This Moose Belongs to Me

Author & Illustrator:   Oliver Jeffers
Publisher:  Philomel
Publication Year:   2012
Location: Knox County Public Library- Halls

Awards:   NYT Best, Irish Book Awards Junior Book of the Year,

Summary:  Wilfred had a pet moose named Marcel  who was pretty good at following the rules of how to be a good pet. Sometimes he wanders away and Wilfred has to follow some string to find their way home, but things are good until they meet up with an old lady. She seems to think Marcel is her moose-- named Rodrigo! But Wilfred corrected her "This moose belongs to Me!" When Marcel doesn't come to him, Wilfred runs away and gets stuck in the woods but eventually here comes Marcel to rescue him. Wilfred realizes that perhaps he didn't really own the moose, but they were still friends. The illustrations are unusual mixed media with beautiful oil paintings for backgrounds and then Jeffers usually sketch style artwork on top.

Classroom Ideas: The theme of this story is one of friendship and maybe an understanding of "ownership."