like inviting your students to create a self portrait to convey their unique style and interests. Pictures could then be posted around the classroom to really show diversity.
“I decided to branch out and really blossom!” said Oddrey
The upbringing of a child often entails the contradicting feelings of wanting to fit in and wanting to embrace one’s differences. This is evident in the quote included above. This is a dilemma that most will face at least once in their lives, and perhaps even throughout adulthood. However, Oddrey was never one to want to blend in with her peers... Her creative mindset often led her to ‘do her own thing’ and think for herself, but this bold independence occasionally left her feeling lonely.
However, Oddrey didn’t let things get her down for long… She quickly realized that individuality can really take you far, specifically when it comes to saving your school’s play... an environment where her creativity thrived. “After that night, Oddrey had to work a bit harder to be different…”
Dave Whamond does an excellent job conveying Oddrey’s vibrant personality through his illustrations. The cartoon-like characters are animated, colorful and fun to look at.
I fell in love with this book immediately after reading it. I find Oddrey’s unique zest for life quite inspiring, as her positive nature almost seems contagious. This is a must-have for an elementary school library, and I think it would be a phenomenal choice for a second grade classroom. I'm not the only reader with these opinions; Oddrey won the Blue Spruce award in 2014.
The message of the text is reflected by Oddrey’s actions and beliefs: It is okay to be different. For a follow-up activity, I would suggest some sort of artistic expression, like inviting your students to create a self portrait to convey their unique style and interests. Pictures could then be posted around the classroom to really show diversity.
“I decided to branch out and really blossom!” said Oddrey
March 25, 2013
Oddrey is a little different from other children. At her core, she is very creative and often challenges herself to think outside the box. She's sure of herself, but is sometimes left out by her classmates.
When things don't go as planned during the class play, Oddrey is the perfect team player and encourages her classmates to do their very best, bringing the show to a successful conclusion. Her classmates show their appreciation by embracing their inner Oddrey which just means Oddrey has to work a little harder to continue to stand out.
Artwork supports text by expanding upon items mentioned in text and giving examples of how Oddrey stands out. I liked Oddrey's confidence; she's a solid character.
A good read aloud for grades 1-3.
When things don't go as planned during the class play, Oddrey is the perfect team player and encourages her classmates to do their very best, bringing the show to a successful conclusion. Her classmates show their appreciation by embracing their inner Oddrey which just means Oddrey has to work a little harder to continue to stand out.
Artwork supports text by expanding upon items mentioned in text and giving examples of how Oddrey stands out. I liked Oddrey's confidence; she's a solid character.
A good read aloud for grades 1-3.
December 20, 2012
Oddrey is odd, but she's mostly ok with that. When others don't take to her eccentricities, Oddrey shrugs it off. After she wows her classmates and audience during their school play, everyone wants to be a little more like Oddrey (and she has to try a little harder to stand out).
A good message - to thine own self be true - but not a particular memorable execution. Not sure why Oddrey's teacher has to be so down on Oddrey. And Oddrey? Not so odd after all.
A good message - to thine own self be true - but not a particular memorable execution. Not sure why Oddrey's teacher has to be so down on Oddrey. And Oddrey? Not so odd after all.
March 6, 2016
Exceptional book! Starting with the fact that Oddrey is, well, different, and even better than that, how okay she is with standing out from the crowd, this book moves on to acknowledge the less than stellar feelings someone might experience when they allow their differentness to shine through. By continuing to be true to herself, she becomes the class hero even though she never does win over the teacher. [But that's okay, because some teachers just can't be won over.] I LOVED THIS BOOK!
August 9, 2014
Oddrey by Dave Whamond – 2012 – A book to go with that discussion about how it is ok to be different and stand out from the crowd. How you shouldn’t let others influence your actions. Too bad the teacher didn’t learn to appreciate originality by the end of the book but lovely how the classmates accepted and appreciated differences and originality.
September 15, 2012
This book does a great job of celebrating the odd and unusual in all of us, as seen through the eyes of a little girl who won't conform. Whamond's funny and busy pictures are highly engaging with plenty of details to hook young readers.
February 20, 2013
Oddrey is a little odd, but she is ok with it. She saves the day at the school play and all the other kids decide being a bit odd is ok too. This is a cute book about accepting who you are and who others are. Nice message about not judging others.
February 21, 2013
Very cute story about the value of marching to the beat of your own drum. I liked the illustrations, and the way that Oddrey makes a difference by helping out all her classmates. It's a fairly typical story, but something about the quirky art makes it a lot more fun than it could be otherwise.
May 26, 2013
I was oddly surprised to find that this book didn't go too far, and many seem to do these days. What is really odd about the book is that it doesn't focus on kids making fun of Oddrey. And oddly enough, Oddrey just enjoys being odd. And it works great for her, and for the book. How odd.
September 19, 2013
Oddrey does things differently than everyone else, something her teacher does not appreciate. But when she saves the school play, others around her learn to see that sometimes doing things differently can be the best way.
October 19, 2014
Winner of the 2014 Blue Spruce Award. Oddrey is well, odd, but in the most perfect way! She always thinks creatively and "outside the box", which can be lonely when not everyone understands her. But after she saves her class play she soon finds it a bit harder to stand out.
November 9, 2012
love the premise of this spunky little girl that didn't care if she was different from everyone.
November 24, 2012
"Oddrey has always known she wasn't like everybody else".
This is nearly my favorite picture book of all time.
Or at least for today.
This is nearly my favorite picture book of all time.
Or at least for today.
September 6, 2016
Loved the characters and the illustrations are great.
February 20, 2013
Cute, but underwhelming.
March 21, 2013
Great book to spark a discussion about differences & carving out your own colorful path on life!
July 24, 2013
TX 2x2 List. A great book that has a simple plot. Cute about how being different is cool.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews