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The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles

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The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, who lives alone atop a hill, has a job of the utmost importance. It is his task to open any bottles found at sea and make sure that the messages are delivered. He loves his job, though he has always wished that, someday, one of the letters would be addressed to him. One day he opens a party invitation—but there’s no name attached. As he devotes himself to the mystery of the intended recipient, he ends up finding something even more special: the possibility of new friends.

1 pages, Audiobook

First published August 23, 2016

8 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read

About the author

Michelle Cuevas

12 books116 followers
Michelle Cuevas is an award-winning author of children’s literature. She graduated from Williams College and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of Virginia, where she received the Henry Hoyns Fellowship.

Cuevas is the author of eight books for young people, most recently the 2023 Indie-List Bestseller, The Dreamatics. Her other books include Massachusetts Book Award-winning novel, The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole, national best seller  The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles illustrated by Caldecott medalist Erin E. Stead, and international best seller  Confessions of an Imaginary Friend. Her books have been named best of the year by Time, People, The Boston Globe, and School Library Journal, and have been translated into over twenty languages as well as various theatrical productions.

Her other titles include:  Beyond the Laughing Sky illustrated by Julie Morstad, Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow illustrated by Sydney Smith,  The Masterwork of a Painting Elephant illustrated by Ed Young, and The Town of Turtle illustrated by Cátia Chien.

Her 2017 title The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole is in production with Matt Reeves through his 6th and Idaho banner, and her 2015 title Confessions of an Imaginary Friend is being developed into an animated feature film by Fox. Cuevas has freelanced as a creative consultant for Fox Animation, and is the writer of "Follow Your Heart," which qualified for the animated shorts category of the 2018 Academy Awards, as well as the STEM short Happy Birthday, Ada, commissioned by Google, which won 1st place at the 47th ASIFA-East Animation Awards.

Michelle lives and works in the Berkshires in Massachusetts with her husband and two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Fable and Indy.

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5 stars
816 (36%)
4 stars
886 (39%)
3 stars
410 (18%)
2 stars
102 (4%)
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30 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
Profile Image for Robert Khorsand.
356 reviews381 followers
May 10, 2021
گفتار اندر معرفی کتاب
مردی که بطری‌های اقیانوس را باز می‌کرد، عنوانِ فارسی کتابی‌ست به قلمِ خانمِ «میشل کوئواس» و تصویرگریِ مادرش خانمِ «ارین ای. استد» که در ایران توسطِ خانمِ «سارا مطلوب» ترجمه و نهایتا توسط نشرِ «پرتقال» برای گروهِ سنیِ کودک و نوجوان چاپ و منتشر گردیده است.
داستانِ کتاب در موردِ پسرِ جوانی‌ست که شغلش رساندنِ نامه‌هایی‌ست که در بطری گذاشته و به آب انداخته می‌شود. او همیشه پس از پیدا کردنِ بطری‌ها صاحبِ نامه را پیدا می‌کند و بدستشان می‌رساند تا اینکه روزی نمی‌تواند صاحب یک نامه را پیدا کند در حالیکه در آن روزها به شدت غمگین از این بود که هیچکس برای خودِ او نامه‌ای نمی‌نویسد و ... .

نقل‌قول نامه
"نامه می‌تواند توی دلش گنجی نگه دارد، مثلِ مرواریدی در آغوشِ صدف"

کارنامه
تصویرگریِ کتاب را دوست داشتم و نقصی در آن ندیدم که برایش نمره‌ای کم کنم، اما متنِ داستان به نظرم ضعیف بود، نویسنده با اینکه موضوعِ جذابی را انتخاب کرده بود و شروعی بسیار جذاب را رقم زد اما نتوانست به خوبی به موضوع بپردازد و در ادامه داستان با روندِ کند و کسالت‌باری همراه شد و به پایان رسید. به همین منظور یک ستاره بابتِ عدم تواناییِ نویسنده در پرداختن به داستان و یک ستاره بابت عدم‌ِ توانایی در نوشتنِ پایانِ داستان کم می‌کنم و نهایتا ۳ستاره برایش منظور می‌کنم.

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https://t.me/reviewsbysoheil/242

بیستم اردیبهشت‌ماه یک‌هزار و چهارصد
Profile Image for Fateme Beygi.
348 reviews135 followers
August 9, 2018
چقدر شیفته‌ی این حجم از تصویر و غلبه‌ش بر داستانم توی کتابای کودک. این کتاب از اونایی که باید بگم دلچسبه. تصویر آدم رو می‌گیره و می‌بره و چقدر خوب به داستان نشسته. اون میزان رنگ آبی و اون رنگای ملایم لطافت و شیرینی داستان رو که ایده‌ش خیلی ساده اما قشنگه رو بیشتر می‌کنن. شایدم چون من اون فضا رو دوست دارم و ایده‌ش از ایده‌های دلنشین توی ذهنمه.
Profile Image for Kelli.
927 reviews445 followers
November 4, 2017
Erin Stead is one of my favorite illustrators. She is so talented. In this melancholy tale, her muted illustrations were perfect. The story, however meaningful, seemed more suited for adults. I wasn’t surprised that my children were a bit underwhelmed. 3.5 stars
Profile Image for Diana.
232 reviews30 followers
Read
December 29, 2024
با این‌که بطری‌هاکن اقیانوس عاشق شغلش بود، بی‌اختیار فکرمی‌کرد چه می‌شد اگر یک بار هم نامه‌ای برای خودش می‌رسید. یعنی راستش هربار که در یک بطری را باز می‌کرد، ته دلش امیدوار بود که اسم خودش را چشمک‌زنان بالای نامه ببیند.
اما بعد یادش می‌افتاد که این‌ همان‌قدر شدنی است که یافتن پولک یک پری دریایی روی ساحل، چون او اسمی نداشت. دوستی نداشت. بوی پای ماهیگیران می‌داد و نمک و جلبک دریا. هیچ‌وقت هیچ‌کس نامه‌ای به او نمی‌نوشت.
Profile Image for Sahel.hn.
147 reviews17 followers
September 29, 2024
شاید بعضی وقت‌ها نتونی اون شخص دلخواهت رو پیدا کنی و بهش برسی، اما گاهی توی مسیری که برای پیدا کردنش طی می‌کنی، با تجربه‌ها و رویدادهای جدیدی روبه‌رو می‌شی و به کسانی برخورد می‌کنی که می‌شن دوست و همدمت. درست مثل همون کسی که دنبالش بودی، و چه بسا بهتر.
تصویرسازیش هم خیلی زیبا بود.
Profile Image for sarah Mtz.
30 reviews31 followers
May 5, 2021
خیلی دوست داشتنی بود.
Profile Image for svm.
309 reviews3 followers
May 21, 2016
enough with these pretentious/esoteric/existential hipster picture books! go away and please do NOT come back another day. inevitably, i can already tell this one's gonna win nods/awards/stars/etc. and people are going to rush out and buy it and unless they are true book people (you know who you are), they are going to give it to 3-5 year olds because in their heads, that's the only appropriate market for picture books. don't get me wrong, this book has some lovely language, but it's the kind of stuff that will appeal to ADULTS, not kids. and sure, you could slip some of it into a middle grade novel and it would work there, but again NOT A PICTURE BOOK. argh. people, just stop. please. pretty please.
Profile Image for Roya.
717 reviews130 followers
March 21, 2024
عجب داستانِ خلاقانه‌ای داشت :)))
بچه‌تر که بودم، زیاد به بطری‌‌هایی که توشون نامه بود و روی امواج دریا شناور بودن فکر می‌کردم. البته بیشتر اوقات، من یه دزد دریایی بودم که توی این بطری‌ها نقشه‌ی گنج پیدا می‌کردم و اینجوری سفرِ ماجراجویانه‌م شروع میشد.
بعضی‌وقتا هم جهانگردی بودم که به دنبال کشف سرزمین‌ها و جانوران جدید با کشتی سفر می‌کردم و برای خانواده‌م نامه می‌نوشتم و با بطری به سوی ساحل می‌فرستادم تا از احوالم با خبر باشند.
ولی نه تنها هیچ‌وقت یک "بطری بازکن" نبودم، بلکه هیچ‌وقت بهش فکر نکرده بودم که می‌تونم یک بطری بازکن باشم یا حتی بطری بازکن وجود داره! اونم بطری بازکنی بدون اسم و بدون دوست :(
بطری بازکنی که هیچ‌وقت مخاطب نامه‌ها نبوده و مدام سفر میکرده تا نامه‌ی داخل بطری‌ها رو به دست صاحب‌شون برسونه.
بطری باز کنی که شاید هنوز هم دنبالِ صاحب اون نامه می‌گرده تا تنها نباشه.🥹
Profile Image for Abigail.
7,891 reviews250 followers
July 7, 2019
The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles lived a quiet and solitary life beside the sea, opening bottles and delivering the messages contained therein. His wish for a letter of his own seemed destined to go unfulfilled, until an invitation to a seaside party arrived with no name attached. In the process of trying to determine to whom he should deliver the invitation, the Uncorker ended up alerting the entire village to the theoretical party. When said villagers decided to attend, the party, which until that point existed only in the words of the anonymous invitation, became a reality on the shore near the Uncorker's home...

A lovely book, one which pairs a gentle, heartfelt tale with absolutely gorgeous illustrations, The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles is a title that rewards a slow, leisurely reading. I enjoyed the story, and appreciated the way in which the Uncorker finds a way to finally connect with the community he had long been serving. But it was Erin Stead's artwork, done in woodblock prints, oil pastels and pencils, that really stole the show, and made this a four-star book for me. The palette is subtle but immensely appealing, with beautiful yellow and blue/greens predominating. The figures are a bit quirky, and quite expressive - I think my favorite was the Uncorker's cat! Recommended to fans of Stead's work, and to anyone looking for sweet seaside stories for younger children.
Profile Image for  Kimya.
84 reviews
August 5, 2025
3.5⭐
تصویرگری کتاب فوق العاده بود خیلی خیلی قشنگ
کتاب شروعش جذاب بود موضوع جذابی هم داشت اما نمی‌دونم من تهش رو متوجه نشدم، ترجمه بد بوده یا نویسنده بد نوشته، یا اصلا تهش باز بود؟ خلاصه که می‌توانست قشنگ تر از این پایان بندی کنه اما در کل دوست داشتنی بود.
موضوع کتاب هم درمورد مردی بود که شغلش باز کردن بطری های رها شده توی اقیانوسه و رسوندن پیام های داخل اونها به افراد مورد نظره، شروع جذابیه نه؟
Profile Image for Hannah.
225 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2016
Like a warmly sung ballad, THE UNCORKER OF OCEAN BOTTLES will wind its way around your heart, shining with tinges of loneliness, wonder, and not a little joy.
Cuevas is a master of metaphor--phrases like, “messages… written by a quill dipped in sadness;” or, “[his] heart was a glass vessel filled to the brim,” are brilliantly evocative and transform chantey into chanson.
And Stead’s illustrations. Oh, my. There could not have been a more perfect choice to illustrate this book. She channels the introversion of the uncorker with the perfect balance of levity and gravity, lending a gentleness to the melancholy of solitude. Using vast washes of blue, yellow and orange to evoke the ocean, fog, and moods of sorrow and joy, Stead layers her illustrations with finely-detailed pencil drawings, drawn with whimsy and warmth.
Dear reader, if you search for a story that will uncork your heart and make you feel like you have found “the treasure of a clam-hugged pearl,” look no further. This book is the one for you.
Profile Image for Sepanta.
43 reviews9 followers
January 30, 2021
بخشی از من به کتابای کودک علاقه داره. این امروز با پست برام رسید. داستانش ساده بود. نیمه اولش خیلی خوب بود اما از یه جایی داستان افت کرد. در کل خیلی المان‌های زیبایی داشت و تصویرسازیش واقعا قشنگ بود و لذت بردم.
یه چیز درباره ناشر: کاش پرتقال اینجوری با لوگوی گنده که هیچ ترکیب‌بندی‌ای هم رعایت نکرده زیبایی بصری کتاب‌ها رو خراب نکنه.
Profile Image for Michele Knott.
4,173 reviews204 followers
August 25, 2016
Beautiful story, beautiful illustrations.
Great mentor text for show, don't tell. Love the comparisons.
Stead's illustrations make you pour over each page, long after it was time to go to the next one.
Profile Image for Sara Grochowski.
1,142 reviews603 followers
July 17, 2016
Not only is this is a lovely story, Erin E. Stead's illustrations are so incredibly moving that I find myself nearing tears with each read. What a stellar collaboration from Cuevas & Stead. <3
3 reviews85 followers
March 18, 2018
2 stars not because is a bad book, because I can't compare it with other book...really nice for little kids
Profile Image for Laura Harrison.
1,167 reviews132 followers
September 3, 2016
Picture book perfection right here. Brilliantly done by both author and illustrator. If this title doesn't win the Caldecott gold or at the very least an honor I am going to ugly cry for a month. After that I will complain about the grave injustice of overlooking this spectacular and enchanting book the rest of the year. I don't think I need worry. The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles is one powerful, gorgeous book.
Profile Image for Jill.
770 reviews20 followers
October 25, 2016
I love this book so much I bought two copies of it. One to keep and one to give as a gift. The story is sweet and the illustrations are so beautiful and soothing. It's a relaxing and lovely read. Yeah, maybe it appeals more to adults, but there are children who will fall in love with the pictures and story and remember it as they get older. Recommended for all ages!
Profile Image for Caroline.
357 reviews50 followers
August 24, 2016
Such lovely language! A sweet story of seeking and finding friendship. (And I always love Erin E. Stead illustrations! Swoon.) YAY for quiet books!
Profile Image for RH Walters.
858 reviews16 followers
April 21, 2020
My daughter wants to write a letter and put it in a bottle -- is that littering? We loved the sumptuous pictures and bittersweet story line. It might help that we live in a town with a lighthouse and a big lake.
261 reviews10 followers
October 21, 2022
به داستانش سه ستاره می‌دهم
و به نقاشی‌های بی‌نظیرش چهارتا!
داستان جای پردازش بیشتری داشت
Profile Image for AquaMoon.
1,674 reviews57 followers
December 9, 2016
Wow! I really, REALLY enjoyed this one!!

When I was a young kid, my favorite picture books were the deep, quiet stories with the dreamy illustrations (in favor of the more spazzed-out, sporatic, splashy stories that could induce siezure or trigger a bout of ADHD or both):

The Magic Carousel...

The Runaway Flying Horse...

The Maggie B...

The Conjure Wives...

That very particular version of: "In A Dark, Dark Wood" where in the dark, dark cupboard there is an evil spirit inside a dark, dark bottle.
(Does anyone remember this one? It was part of a book series...)

And others with titles I, frustratingly, can't quite recall, but that stick with me 30+ years later:

Like the one about the little girl who stayed at home sick and dreamed that her toys came alive and whisked her away to a magical land (I think her name was Cybil or Celene or some "C" sounding name)...

Or the one about the doll who got sick of her fancy dollhouse life and ran away to the garage, where she built herself a new home in an abandon crate, using found objects as furniture

Or the story about two raindrops that had a race down a windowpane... (this might have actually been in a short story collection)

If ANYONE knows these stories I can't recall, help me out with the titles here! Pretty please deep-fried and smothered in chocolate and covered in rainbow sprinkles.

Anyway. The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles reminded me of all those books I liked as a little kid, back when I was still mostly having books read TO me rather than simply reading them myself (I read on my own too, of course. How better to entertain myself? There were no iPads back in the late 70s/early 80s. No Apps. No Nintendos or Playstations or Xboxes. And the TV only had, like, 7 stations...IF you counted the 2 that were all staticy most of the time. And anyway, most of those only played super boring stuff like news or soap operas). ANYway... This book was kind of dreamy and mysterious and atmospheric like that. And it had a happy ending.

I have no doubt that I would have loved this book had I encountered it when I was just a "Wee Little Alissa," and my inner child gave me a high five for reading it.


p.s. Can I just say: I SO totally want to live on the beach and collect bottled messages. That would be the best job. Like, EVER! (I mean, ocean/beachfront property, opportunities for travel, no annoying neigbors or gossipy people stopping by at awkward moments or when you're in the middle of stuff... sounds freaking awesome to me!)
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