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Голямата хартиена мистерия
История за престъпление, напрежение, алиби, улики и хартиени самолети, както и за един мечок, който иска да спечели на всяка цена!
Детските книги на Оливър Джефърс са преведени на 37 езика, а част от наградите му включват New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books award, Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Gold Award, the Irish Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year, the Blue Peter Book of the Year, The Red House Children’s Book Award, както и номинации за the British Book of the Year, the Roald Dahl Funny Prize и the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Арт директор на българското издание е Евгения Николова. Нейна е адаптацията, както и изписаните на ръка надписи в илюстрациите, одобрени лично от Оливър Джефърс.
Детските книги на Оливър Джефърс са преведени на 37 езика, а част от наградите му включват New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books award, Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Gold Award, the Irish Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year, the Blue Peter Book of the Year, The Red House Children’s Book Award, както и номинации за the British Book of the Year, the Roald Dahl Funny Prize и the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Арт директор на българското издание е Евгения Николова. Нейна е адаптацията, както и изписаните на ръка надписи в илюстрациите, одобрени лично от Оливър Джефърс.
40 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2016
19 people are currently reading
1149 people want to read
About the author
Oliver Jeffers
98 books2,762 followersOliver 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
March 14, 2018
First things first: the illustrations capture your heart.
A very interesting way of looking at the world and how it operates. I absolutely adored its concept and presentation.
A very interesting way of looking at the world and how it operates. I absolutely adored its concept and presentation.
May 11, 2019
I didn't like anything about this really. I didn't like the illustrations, I don't know why the bear is drawn with lines for back legs, I don't know why the pig is cooking sausages or is it bacon? Why is it bad that the bear is making paper planes? I found this book very boring.
July 2, 2017
In a strange world that is startlingly similar to our own, all manner of creatures, including a red-haired boy, live subterranean lives under hollow trees. Trees are very important to them, as that's where their front doors are located. But, someone or some thing is cutting down branches and even entire trees. This monster must be stopped!
Funny tale featuring critters with toothpick legs. I love the illustrations, particularly this lineup of suspected felons:
Note the teddy bear in the lower left corner. (He looks guilty to me.)
Funny tale featuring critters with toothpick legs. I love the illustrations, particularly this lineup of suspected felons:
Note the teddy bear in the lower left corner. (He looks guilty to me.)
November 7, 2019
The wonderful Oliver Jeffers, illustrator of such books as
The Day the Crayons Quit
, and author/illustrator of titles like
How to Catch a Star
, creates an entertaining picture-book mystery and ecological fable in The Great Paper Caper. As the residents of the forest notice that branches have begun to go missing from the trees, they attempt to solve the mystery, accusing each other at first, and then banding together to find the culprit. A local bear, in the meantime, obsesses about becoming a paper airplane-making champion like his forbears...
Only the second picture-book mystery that I have read, following upon Graeme Base's marvelous The Eleventh Hour , this engaging tale is less mysterious to the reader - the illustrations make it plain who is chopping off branches - than it is to the characters, who nevertheless enact a detective story in miniature. I enjoyed both story and artwork, and appreciated the approach to justice exhibited in the final section of the book, which involves the culprit offering repentance and making restitution, rather than being punished. The ecological message here - that our choices affect the environment, and therefore also the people around us - is worked seamlessly into a story that never feels preachy. Recommended to all Oliver Jeffers fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books addressing our responsibility to the natural world and to all our fellow creatures.
Only the second picture-book mystery that I have read, following upon Graeme Base's marvelous The Eleventh Hour , this engaging tale is less mysterious to the reader - the illustrations make it plain who is chopping off branches - than it is to the characters, who nevertheless enact a detective story in miniature. I enjoyed both story and artwork, and appreciated the approach to justice exhibited in the final section of the book, which involves the culprit offering repentance and making restitution, rather than being punished. The ecological message here - that our choices affect the environment, and therefore also the people around us - is worked seamlessly into a story that never feels preachy. Recommended to all Oliver Jeffers fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books addressing our responsibility to the natural world and to all our fellow creatures.
October 7, 2014
I think Oliver Jeffers should illustrate something for Wes Anderson. Or they should at least get coffee together.
August 13, 2024
El misterio más tierno de todos.
August 8, 2012
Barely 3 stars from me. I’m not sure why I wasn’t more charmed by this one.
There is some humor, some sweetness, some interesting, intricate pictures, and quite a bit of whimsy.
But, overall it’s just odd, and didactic. There are little lessons about conservation, trees and paper and theft and redemption and giving. But those words are too mighty for this one, I think. It’s so, so odd. I was a bit disturbed by a pig cooking what looked to me to be bacon. I didn’t “get” most of the humor.
I guess it’s for older kids. There is text within some of the pictures that work best for independent readers.
Kids who like paper airplanes and who care about the environment might get a kick out of this one. For me it barely escaped being just okay; somehow I kind of liked it, but I wouldn’t have missed much had I skipped it. I must reveal I’m atypical here so maybe it was my mood??? Until my 3 star review, Goodreads’ members rated it this way: 5 stars x 108 people, 4 stars x 154 people, 3 stars x 86 people, 2 stars x 16 people, and nobody rating it lower than that; 2 ½ stars from me, and a bit of a disappointment. My favorite things in this book are some of the illustrations, including the one with various creatures living under the trees, ladders and doors included.
There is some humor, some sweetness, some interesting, intricate pictures, and quite a bit of whimsy.
But, overall it’s just odd, and didactic. There are little lessons about conservation, trees and paper and theft and redemption and giving. But those words are too mighty for this one, I think. It’s so, so odd. I was a bit disturbed by a pig cooking what looked to me to be bacon. I didn’t “get” most of the humor.
I guess it’s for older kids. There is text within some of the pictures that work best for independent readers.
Kids who like paper airplanes and who care about the environment might get a kick out of this one. For me it barely escaped being just okay; somehow I kind of liked it, but I wouldn’t have missed much had I skipped it. I must reveal I’m atypical here so maybe it was my mood??? Until my 3 star review, Goodreads’ members rated it this way: 5 stars x 108 people, 4 stars x 154 people, 3 stars x 86 people, 2 stars x 16 people, and nobody rating it lower than that; 2 ½ stars from me, and a bit of a disappointment. My favorite things in this book are some of the illustrations, including the one with various creatures living under the trees, ladders and doors included.
January 4, 2009
Oliver Jeffers is an odd duck. This is a statement that should surprise no one. The man simply has a very distinctive way of looking at the world. Labeling his style doesn’t seem to work either. For a while there he was sort of the average-boy-meets-small-friendly-creature author/illustrator thanks to Lost and Found and The Way Back Home. But then you have his other titles to contend with. His How to Catch a Stars. His The Incredible Book Eating Boys. I often find that I can fill up these reviews simply by comparing a certain author/illustrator to similar artists working in similar fields. Unfortunately for me, if Jeffers has been unduly influenced by one artist or another, I’m sorry but I can’t figure out who that might be. Oliver Jeffers is, as I have said before, an odd duck. And we wouldn’t have him any other way. The Great Paper Caper is proof enough of that.
There is a mystery lurking in these woods. It started small enough. Local forest denizens hardly even noticed when the first branches of their trees started to disappear. When the trees themselves started to go, however, it was time to do some serious detective work. At long last something was found near a crime scene; a paper airplane. A paper airplane with the paw prints of the local bear all over it. And sure as shooting when the animals check it out they see that the bear has been turning a plethora of wood into paper airplanes in a vain attempt to live up to the paper airplane stardom of his ancestors. After a full confession and an outpouring of sincere regret the bear is sentenced to a replanting of the trees and his fellow animals find a way to help him come to terms with his paper airplane legacy.
Stories of industrious lumberjack bears do not initially sound particularly British. Close inspection of Jeffers’s illustrations (and they all deserve close inspection, you know) show that the man is prone to particularly British moments. Note the judge’s wig. Or the red telephone booth into which the other animals climb. These all are merely indicative of Jeffers’s love of tiny details. Since he’s not an intricate artist like Peter Sis there’s a temptation to write off the art of Jeffers as straightforward and plain. Take a closer look at the book, however, and all kinds of tiny slights and thought out whiffs of detail catch the eye. Things like the bear’s Mark Spitz-ish ancestor who was a paper airplane winner in 1972. Or, even more subtle, the final image where the bear merrily water a tree, a single bare light bulb glowing in his trailer, not thirty yards away.
Going back to the style of the artist, Jeffers has always had a weakness for critters and creatures that toddle about on two thin stick-like legs. He avoided it with the penguin in Lost and Found, which was only right since penguins are meant for waddling, not toddling. Generally it is a look that has suited his small animals and people quite well. So it was strange to look through this book a second time and see that the bear, of all creatures, also sports a pair of legs that resemble nothing so much as a pair of well-spaced dowel rods. And while that might be considered distracting to some you really don’t notice it, apart from that image on the cover. An unexpected look, certainly, but one that fits within the rest of the book without any problems.
I do appreciate that the bear doesn’t actually, y’know, WIN or anything at the end. Jeffers ends the book on a note of triumph that doesn’t actually say, “and then the bear won the contest.” In the end, all the other animals recycle the bear’s discarded, defunct airplanes and turn them into a humungous airplane (love the fact that it’s still lined paper) and he rides it in style to the finish line. Which is all well and good, but that fortunately isn’t the same thing as saying that he actually won or anything. I mean, it’s pretty clear from the get-go that the bear is a lamentable paper airplane pilot. His creations fail with a kind of unceasing certainty that is somewhat reassuring in this crazy madcap universe we live in. If he were to suddenly win of his own accord or, worse, thanks to his new friends’ intervention, that would be despicable. As it stands, Jeffers takes the clever middle road and all is well and right with the world.
The book doesn’t have quite the same emotional grip of Lost and Found, Jeffers’s best book to date. However, there is much to be said for a picture book as thoroughly amusing and enjoyable as this. If you happen to be in need of a good winter mystery, particularly one that the small tots reading with you will be able to solve on their own, I can’t think of a better title to hand you. Purely enjoyment from start to finish.
Ages 4-8.
There is a mystery lurking in these woods. It started small enough. Local forest denizens hardly even noticed when the first branches of their trees started to disappear. When the trees themselves started to go, however, it was time to do some serious detective work. At long last something was found near a crime scene; a paper airplane. A paper airplane with the paw prints of the local bear all over it. And sure as shooting when the animals check it out they see that the bear has been turning a plethora of wood into paper airplanes in a vain attempt to live up to the paper airplane stardom of his ancestors. After a full confession and an outpouring of sincere regret the bear is sentenced to a replanting of the trees and his fellow animals find a way to help him come to terms with his paper airplane legacy.
Stories of industrious lumberjack bears do not initially sound particularly British. Close inspection of Jeffers’s illustrations (and they all deserve close inspection, you know) show that the man is prone to particularly British moments. Note the judge’s wig. Or the red telephone booth into which the other animals climb. These all are merely indicative of Jeffers’s love of tiny details. Since he’s not an intricate artist like Peter Sis there’s a temptation to write off the art of Jeffers as straightforward and plain. Take a closer look at the book, however, and all kinds of tiny slights and thought out whiffs of detail catch the eye. Things like the bear’s Mark Spitz-ish ancestor who was a paper airplane winner in 1972. Or, even more subtle, the final image where the bear merrily water a tree, a single bare light bulb glowing in his trailer, not thirty yards away.
Going back to the style of the artist, Jeffers has always had a weakness for critters and creatures that toddle about on two thin stick-like legs. He avoided it with the penguin in Lost and Found, which was only right since penguins are meant for waddling, not toddling. Generally it is a look that has suited his small animals and people quite well. So it was strange to look through this book a second time and see that the bear, of all creatures, also sports a pair of legs that resemble nothing so much as a pair of well-spaced dowel rods. And while that might be considered distracting to some you really don’t notice it, apart from that image on the cover. An unexpected look, certainly, but one that fits within the rest of the book without any problems.
I do appreciate that the bear doesn’t actually, y’know, WIN or anything at the end. Jeffers ends the book on a note of triumph that doesn’t actually say, “and then the bear won the contest.” In the end, all the other animals recycle the bear’s discarded, defunct airplanes and turn them into a humungous airplane (love the fact that it’s still lined paper) and he rides it in style to the finish line. Which is all well and good, but that fortunately isn’t the same thing as saying that he actually won or anything. I mean, it’s pretty clear from the get-go that the bear is a lamentable paper airplane pilot. His creations fail with a kind of unceasing certainty that is somewhat reassuring in this crazy madcap universe we live in. If he were to suddenly win of his own accord or, worse, thanks to his new friends’ intervention, that would be despicable. As it stands, Jeffers takes the clever middle road and all is well and right with the world.
The book doesn’t have quite the same emotional grip of Lost and Found, Jeffers’s best book to date. However, there is much to be said for a picture book as thoroughly amusing and enjoyable as this. If you happen to be in need of a good winter mystery, particularly one that the small tots reading with you will be able to solve on their own, I can’t think of a better title to hand you. Purely enjoyment from start to finish.
Ages 4-8.
August 20, 2015
Oliver's illustrations are lovely, except for the ginger-haired child with what I can only describe as a pink phallic object on his forehead which appears in every depiction of him. What the hell is it? Perhaps I should just say what we're all thinking - dickhead. It's a perfect representation, no? Did the editor not notice this . . . appendage before printing? I mean, it's kind of obvious. Is it some sort of unique Australian thing of which I'm unaware?
As for the story, The Great Paper Caper introduces the idea of crime to children using animals. We investigate the theft of trees, arrest the culprit and give him a fair trial. We empathize with the bear 'criminal' and his situation; a desire to follow the family tradition to win the paper plane competition as the generations before him did. Restitution is then demanded which was happily given by planting new trees to replace the ones stolen, and all is forgiven.
I feel like I should like this picture book more. Sadly, upon finishing I was just left cold. I'm not sure why.
October 14, 2020
A great story and lots of opportunities to use with a class. Older children could do their own version of the court case and put the bear on trial with a jury and judge deciding whether he is guilty or not and what his punishment should be.
As the bear is making paper airplanes, this could link to a science experiment where children are create their own plane and measure how far they can go.
As the bear is making paper airplanes, this could link to a science experiment where children are create their own plane and measure how far they can go.
Read
November 12, 2019A Isabel acabou de descobrir que o papel vem das árvores 😁
April 30, 2021
clever and funny. Recommended for 2-5 grade
October 16, 2024
بازم زیادهخواهی ولی این بار محکوم به نابودی نبود.
طنز تصویریش ولی خیلی خوب بود مثل عذر (alibi) جغده و اون خرسهای تشخیص هویت. و یه بارقههایی از blank space هم اینجا دیده میشد.
طنز تصویریش ولی خیلی خوب بود مثل عذر (alibi) جغده و اون خرسهای تشخیص هویت. و یه بارقههایی از blank space هم اینجا دیده میشد.
February 11, 2019
A standalone picture book mystery involving a crime in the forest.
My Take
Okay, yeah, it's a mystery all right, and perfectly set up for young children. It will require a parent to help interpret the minimal text, though.
The graphics are really simple in warm tones and pastels and quite sweet. Do check out the sign the koala is holding...
The pruned trees are something common in people's yards. Also common is the blame game played by all the animals! Both can make the story more familiar for kids. And a great opportunity for parents to talk about it being wrong to blame people without proof.
The investigation itself, using objective third person point-of-view, is pretty funny with the "do not cross" tape, that naughty pig, and no leaf left uninvestigated. The whole process follows the legalities, which can reinforce this for the kids.
It's at the end that we learn of Bear's ambitions, and the compassion shown is so sweet. That end will make you smile, as will the practical "punishment" with Bear replacing what he destroyed.
The end papers (in the front and back of the book) include instructions on building paper airplanes.
The Story
Trees are disappearing throughout the forest. Homes destroyed. Parking gone. The forest creatures must discover why and who.
The Characters
Bear, deer, goose, beaver, pig, owl, koala bear, and boy.
And the policeman.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a soft blue sky in the top two-thirds with a snowy landscape of white in the bottom third. In the distance are bare-branched trees in a variety of greens. In the foreground are three tree stumps with a red-hatted bear leaning on an ax with skinny pins for legs. At the top is an info blurb in black. The title is below this in white while the author's name is in red at the bottom.
The title refers to Bear and The Great Paper Caper.
My Take
Okay, yeah, it's a mystery all right, and perfectly set up for young children. It will require a parent to help interpret the minimal text, though.
The graphics are really simple in warm tones and pastels and quite sweet. Do check out the sign the koala is holding...
The pruned trees are something common in people's yards. Also common is the blame game played by all the animals! Both can make the story more familiar for kids. And a great opportunity for parents to talk about it being wrong to blame people without proof.
The investigation itself, using objective third person point-of-view, is pretty funny with the "do not cross" tape, that naughty pig, and no leaf left uninvestigated. The whole process follows the legalities, which can reinforce this for the kids.
It's at the end that we learn of Bear's ambitions, and the compassion shown is so sweet. That end will make you smile, as will the practical "punishment" with Bear replacing what he destroyed.
The end papers (in the front and back of the book) include instructions on building paper airplanes.
The Story
Trees are disappearing throughout the forest. Homes destroyed. Parking gone. The forest creatures must discover why and who.
The Characters
Bear, deer, goose, beaver, pig, owl, koala bear, and boy.
And the policeman.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a soft blue sky in the top two-thirds with a snowy landscape of white in the bottom third. In the distance are bare-branched trees in a variety of greens. In the foreground are three tree stumps with a red-hatted bear leaning on an ax with skinny pins for legs. At the top is an info blurb in black. The title is below this in white while the author's name is in red at the bottom.
The title refers to Bear and The Great Paper Caper.
October 15, 2020
I loved this book! Such a cute story where you initially think the bear is the bad guy, but instead empathise with him and end up really wanting him to succeed in his goal. It shows the importance of when trees are cut down, and how we may need them at times but should try our best to make up for doing so.
I love the turn it takes for treating the cutting of trees as a crime and the way it goes to court. This can be really useful with children as they could see what punishment if any they thought was appropriate for the bear. Generating great discussion and understanding of the text in class.
The artwork provides a lot for children to discuss and pick up on when reading. The illustration of the line up at the police station was my personal favourite.
I love the turn it takes for treating the cutting of trees as a crime and the way it goes to court. This can be really useful with children as they could see what punishment if any they thought was appropriate for the bear. Generating great discussion and understanding of the text in class.
The artwork provides a lot for children to discuss and pick up on when reading. The illustration of the line up at the police station was my personal favourite.
October 3, 2018
Het eerste boek dat ik voor Kinder en Jeugdjury groep 2 bij ons in de bib zal mogen voorstellen. En ik heb een schoontje gekozen!! Prachtige tekeningen met kleine fijne details, leuk verhaal met een twist. Benieuwd wat onze jonge juryleden er van gaan vinden!
January 15, 2021
Un libro muy tierno, muy bello que, me mantuvo atenta hasta el final (de verdad quería saber cual era el misterio del oso), pero me decepcionó un poco el final :( solo por eso 4 estrellas en lugar de 5.
(no soy el publico objetivo, pero me tomo muy en serio los cuentos).
(no soy el publico objetivo, pero me tomo muy en serio los cuentos).
March 30, 2021
Es el primer libro de Oliver Jeffers que tengo y fue por un regalo lo cual lo hace más especial 💖
Amo las ilustraciones y sin duda quiero los demás libros del autor
Amo las ilustraciones y sin duda quiero los demás libros del autor
August 5, 2025
Hilarious. A real joy.
October 30, 2019
Cute! Simple story line and nice illustrations. Good for KS1.
February 3, 2019
2,5 stars...maybe.
This is a really odd book. The pictures are weird but let's call them original. The story starts out simple enough with pictures describing most of the action but by the end we have a literal court case on our hands with some text in speech bubbles and other text on the page with more complicated words like prosecutor or investigation.
Don't get me wrong, it's a great way to learn new words but which age group is this for?
I would say the pictures and the premise are for 2-5 year olds and then the court room with all it's language feels out of place.
The pictures are fine and the weird humor is ok and we still read it from time to time but I don't think I would recommend it to my friends.
I think it's unnecessarily complicated for younger kids and not interesting enough for older kids while being somewhat confusing for parents like me.
The line-up photo in the book is pretty funny though.
This is a really odd book. The pictures are weird but let's call them original. The story starts out simple enough with pictures describing most of the action but by the end we have a literal court case on our hands with some text in speech bubbles and other text on the page with more complicated words like prosecutor or investigation.
Don't get me wrong, it's a great way to learn new words but which age group is this for?
I would say the pictures and the premise are for 2-5 year olds and then the court room with all it's language feels out of place.
The pictures are fine and the weird humor is ok and we still read it from time to time but I don't think I would recommend it to my friends.
I think it's unnecessarily complicated for younger kids and not interesting enough for older kids while being somewhat confusing for parents like me.
The line-up photo in the book is pretty funny though.
December 31, 2008
This is a very odd story...a mystery to discover who is chopping down the branches and trees in the forest, and why? The illustrations are somewhat simplistic (all the animals have stick legs?!?), with sparse details. The story is a cautionary tale about the environment, but I'm not sure that it is engaging enough for younger audiences. My favorite part of the book was the dust jacket, with the paper airplane template and directions for making recycled paper.
March 6, 2016
Another great example of how the illustrations in a picturebook can be used to tell a different story to that in the text. Whilst all the animals are busy conducting their investigation, the reader is witnessing clues and the actual crime being commited just accross the gutter.
February 13, 2020
Recientemente leí 3 cuentos de Oliver, me encantan sus historias e ilustraciones 🐖♥️
October 16, 2017
Read this book in Dutch, but I will be writing this review in English.
I spotted this book at one of my libraries and just had to have it. The cover, the blurb, they both sounded so much fun. And then I got the book and saw it was by Oliver Jeffers. Imagine my delight! I just love his work, and was even more excited to read the book.
This was a very fun story, though I didn't always like the bear. I guess we are meant to not like him for a bit of the book, until the moment we find out why he has been cutting trees left and right. And now I can hear you shout, but Mehsi, that is a spoiler! Well, actually, no. Unlike the animals we quickly see who the culprit is. Plus the cover!
I just found it bad that he would just cut down trees, or parts of trees. You could clearly see there are people living in those trees.
Yep, it takes the animals most of the book to figure out who is cutting down the trees. It isn't until someone finds a certain object that they find out who it is. I did find it silly that it took them that long to figure it out. You only have so many animals in the forest, and instead of going by every one of them, they just did hours of crime scene investigations. :P
After the animals find out who the culprit is the book turned even more fun. There was a trial, and then the animals decided to help the bear with his problem, which I found really nice of them. They could have easily stayed angry.
The ending was hilarious.
The art was pretty great, sure, I had a laugh at the fact the animals (and humans) all have stick legs, or the orange nose-thingy that the humans have. But the style is still good. :)
Oh, and I am definitely more happy with the Dutch title: De grote bomenrover (The Great Tree Caper). It just fits better with the book.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. Especially the ending was a favourite part of the book for me.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I spotted this book at one of my libraries and just had to have it. The cover, the blurb, they both sounded so much fun. And then I got the book and saw it was by Oliver Jeffers. Imagine my delight! I just love his work, and was even more excited to read the book.
This was a very fun story, though I didn't always like the bear. I guess we are meant to not like him for a bit of the book, until the moment we find out why he has been cutting trees left and right. And now I can hear you shout, but Mehsi, that is a spoiler! Well, actually, no. Unlike the animals we quickly see who the culprit is. Plus the cover!
I just found it bad that he would just cut down trees, or parts of trees. You could clearly see there are people living in those trees.
Yep, it takes the animals most of the book to figure out who is cutting down the trees. It isn't until someone finds a certain object that they find out who it is. I did find it silly that it took them that long to figure it out. You only have so many animals in the forest, and instead of going by every one of them, they just did hours of crime scene investigations. :P
After the animals find out who the culprit is the book turned even more fun. There was a trial, and then the animals decided to help the bear with his problem, which I found really nice of them. They could have easily stayed angry.
The ending was hilarious.
The art was pretty great, sure, I had a laugh at the fact the animals (and humans) all have stick legs, or the orange nose-thingy that the humans have. But the style is still good. :)
Oh, and I am definitely more happy with the Dutch title: De grote bomenrover (The Great Tree Caper). It just fits better with the book.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. Especially the ending was a favourite part of the book for me.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
June 24, 2021
Esta es otra obra de arte del gran Oliver Jeffers que vuelve a sorprender a grandes y pequeños con su humor dulce y desenfadado. La trama, como en otras ocasiones, se encuentra en conexión con uno de los problemas que nos atañe a todos hoy en día: la sobreexplotación del medio ambiente.
Las ilustraciones son de alta calidad y, pese a que los personajes puedan resultar simples a primera vista, las composiciones esconden grandes detalles que embelesan y, sobre todo, consiguen sacarte una sonrisa. Haciendo partícipes en el relato tanto a animales como a humanos, nos transporta a la perfección a las entrañas del disparatado misterio. El texto, con pinceladas desternillantes, es simple y conciso, muy adecuado para los más pequeños. Las imágenes y las letras se complementan, dando lugar a una experiencia literaria llamativa.
Valores como el cuidado por nuestro mundo, la cooperación, la reflexión sobre los actos propios o, incluso, el perdón y la redención son elementos clave de esta narración.
Por otro lado, tanto la contraportada como la camisa de la edición especial guardan una grata sorpresa con la que entretener a los más pequeños. Ideas tan simples como el diseño de un avión de papel pueden llenar una tarde de risas o, si somos más atrevidos, podemos seguir las instrucciones con las que dar nueva vida a un papel usado por medio de su (re)fabricación.
Sin duda alguna, todo un placer de libro que no debería faltar en ninguna estantería infantil.
Las ilustraciones son de alta calidad y, pese a que los personajes puedan resultar simples a primera vista, las composiciones esconden grandes detalles que embelesan y, sobre todo, consiguen sacarte una sonrisa. Haciendo partícipes en el relato tanto a animales como a humanos, nos transporta a la perfección a las entrañas del disparatado misterio. El texto, con pinceladas desternillantes, es simple y conciso, muy adecuado para los más pequeños. Las imágenes y las letras se complementan, dando lugar a una experiencia literaria llamativa.
Valores como el cuidado por nuestro mundo, la cooperación, la reflexión sobre los actos propios o, incluso, el perdón y la redención son elementos clave de esta narración.
Por otro lado, tanto la contraportada como la camisa de la edición especial guardan una grata sorpresa con la que entretener a los más pequeños. Ideas tan simples como el diseño de un avión de papel pueden llenar una tarde de risas o, si somos más atrevidos, podemos seguir las instrucciones con las que dar nueva vida a un papel usado por medio de su (re)fabricación.
Sin duda alguna, todo un placer de libro que no debería faltar en ninguna estantería infantil.
October 21, 2020
Something terrible is happening in the forest. Branches from trees are going missing overnight, and nobody knows what's going on. Everyone living in the forest gathers together to look at the crime scene, and to try to discover what has happened. Initially they blame each other, but after discovering everyone there has a solid alibi they continue their investigations to try and find the culprit.
The illustrations are important throughout the story, adding little extras to your reading pleasure. For example there's the picture of poor Owl falling flat on the floor because the branch he usually lands on in a tree has been stolen! The investigators do manage to discover what's been going on, and the Bear is first held for questioning, and then taken to court where he confesses that he is trying to win a paper airplane competition, and that he had no one to ask for help and he's very sorry about the trees. He says he'll help to fix things, by planting new trees, and the other forest dwellers offer to help Bear to win the competition.
I really enjoyed this book, and I like the way it is told very seriously, but is very funny. It is an appropriate picture book for children of all ages, even KS2 children who can fully appreciate the humour and seriousness of court. The police line up made me laugh out loud, and there are other very funny moments throughout.
The illustrations are important throughout the story, adding little extras to your reading pleasure. For example there's the picture of poor Owl falling flat on the floor because the branch he usually lands on in a tree has been stolen! The investigators do manage to discover what's been going on, and the Bear is first held for questioning, and then taken to court where he confesses that he is trying to win a paper airplane competition, and that he had no one to ask for help and he's very sorry about the trees. He says he'll help to fix things, by planting new trees, and the other forest dwellers offer to help Bear to win the competition.
I really enjoyed this book, and I like the way it is told very seriously, but is very funny. It is an appropriate picture book for children of all ages, even KS2 children who can fully appreciate the humour and seriousness of court. The police line up made me laugh out loud, and there are other very funny moments throughout.
October 7, 2021
A charming story with incredibly detailled illustrations that would be a very rich source of oral language opportunities in a primary classroom. Could be used as a spring board for discussions on how paper is made, the justice system, the best was to make a paper airplane, paper crafting/origami in general, forgiveness, collaboration, the importance of trees/forests and more! A really excellent addition to a teachers picture book collection.
September 21, 2019
I liked the fact that this books tells the story from the point of view of the woodland creatures. You can see the bear working away in the background, with hints to his motivation. What would the story look like from the bears point of view? I also like the ecological message. Damage can be repaired. Plant more trees!
December 2, 2020
Great picture book following a group of animals trying to solve a crime - someone is cutting down all their trees and stealing them! There are many cross-curricular opportunities, including an activity where the 'court' can be set out with the children each have an important role to play and have to come up with questions to ask the bear to reach their verdict.
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