Josh Rouse – Picture Book: Bartholomew and the Oobleck

 

Bartholomew and the Oobeck is a children’s picture book written by Dr. Seuss. This timeless story, first published in 1949, is about a headstrong King who requests something new to fall from the sky, as he is bored with the usual sunlight, rain, snow and fog. He requests his magicians come up with something, much to his pageboy Bartholomew’s chagrin. The next day, the magicians grant the King’s wish and from the sky falls oobleck; a thick, green goo which threatens the entire kingdom. It is only then that the King realises a few simple words, “I’m sorry,” is all it takes to stop the madness.

The overarching message in this story is as prominent today as it was 60 years ago, particularly for children. Owning up to your mistakes and apologising for misdeeds is an extremely important part of life that young children must learn and this book does an excellent job of portraying its metaphorical results.

The text used in this book is suited for early-to-mid primary students as there is quite a lot of text compared to many picture books. The parts of the book featuring the magicians will likely be the most enjoyable for children as they speak in long rhymes, likely making those pages easier to read because of the rhythm and pattern.

The illustrations in this book are less pronounced than many other picture books because they are drawn in black and white, except for the oobleck which is green. Even though some of the pictures aren’t very big, they are very well drawn and the green oobleck amongst the black and white is certainly an eye-catching part of the book.

This book would be very effective in a classroom because of the several textual and visual elements listed above. It is a fun and enjoyable book, can be used for personal or group reading exercises and has an important underlying theme, making it an excellent multilayered student text. Therefore, this book would be best suited for students from reception to Year 3.

Josh Rouse