Book Review: Lost and Found – Oliver Jeffers

Review by Louise Hughes

When it comes to reading material, of late I have an overwhelming preference for children’s picture books.  I was recently delighted to find my preferences endorsed by some established literary talents.  WH Auden noted that books for adults are written based on an assumption that a certain level of experience has been attained.  From this it could be argued that they may be less accessible to members of the wider adult community.  Auden goes on to argue that there are no books that are ‘only for children’.

For this reason, I would like to bring Oliver Jeffers tale of a ‘lost penguin’ to the attention of the aforementioned wider adult community.   The title of the book is ‘Lost and Found’.  This is a very simple tale of a penguin who arrives unannounced at the front door of ‘the boy’.  The penguin proceeds to follow the boy around, although the former looks sad.  This leads the boy to believe that he is lost, and so he then endeavours to help the penguin.  The various efforts employed range from the logical – going to the lost and found office, to the desperate – he consults his rubber duck when having a bath!  Serendipitously he discovers while reading a book that penguins come from the South Pole.  So with the help of the penguin, the boy prepares his little row boat for the journey to come.  The voyage is not without peril, the little boat is tossed about on huge waves, but the occupants remain calm throughout, with the boy telling stories all the time.  Eventually they reach their destination, but the penguin still looks sad.  As he rows away from the South Pole it dawns on the boy that he has made a mistake, the penguin is not lost, he is lonely.  Following a page or two of suspense, the two are reunited, and the book concludes with the pair embracing wordlessly.

This is possibly one of the richest texts I have come across in recent years.  The illustrated sequences outlining the boy’s fruitless attempts to seek help from his wider community show how apparent helplessness (the boy is noted to be ‘disappointed’) need not be hopelessness.    The boy remains undaunted in his efforts to help this lost penguin.  When all possible avenues of assistance have been exhausted, he is shown to have reserves of personal strength in the form of his rowing boat – which he keeps in a cupboard.  This appears as a metaphor for the boy, as it is comparatively small and vulnerable compared to the usual type of vessel which would be employed for such expeditions.

Interestingly enough it is tested for ‘size and strength’, and as the story proceeds, it is shown to be equal to the challenge, just like the two travellers, with all arriving at the destination safe and sound.

This concise little tale is overwhelmingly positive, something which is so relevant for the times that we live in.  With deceptively light touches of humour both verbal and illustrative, Oliver Jeffers repeatedly and succinctly demonstrates through the character of the boy, that no-one is too small to make a positive difference.  While the role of the penguin reminds us that while we can all feel ‘lost’, it is important to reach out and engage with others as this can be a rewarding experience for all.     The Penguin is not dependent because of his need for friendship.   He alone provides the assistance that the boy needs in order to execute his plan to travel to the South Pole, and as they face danger on the sea, in his non verbal role he is the silent support for the boy, providing a distraction , as he listens to everything the boy tells him.   The collaborative message continues right until the end of the book, as both characters make their way towards each other.  There is no rescuer or rescued.  This is not a hierarchical friendship.   My overall impression from reading (and re-reading!) is that we can all add value and meaning to each other’s lives.