‘Lost and Found’ by Oliver Jeffers (author and illustrator) is a great story book for children ages 3-5. It encourages literacy and language through new vocabulary. It furthers critical thinking skills using prediction cues. It promotes emotional health; teaching children about compassion and friendship. ‘Lost and Found’ is more than these developmentally cognitive skillsets though. This is an imaginative adventure from start to finish. It is fun and whimsical, playful and heart-warming. This book really has it all.
When telling this story to children, it’s important to employ good storytelling techniques. You’ll want to begin the book with a motivational technique. For ‘Lost and Found’ a great way to do that is to begin with questions about the illustration on the cover page. For example, ‘this book is called ‘Lost and Found’, have you ever lost anything? Did you find it again?’. Another great question is ‘what kind of animal is that with the boy? Do you think they are friends?’. Once you’ve properly framed an introduction to the story, the child(ren) will be ready and receptive.
During the story is when the child(ren) will be exposed to the cognitive skills previously mentioned. Immediately the reader is introduced to a boy who will do anything to help a lost penguin. This teaches children about compassion and problem solving. You can get their minds turning by asking questions like ‘where do you think the penguin came from?’ or ‘what would you do if you found a penguin on your doorstep?’. You could also point out some of the ‘new’ words to the child(ren). Words like ‘harbour’, ‘mountains’ and ‘delightful’. The climax of the story shows the boy and penguin looking for each other and narrowly missing each other, but let’s the reader in on it. In doing this, the author creates the perfect prediction cue for the storyteller and child(ren) to explore. The story follows the ‘home and away’ narrative arc, with the boy returning home at the end with his new penguin friend in tow.
Upon completion of reading the story it is important to reinforce the skills that you’ve been working on. You could ask more questions, ‘what did you like about the story?’ or ‘would you become friends with a penguin?’. You could also keep the story fresh in their mind by doing an activity; paint a picture of you and a friend, walk around like a penguin with your knees locked and feet together. Keep it fun but make it memorable.
‘Lost and Found’ is a great book to use for a proper ‘story time’. It’s equally interesting for adults and children with its blend of quality story development and outlandish adventure.
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