From the author and illustrator of "The Phantom Tollbooth" comes a new picture book about a really rotten, extraordinarily large ogre and the frien...
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Jan 12, 2012
Josiah
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More than fifty years after The Phantom Tollbooth was first published, author Norton Juster and illustrator Jules Feiffer were still working together to produce new literature, and The Odious Ogre is one of the books that came from their continued collaboration. Featuring some of the same type of clever wordplay evident throughout The Phantom Tollbooth, The Odious Ogre is fun and entertaining, and the pictures and text fit together well.
The story is that of a terrible ogre who ca More...
The story is that of a terrible ogre who ca More...
Jul 17, 2011
Sherry
rated it: 
Love it! A picture book for older readers. Juster has loads of fun with big words like invulnerable, impregnable, insuperable, indefatigable, etc. Lots of text,(suitable for ages 8-12), and a moral, or lesson to boot. An odious ogre terrorizes the countryside. All men fear him, as he puts on quite a horrific display and eats everyone in sight. He wanders deep into the woods and encounters a peasant maiden. Not knowing the reputation of the terrible ogre, but quickly assessing the ogre for
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Jul 06, 2011
Eva
rated it: 
3.5 - Julia and I both really liked this ogre story. It starts out about the same as most ogre stories and what any reader would expect but soon goes into more detail about the ogre which is fairly rare from what we've read. The ogre considers himself many things, invulnerable, impregnable, and many other words that readers will hear for the first time.
The ogre does have a taste for the local population so parents and adult readers may want to be careful with very young kids and/or really More...
The ogre does have a taste for the local population so parents and adult readers may want to be careful with very young kids and/or really More...
Mar 09, 2011
Sarah-Greenbeanteenqueen
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If you're a fan of Norton Juster (The Phantom Toolbooth) and wry humor, you will enjoy this book. The book reads like a fable or fairy tale and it makes a great picture book for older readers. (The ogre does eat people, so if you have sensitive readers, this might not be the book for them.)
The narration is hilarious. The ogre has a large vocabulary "due mainly to having inadvertently swallowed a large dictionary while consuming the head librarian in one of the nearby towns." More...
The narration is hilarious. The ogre has a large vocabulary "due mainly to having inadvertently swallowed a large dictionary while consuming the head librarian in one of the nearby towns." More...
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Jan 11, 2011
Kathryn
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This is the story of an odious ogre, whose reputation always precedes him and whose job of pillaging and plundering villages and munching up tasty villagers is always easy since most nearly die of fright before he even does anything. But, one day, he meets a sweet maiden in a village--one that has never heard of him before. And, since she doesn't *know* he is the odious ogre, she doesn't treat him like one. She treats him quite nicely, in fact. With very surprising consequences!
T More...
T More...
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Feb 13, 2011
Judy
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I don't know it lacked something for me.
Illustrations are good.
From Library Media
Library Media Connection (January/February 2011)
The villagers are terrified, frightened, and petrified of the odious ogre and his ravaging rampages. He has the run of the countryside, and all of the villagers are his smorgasbord. He also possesses an extensive vocabulary thanks to his partaking of a librarian and her dictionary. He meets his match in a beautiful young girl More...
Illustrations are good.
From Library Media
Library Media Connection (January/February 2011)
The villagers are terrified, frightened, and petrified of the odious ogre and his ravaging rampages. He has the run of the countryside, and all of the villagers are his smorgasbord. He also possesses an extensive vocabulary thanks to his partaking of a librarian and her dictionary. He meets his match in a beautiful young girl More...
Oct 17, 2011
Joan
rated it:
I expected more, considering the author and illustrator. I also didn't realize this was a picture book and was expecting a chapter book like the phantom tollbooth. This was too obviously moralistic and unrealistic for my taste (kindness will win out). The illustrations were delightful.
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Apr 23, 2011
Robin
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An odious ogre who has terrorized a neighborhood for years meets his match in a young girl who literally kills him with kindness. Her deliberate misinterpretation of his actions and unfailing politeness prove his undoing. Nice use of language in this one: as in describing the ogre "He was, it was widely believed, extraordinarily large, exceedingly ugly, unusually angry, constantly hungry, and absolutely merciless." And in his own mind, he is "invulnerable, impregnable, insuperable
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Nov 21, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
When I found out Norton Juster, author, and Jules Pfeiffer, illustrator, were back together again for a new children's book, I was thrilled. Their masterly collaboration, 1961's The Phantom Tollbooth, has stayed with me for years, and I recommend it to everyone I know who either knows the secret of looking at the world with magic, or needs to learn it.
49 years after The Phantom Tollbooth, Juster & Pfeiffer's The Odious Ogre brings Juster's mastery of descriptive English and Pfeiffer' More...
49 years after The Phantom Tollbooth, Juster & Pfeiffer's The Odious Ogre brings Juster's mastery of descriptive English and Pfeiffer' More...
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Dec 05, 2010
Lisa
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I’ve been very excited about this book. The Phantom Tollbooth has always been one of my very favorite books, ever since it was first published; I still have my original edition from 1961, from nearly a half century ago.
I was not at all expecting this book to be its equal. Not even close. And it isn’t. But I did like it. I’d say 3-1/2 stars. It was hard for me to decide whether to give this 3 or 4 stars. I think it was the humor, the illustrations, and the fun with words that tipped it More...
I was not at all expecting this book to be its equal. Not even close. And it isn’t. But I did like it. I’d say 3-1/2 stars. It was hard for me to decide whether to give this 3 or 4 stars. I think it was the humor, the illustrations, and the fun with words that tipped it More...
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Oct 15, 2010
Marcie
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Norton Juster's language is wonderful in this humorous read-aloud. I just read it to Don and he laughed out loud 4 times. What a wonderful story for exposing kids to rich language. Upon finishing the first read I thought that even if the kids don't know the vocabulary they will get the story from just the illustrations. The humor is sophisticated enough to please their parents, but I think the kids will laugh as well.
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May 15, 2011
Shannon
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I can't decide whether I love this book or whether I think its message is overpowering. I feel like I need a copy of this book for me to read when I've had a bad day. Either way, the illustrations are brilliant. Great to show if you're doing a lesson on contour drawings or gesture drawings. I also wonder if it might be neat to study this book alongside David Wisnewski's Golem?
Apr 19, 2011
Jamie
rated it:
Would be a great read-aloud for middle- to upper-elementary classes. Even high school English classes could use this one for vocabulary lessons:
"No one can resist me," he had to admit. "I am invulnerable,
impregnable, insuperable, indefatigable, insurmountable." He let
each satisfying word roll smoothly off his tongue.
"No one can resist me," he had to admit. "I am invulnerable,
impregnable, insuperable, indefatigable, insurmountable." He let
each satisfying word roll smoothly off his tongue.
Nov 27, 2010
Kathyred
rated it:
Great for a read-aloud to a 2nd grade class! The odious ogre is resting on his reputation for fierceness, ugliness, and general overbearing meanness, when he comes across an isolated cabin where the pretty girl hasn't heard of his awful reputation. So instead of running and hiding like everybody else, she treats him w/ kindness and consideration.
Jul 01, 2011
Mary Ann
rated it:
very funny word play, word choice, alliteration make this a fun picture book for older readers, or younger readers happy to enjoy the rich vocabulary. I haven't figured out where I'd take the meaning of the story and the characters, but I had fun just with the ride!
Oct 18, 2010
Beth
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The Phantom Tollbooth is one of my favorite books of all time. This new picture book shows the legendary cleverness of Norton Juster. This would be a great book to use as a springboard for talking to kids about bullying.
Oct 16, 2010
Donalyn
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Legends Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer collaborate on their first book since The Phantom Tollbooth. A horrible ogre, who terrorizes the countryside, meets his match in a gentle, polite, generous farm girl.
Strings of alliterative adjectives and exciting word choices make this a fun book to read aloud.
Strings of alliterative adjectives and exciting word choices make this a fun book to read aloud.
Dec 14, 2010
Jess
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I loved the vocabulary. This would be a perfect book to read aloud to a classroom or just your kids at home. Plus there is a librarian mentioned (the ogre has an impressive vocabulary because of the dictionary he swallowed after the librarian).
Sep 19, 2011
Cheryl in CC NV
rated it:
Sorry, just couldn't get into it. Fun vocabulary and social commentary, but not terribly original. And the girl was actually quite odious in her way, saying "If you... totally changed your attitude you'd be quite nice." Excuse me?
Dec 30, 2010
Mackay
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Well, it's not The Phantom Tollbooth, but what is? This one is aimed at younger children than Toolbooth, but it's worth it for Feifer's delicious drawings and for the twist that good manners and kindness take down the eponymous Ogre.
Nov 23, 2010
BookKids
rated it:
In their first collaboration since The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer don't disappoint with this droll story about an invulnerable, impregnable, insuperable ogre and a placidly polite, gracious young girl.
Oct 06, 2010
Lisa
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its a cute story about how kindness helps one overcome the odious. though it seems a bit heavy handed, i think kids will still like the terrible ogre (who has a stellar vocabulary) and the illustrations of his ranting and raging are fun.
Feb 06, 2011
Karen
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This story would be a great read aloud to 1st or 2nd grade. The voice used in the story would truly entertain listeners. The ogre basks in his horrible mean behavior until a young princess girl is his undoing.
Feb 08, 2012
Karen
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I usually like Norton Juster, I just felt like this particular story wasn't anything new that we hadn't seen done better by Roald Dahl or William Steig. My child wasn't very impressed, either.
Apr 21, 2011
Michelle
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"The Ogre did have quite an impressive vocabulary, due mainly to having inadvertently swallowed a large dictionary while consuming the head librarian in one of the nearby towns." ;-)
May 20, 2011
robyn
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i love norton juster. i love jules feiffer. i didn't love this collabo. it's okay, but doesn't really break any new ground. a little disappointing.
Oct 02, 2010
Tricia
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ogre terrifies villages until he meets the antithesis to his terribleness. my audience as a bit surprised at his demise in the face of kindness.
Sep 30, 2010
Nancy
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Language fun, but otherwise, eh.
However, it's always gratifying to have librarians mentioned (even if -- or especially if?) we are being eaten.
However, it's always gratifying to have librarians mentioned (even if -- or especially if?) we are being eaten.
Sep 10, 2011
Lucius
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A great concept and a wonderfully illustrated book. I found the vocabulary within the story to appeal more to adults than to my daughter.
Jan 23, 2012
Stacey
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Not sure what prompted my son to grab this book at the local library, but he sure did enjoy the story! What a great read.
