The Lost And Found

by Mark Teague

When their math teacher sends them to see the principal, two boys risk further punishment by following a new girl who has disappeared into the lost and found bin looking for her lucky hat. Reprint.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Mark Teague has delighted young readers with more than 20 picture books, and he has written many of them himself, including the popular Pigsty, Baby Tamer, and One Halloween Night. He is also the illustrator of Cynthia Rylant's beloved Poppleton series for beginning readers and the best-selling books by Jane Yolen, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight and How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon.

Mark Teague's life changed when he moved from San Diego to New York City and he planted the seed for his first picture book, The Trouble with the Johnsons. Each of Teague's books start as "notebooks full of sketches and scribbles, strange little drawings and phrases that suddenly come together," Teague explains. And although he had no formal writing training, his endless imagination and understanding nature gives him a permanent place in the hearts of everyone.

Mark and his wife live in Coxsackie, New York, with their young daughter Lily, who has a great time watching her dad paint the pictures in his books.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another nostalgic trip with The Lost And Found. Wendell and Floyd are waiting out at the principal's office for missing out on a math test, though they claim a giant quid was keeping them trap in the bathroom. New girl, Mona is coming to the lost and found, in search of her missing lucky hat. When the boys see that she fell into the bin, they follow her down into a larger realm of all lost things. The trio see many doors to many different rooms, but no luck on Mona's hat. It's until they reach a hat room does their luck seem to change!

Mark Teague's creative imagination shows in creating how a mundane search becomes one of a large adventure into a hidden realm right underneath the school, and finding some of the most unexpected things. I did not realize there was much more text than I expected in this book, but Teague's retro illustrations expand those words into a vibrant world. Sure the plot is no game changer, but for a group of kids' magical adventure in a school, it is a classical story for others to be explore.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost and Found was kind of an interesting book. The story was creative, events were unexpected, and there was a real sense of adventure that blossomed through the text and pictures on the initial pages of this book. My niece and nephew had just been fed and had just had ice cream, so their energy levels were high, but this book caught their attention right away and they sat quietly and listened to it. So the beginning was good.

But it kind of felt like direction was lost about halfway through the book, and the sense of adventure that sizzled in the beginning fizzled in the middle. My nephew enjoyed Lost and Found, but I came away from it feeling like it was just too full of unrealized potential. This could have (and should have) been a four star book, but it just didn't work out that way.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Mark Teague's work through his collaboration with Jane Yolen on the How Do Dinosaurs? series. So when I saw The Lost and Found written and illustrated by Mark Teague, I snatched the book up to add to our collection.

In The Lost and Found, Mark Teague creates a wonderful alternate world where all the lost and found things go. The way into this magical world is, of course, through the lost and found bin. Thematically then, Teague's book is like Attic of the Wind except less sappy.

The story follows three explorers: Wendell, Floyd and Mona who go in search Mona's lucky hat and find their own luck and friendship along the way. As Mark Teague is an illustrator, he only tells half the story in the text. The remainder is told in his whimsical and slightly retro illustrations.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a humorous and entertaining look at school lost and founds as well as friendship. I know that the lost and found at our girls' elementary school is huge by the end of the school year, with innumerable coats, gloves, lunchboxes, hats, etc.

We enjoyed reading this fantastic story about children going on a journey to discover a missing hat and coming back as good friends. The ending is entertaining and we loved the colorful illustrations, too.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

If anyone can get lost in the Lost and Found, it’s Wendell and Floyd, the two unluckiest kids in the school. Or maybe it’s Mona Tudburn that’s unlucky, because when she’s looking for her lucky hat, she falls headfirst into the Lost and Found bin. So, of course, Wendell and Floyd follow her.

Caves, a deep lake, tunnels, a hat room ... all in the lost and found? “I wonder if the principal knows this is here.”

Fun stuff.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a cute story that's well illustrated. Each of the paintings has something extra that a parent likely would spot and then engage the child with by giving hints on what to look for.

I hope the fictional Mrs. Gernsblatt remains fictional as she did not know how to work with children that have imaginations.

[Natalia Muniz · Rating 4 out of 5]

While directing a fellow new classmate find her lost hat Floyd and Wendel realize that once she goes in the bin of the lost and found items they can no longer see her so they go in after her. Once inside they find Mona and help her look for her hat. But the real question is will they be able to find the hat and find their way out...

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Teague is just pure whimsy and I'm 1000% here for it. This had all the luster and adventure of "The Flying Dragon Room", just perhaps a wee bit toned down. I enjoyed it. It had a beautiful underlying side-story about the power - and ease - of those friendships that just feel right and familiar, even when they're new, and it was so inventive. Loved it!

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I remembered, but not too bad

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this five-stars back about twenty years ago when I first read it with the boys. All I can think is that I was wowed by the author's amazing illustrations. Well, the artwork still impresses, but the story seems too familiar - kids on a journey of the imagination, only they get to bring home souvenirs - to enchant this time around.

Think I'll donate this one to the library book sale. Someone else may appreciate it more.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

PB 23
This is a great story about the power of imagination. This book also has a lot of opportunities for creative writing opportunities. The art in this story is also really good and illustrates children very well. The characters are appropriate for the story, and I think a lot of kids would like this story.

[Jessica Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

These characters definitely use their imagination as they fall into the lost and found bin and go on an adventure! There is a good example of a problem/solution evident in the book for the students to figure out as well.

[Janae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mark Teague illustrations and this is a fun story about being lost and found in the Lost and Found. I like the trio of characters Mona, Floyd and Wendell who are also found in One Halloween Night. The boys are in Secret Shortcut which is my favorite Teague story.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was interesting and I never really knew what was coming next. This could be used to teach that predictions can be wring and the story still be good. Also, when teaching students to you their imagination-such as a never ending Lost and Found box.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creative story about some school kids getting sucked into the Lost and Found box only to discover it's a huge cave / building with everything that's ever been lost and found. They wander through it searching for lucky hats.

Nice illustrations.

[Tiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

WHY must this be out of print??

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

perfect book to read on friday the 13th

[Abby Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used for a writing mini lesson about being descriptive and imaginative in writing.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun book that I would recommend as a Kindergarten to Second grade read aloud

[Pat Fromm · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife really enjoyed the trip, and it was not what she expected.