Up the Creek

by Nicholas Oldland, Nicholas Oldland (Illustrator)

Overview

“There once was a bear, a moose and a beaver who were the best of friends, though they often disagreed.” So when the three friends go canoeing together one sunny day, it doesn’t take long for them to start quarreling with one another. First, they can’t decide who should get to steer the canoe. Later, they debate how best to get across a beaver dam that blocks their way. But when they can’t agree on the proper course for maneuvering through the white-water rapids they suddenly find themselves in, the consequences become truly perilous. It takes a long, uncomfortable night spent stranded on a rock to remind the bear, the moose and the beaver what they often forget: everything turns out better when they work together as a team.

As with his other popular books in the Life in the Wild series, featuring these three lovable animal characters, author-illustrator Nicholas Oldland has created a funny romp of a picture book adventure for young children that will be a favorite choice in the classroom. Oldland’s distinctive, simple and playful artwork tells much of the tale on its own, with lots of visual humor in the characters’ facial expressions and the numerous asides throughout. At its core, this is a fun, contemporary fable that champions the importance of teamwork, cooperation and communication while also promoting the joys to be found in nature, specifically the wilder parts of the outdoors. This book could serve as an introduction to discussions on animals and their environments in the early grades as well.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771387989
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	04/04/2017
Series:	Life in the Wild Series , #4
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	96,826
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	AD700L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Nicholas Oldland earned a degree in fine arts at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada, and enjoyed success as a commercial artist and filmmaker before taking up the role of creative director at Hatley, a popular apparel company. Big Bear Hug is his first picture book.

Nicholas Oldland earned a degree in fine arts at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada, and enjoyed success as a commercial artist and filmmaker before taking up the role of creative director at Hatley, a popular apparel company. Big Bear Hug is his first picture book.

Editorial Reviews

Storytimers and newly independent readers alike will enjoy this trio's continuing adventures.—Kirkus Reviews

Oldland's simple text and spare illustrations keep the story moving at a good pace ... The story addresses friendship, animals, humor, the outdoors, and cooperation.—School Library Journal

It's all good fun, and Up the Creek is a welcome addition to the Oldland canon of Canadiana.—The Montreal Gazette

It's seriously goofy and at times even silly, but still we can't get enough of this book.—Globe and Mail

From the Publisher

K-Gr 2—In this fourth title about a bear, moose, and beaver, the three critters decide to take a canoe trip. It seems like a good idea, but the friends quickly learn that failing to work together causes many problems; they disagree on small issues, such as who will steer the boat and how to do it correctly. Readers are introduced to nautical and canoeing terms such as "stern," "portside," "portage," "current," etc. Oldland's simple text and spare illustrations keep the story moving at a good pace. Throughout the tale, a charming red bird mimics the friends' actions. The story addresses friendship, animals, humor, the outdoors, and cooperation.—Janene Corbin, Rosebank Elementary School, Nashville, TN

School Library Journal

The bear, the moose and the beaver might be friends, but they can't agree on anything! One nice, sunny day, the three friends decide to go for a canoe trip down the river. All of them want to steer--and that tips the canoe, and they all end up in the water. A game of "Eenie-Meenie-Minie-Moe" puts the moose in the stern, but they all insist on paddling on the same side of the canoe. They're so stubborn that they just circle for a long time. It's only when they get tired that they start switching sides and move forward. When they come to a beaver dam, no one can agree on how to get over the blockage. Once over the dam (the bear's idea to portage wins out), the trip goes smoothly…until the bickering starts. They're yelling so loudly that they don't hear the waterfall, and that strands them on a rock in the middle of the river. They argue well into the night. It's not until the next morning that it dawns on the friends that they'll never get to shore unless they work together. Canadian author/illustrator Oldland's fourth Life in the Wild picture book features all three of his blocky cartoon woodland characters in a fine tale of friendship and cooperation. Gentle humor, both visual and textual, make this an easy and not preachy lesson. Storytimers and newly independent readers alike will enjoy this trio's continuing adventures. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews