Oslo Learns to Swim (Rex & Oslo)

by Doug Cushman (Author) Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

Oslo Learns to Swim (Rex & Oslo)
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade
Series: Rex & Oslo

Rex the warthog teaches his best friend, Oslo the oxpecker, to swim in this first book in the sweet and funny Level 1 Ready-to-Read series about the unlikely duo.

Rex the warthog and Oslo the oxpecker bird are friends who do everything together. But when Rex wants to go swimming, Oslo objects! The water looks cold and wet. There might be sharks. Will Rex be able to help Oslo overcome his fears and join in the fun?

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School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1--Rex the warthog and Oslo the oxpecker are best friends, but they argue a lot. In this book, the bird and warthog exchange banterlike dialogue about going swimming. Rex wants to go swimming and invites Oslo to join him. Oslo comes up with every excuse imaginable to not go: "It looks cold," "It looks pretty deep." As Oslo stands on the shore complaining and worrying about potential crocodiles, Rex jumps in and starts to have a good time without Oslo. Finally, Olso admits that he doesn't know how to swim, and Rex quickly offers to teach him right then and there. Rex models the appropriate ways to swim safely, and Oslo is a quick learner. The duo has fun, demonstrating that true friends always help each other. The story ends with a bit of a plot twist as two crocodiles, one of whom is afraid to swim, begin walking toward the same lake. This is an adorable story about friendship and fun told in speech bubbles very similar to those seen in the Mo Willems's "Elephant and Piggie" stories. The cartoonlike illustrations and large speech bubbles will appeal to young children. This looks to be the first of many adventures for the unlikely pair. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase, as it will have broad appeal to the preschool and the beginning reader population.--Kristen Todd-Wurm

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 
Doug Cushman
Doug Cushman has illustrated over 130 children's books, thirty or so of which he also wrote. His titles have been New York Times bestsellers and won awards including the Christopher Award, the California Young Readers Medal, and two Maryland Blue Crab Awards. Doug was also the recipient of a National Cartoonists Society Newspaper and Magazine Illustration Award, and he has displayed original art in France, Romania, and the United States. Doug enjoys mystery novels, playing slide guitar horribly, cooking, and traveling. He lives in St. Malo on the Brittany coast in France.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781665926478
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Simon Spotlight
Publication date
May 02, 2023
Series
Rex & Oslo
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002000 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | General
JUV043000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Beginner
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Fear
Swimming
Animal fiction
Oxpeckers
Warthogs

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