Oggie Cooder
AR Level – 5.1
Points – 3
Interest Level – Lower Grades
This is definitely not the type of book I would choose on my own. But since it is up for the newly created Bluestem Award in IL, I decided to give it a shot. Oggie Cooder is quirky, at least that is what his teachers have indicated on his report cards in the past. His schoolmates refer to him as a weirdo or dork. He is definitely an individual…that is for sure. Oggie’s parents own the local second-hand thrift store and supply him with his eclectic gently used wardrobe. He can be found wearing seersucker pants with a plaid duck hunting shirt to school with confidence that he is indeed dressed. That is his only concern…fashion and fitting in is not. He is shunned by the popular girls and never invited to play basketball with the jocks until he is discovered by the Hidden Talents television show for “charving”. That is a combination of chewing and carving. Oggie is able to take an American cheese slice and “charve” it into the outline of any state in the US. Definitely quirky.
What I loved about this book…Oggie’s individuality and the fact that he is comfortable with it. He does not conform for any reason. In fact, he doesn’t even realize that he is different. I like this possible connection for kids who think they are different in any way. It is a cute, quick read with some quick witted humor. I also like that it has a higher reading level with content for a less mature audience. Sometimes a perfect mix for a 4th grade boy.
What I didn’t love about this book. It sort of read like any Nickelodeon kid show. Think dim-witted parents and teachers, snot nosed popular girls, and sarcastic insults between students.
While this is not necessarily on the top of my reading list for the upcoming school year, it might make for a quick read aloud during milk-break time if we have an Oggie in our class for which a connection needs to be made. After all, he is a pretty likable kid that some kids just never take the opportunity to get to know. Ya know?
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