Oliver in the Garden

2000 picture book by Margaret Beames

9781869434526OCLC49221508

Oliver in the Garden (published in the USA as Night Cat) is a 2000 picture book by Margaret Beames. It is about a cat called Oliver that chooses to stay outside all night but after a number of adventures decides it is better indoors.

Publication history

  • Oliver in the Garden (2000), Scholastic, ISBN 9781869434526[1]
  • Night Cat (2000), Orchard Books, ISBN 9780439385763[2]

Reception

The Horn Book Magazine, in a review of Oliver in the Garden, wrote "Hitchcock's digitally rendered illustrations feature wonderfully dramatic and sometimes chilling nightscapes in a palette of deep purple and black occasionally cut by swaths of light and color. The story is more atmospheric than well-plotted, the cozy conclusion more inevitable than satisfying."[3] A reviewer for the School Library Journal compared it to books like Marcia Brown's Shadow and concluded "this import from New Zealand promises to bewitch American picture-book readers."[4]

Oliver in the Garden has also been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews,[5] and Publishers Weekly.[6]

It is one of the New Zealand Book Council 50 New Zealand books every kid should read by age 12,[7] and won Best Picture Book and the Children's Choice Award at the 2001 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.[8]

Sequels

Beames has written further books involving Oliver including Oliver's Party (2003),[9] and Oliver Goes Exploring (2008).[10]

References

  1. ^ Solomon and Mortimer. OCLC. OCLC 49221508. Retrieved 25 October 2017 – via worldcat.org.
  2. ^ Solomon and Mortimer. OCLC. OCLC 229270433. Retrieved 25 October 2017 – via worldcat.org.
  3. ^ "Night Cat". catalog.wccls.org. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Night Cat". Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Night Cat (star review)". Kirkus Media LLC. 1 August 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2017. A great read-aloud for both large groups and snug one-on-one.
  6. ^ "Night Cat". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. 19 May 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2017. the book's frightening visuals may haunt young readers after the covers close.
  7. ^ "50 New Zealand books every kid should read by age 12". bookcouncil.org.nz. New Zealand Book Council. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Past Winners". nzbookawards.nz. New Zealand Book Awards Trust. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  9. ^ Oliver's party. OCLC. OCLC 156008897. Retrieved 25 October 2016 – via www.worldcat.org.
  10. ^ Oliver goes exploring. OCLC. OCLC 226978177. Retrieved 25 October 2016 – via www.worldcat.org.
  • Children's literature portal
  • Library holdings of Oliver in the Garden
  • Library holdings of Night Cat