Up the Creek

by Nicholas Oldland

Overview

The bear, the moose and the beaver are the best of friends, even though they often disagree. On a canoe trip, the trio’s squabbling leads them into rough waters. Can they agree on a plan before it’s too late?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771380614
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	09/01/2013
Series:	Life in the Wild Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
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.

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