Walk on the Wild Side (Life in the Wild)

by Nicholas Oldland (Author) Nicholas Oldland (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
This clever picture book tells readers right away what to expect. ?There once was a bear, a moose and a beaver who loved adventure. But sometimes their competitive natures got in the way of having fun.? One day, the three set off to climb a mountain together. But on the way there, they decide to make it more exciting by turning the climb into a race to the top. It's only after being sidelined by a series of mishaps --- a boulder tumbling down the path, the moose hanging off the side of the cliff, the bear hanging off the moose hanging off the side of the cliff --- that the three friends realize competitions don't always make for a good time. ?At the end of the day, the bear, the moose and the beaver agreed that reaching the top of the mountain was great, but enjoying the journey together was even better.? This funny, contemporary fable is from Nicholas Oldland's popular Life in the Wild series. The wonderful fun here is the comedy that highlights the adventure, in both the dry humor of the text as well as the simple, earth-toned illustrations that provide a humorous visual play-by-play of the action. This would make a terrifically entertaining storytime title, easily promoting the importance of teamwork, kindness and friendship. It could also be used in the early grades as part of a classroom discussion of woodland animals and their habitats. Another lesson here is the pleasure of getting outdoors for recreation.
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School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--Oldland's latest tale starring Bear, Moose, and Beaver is about adventure, competiton, and friendship. Each animal mimics the other as they attempt to climb to the top of the mountain. During the story, Beaver decides that it's time to up the ante and declares, "the race is on!" Unfortunately for Moose, as he rounds a bend on the side of the mountain, a boulder comes toward him. He attempts to lunge out of the way, only to fall off a cliff. Bear hears Moose's cries of distress and attempts to help, only to find himself in trouble as well. Shortly after, Beaver hears his friends in need and comes to the rescue, After returning to safety, they realize that competition is not always best. Subsequently, while exploring together they discover that they enjoy the journey even more. As with many of Oldland's picture books, friendship and teamwork play an important role. Young readers will laugh at the antics of a little red bird as he mirror the actions of the other animals. With simple text and muted, neutral colored folk art-like illustrations done on plain white paper makes this an easy read that flows nicely. VERDICT Probably best for one-on-one sharing, this simple story is a charmer.--Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

A very well illustrated book...—Resource Links
Nicholas Oldland
Nicholas Oldland enjoyed success as a commercial artist before taking up the role of creative director at Hatley and Little Blue House, popular apparel companies he runs with his brothers. He is the author-illustrator of the Life in the Wild series and Dinosaur Countdown. Nicholas lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his family.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781771381093
Lexile Measure
550
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Kids Can Press
Publication date
March 01, 2015
Series
Life in the Wild
BISAC categories
JUV000000 - Juvenile Fiction | General
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Animals
Hiking
Cooperation

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