Oslo Learns to Swim: Ready-to-Read Level 1

by Doug Cushman, Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

Overview

Rex the warthog teaches his best friend, Oslo the oxpecker, to swim in this first book in the sweet and funny Level 1 Ready-to-Read series about the unlikely duo.

Rex the warthog and Oslo the oxpecker bird are friends who do everything together. But when Rex wants to go swimming, Oslo objects! The water looks cold and wet. There might be sharks. Will Rex be able to help Oslo overcome his fears and join in the fun?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665926492
Publisher:	Simon Spotlight
Publication date:	05/02/2023
Series:	Rex & Oslo
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	29 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 6 Years

About the Author

Doug Cushman has illustrated over 130 children’s books, thirty or so of which he also wrote. His titles have been New York Times bestsellers and won awards including the Christopher Award, the California Young Readers Medal, and two Maryland Blue Crab Awards. Doug was also the recipient of a National Cartoonists Society Newspaper and Magazine Illustration Award, and he has displayed original art in France, Romania, and the United States. Doug enjoys mystery novels, playing slide guitar horribly, cooking, and traveling. He lives in St. Malo on the Brittany coast in France.

Editorial Reviews

05/01/2023

PreS-Gr 1—Rex the warthog and Oslo the oxpecker are best friends, but they argue a lot. In this book, the bird and warthog exchange banterlike dialogue about going swimming. Rex wants to go swimming and invites Oslo to join him. Oslo comes up with every excuse imaginable to not go: "It looks cold," "It looks pretty deep." As Oslo stands on the shore complaining and worrying about potential crocodiles, Rex jumps in and starts to have a good time without Oslo. Finally, Olso admits that he doesn't know how to swim, and Rex quickly offers to teach him right then and there. Rex models the appropriate ways to swim safely, and Oslo is a quick learner. The duo has fun, demonstrating that true friends always help each other. The story ends with a bit of a plot twist as two crocodiles, one of whom is afraid to swim, begin walking toward the same lake. This is an adorable story about friendship and fun told in speech bubbles very similar to those seen in the Mo Willems's "Elephant and Piggie" stories. The cartoonlike illustrations and large speech bubbles will appeal to young children. This looks to be the first of many adventures for the unlikely pair. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase, as it will have broad appeal to the preschool and the beginning reader population.—Kristen Todd-Wurm

School Library Journal