Super Oscar by Oscar De La Hoya, Mark Shulman, Lisa Kopelke, Andrea Montejo

From the Publisher

It's Oscar's job to tell everyone what to bring to the neighborhood picnic. But the young daydreamer forgot to hand out the lists. Now there won't be any food or games. But with determination, some lightning-fast moves, and fancy footwork, Oscar saves the day!

This humorous story grew out of Oscar De La Hoya's recollection of the neighborhood picnics that were an important part of his own childhood. Super Oscar also features exercise tips and fitness advice.

Oscar es el encargado de decirle a todo el mundo lo que tiene que traer al picnic del barrio. Pero este joven soñador olvidó repartir las listas. Ahora, resulta que no habrá ni comida ni juegos para jugar. Pero con un poco de determinación, algunas movidas veloces y otro poco de sagacidad, ¡Oscar salvará el picnic!

Esta divertida historia está basada en los recuerdos que tiene Oscar De La Hoya de los picnics del barrio, una parte importante de su propia niñez. Súper Oscar también incluye algunos consejos del medallista de oro para mantenerse en buen estado físico.

Publishers Weekly

Another celebrity-turned-children's-book-author enters the literary field, and his imaginative hero gives it a fighting chance. Boxing champ De La Hoya pens a semi-autobiographical tale of a boy daydreamer. At the breakfast table, his father offers him some sage advice: "Oscar, it's good to dream. But sometimes you need to take your head out of the clouds to get things done." When the boy forgets to follow his mother's instructions and distribute shopping lists to his neighbors for their weekly picnic, his mother says they'll have to cancel the event. But Oscar steps up to take responsibility and deliver the goods (literally). His scampering about to make the necessary preparations in time for the picnic helps energize the somewhat formulaic plot. The suggested fitness tips for kids at story's end seem forced, but Kopelke's (Excuse Me!) imaginative artwork commands the detailed spreads (facing pages reiterate the text in Spanish). Superimposed, often photographic images help to create a world where reality meets dreamland. The artist transforms mundane tasks such as Oscar's supermarket shopping (he fills back-to-back shopping carts sky-high with goods) and cream whipping into Olympic-like feats. Ages 4-8. (May) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Young Oscar daydreams constantly. One day he is so busy daydreaming that he forgets a very important responsibility. It is his job to distribute a food list to his neighbors informing them what to bring to the weekly neighborhood picnic. On Saturday, the day of the picnic, Oscar's mother discovers his error and informs Oscar they will have to cancel the picnic. Rather than accept defeat, Oscar rushes into action. Buying the groceries, making the guacamole, whipping up the cream for the strawberry shortcake are just a few of the activities that occupy Oscar's very hectic afternoon. Infused with a humorous dose of unreality, Oscar's actions prove inspirational and teach a valuable lesson about taking responsibility for mistakes and achieving success through hard work. Cute, colorful illustrations match the whimsical nature of the text, which is provided in both Spanish and English. Back matter includes a note to parents encouraging them to teach their children to exercise like Oscar. This book could be used as a classroom story time selection, for individual reading, or as encouragement in a P.E. class.

Kirkus Reviews

Besides daydreaming, young Oscar's favorite activity is his neighborhood's Saturday picnics. But when he forgets to deliver their "assignments" to everyone one week, it looks like the picnic will have to be cancelled. Instead, Oscar decides to make all the preparations himself. Kopelke's slightly skewed illustrations feature soft colors-whether in warm washes of green and blue or in the details of a checked shirt-angular facial features, and the aerodynamic bodies of the squirrels and birds that assist the boy and provide his musical entourage. The pictures reflect the text's good humor and add to its information; only in the illustrations will the young reader learn that Oscar makes the guacamole by stomping the ingredients in a wading pool and whips the cream for the strawberry shortcake by jumping rope in an enormous metal tub full of milk. These activities also reveal boxer de la Hoya's concern with physical fitness, likewise addressed in a supplemental essay for parents. Both English and Spanish texts, presented in cloud-like bubbles, are idiomatic and supple. This simple story, suffused with good feelings and elevated by wry artwork, marks a notable debut for its celebrity author. (Picture book. 4-8)

Details from Seller

• ISBN: 1416906118
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
• Pub. Date: April 2006
• Condition:

Comments from the Seller: 1416906118 NEW! Light Shelf Wear, NO Remainder Marks - Ships Daily! Delivery Confirmation Email Sent With Every Order!