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It is impossible to put into words (so ironic is that) how much this reader adored this little children’s picture book, — the tale of a boy named Oscar.
The book is illustrated beautifully, with soft-palette images so gorgeous and charming any reader (of any age) would love to visit with Oscar. This wonderful, colorful world is bursting with creatures and meadows and trees, with a hint of Dr-Seussian whimsy, and, oh what adventures Oscar shall have here!
For Oscar is a little boy who finds a mysterious chest, — a chest that will take bit of effort to open. But open it he does (because who could resist?) and what he finds is the chest is filled with riches. But the riches inside are of a different sort, in that they are metaphorical. For the chest contains nothing but words, a great big beautiful tangle of them, lusciously evocative words that Oscar, at first, is deeply confused by. And more than a little disappointed.
And what child wouldn’t be?
As Oscar unravels one word, “fluorescent” (feel it, as you say it – it’s a wonderful word!) then tosses it away with disinterest, he is suddenly aware of the word in action — a hedgehog (and a peeved one at that) is made fluorescent through the power of Oscar’s word.
And just like that — a door has opened — for Oscar and the reader, into the marvelous magical world of words. One that will delight, and inspire, for every word he finds can spark an adventure, a creation, an imagining, an experience.
And once the chest is empty, as Oscar learns, and teaches us, in this spellbinding little story, there are always more words to be found. All around us. As language, and the infinitely evocative words it is made of, can be found everywhere — both a gift and an awakening — a richly-layered journey that any child, looking for it, can take, if they just walk along with Oscar.
And who of us could resist an invitation that fluorescent?
A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this wonderful book. All thoughts presented are my own.
