Oregon's Journey

by Rascal

Duke, a circus dwarf, takes Oregon, a circus bear, back home to Oregon

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a bear and a dwarf who escape from the circus, and head for the great wilderness. The artwork by Louis Joos is simple, yet evocative.





A lovely, and very touching book.

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pensive and memorable, OREGON'S JOURNEY is a gem hiding on the shelves. A circus performer with dwarfism befriends a lonely bear held captive by the circus--and realizes neither of them belong there. The two set out on a magical cross-country journey to find the bear's woodland home.

There are gentle messages throughout about meeting and welcoming new people into our lives, but this is woven into the story in a way that doesn't seem forced. In addition, we get the idea that wild animals belong in their natural habitats, not as performers in a circus ring, and this, too, is presented in a way that feels organic to the story. It's always nice to see humane values that will provoke thought and good conversations.

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has captured me time and time again. The illustrations for one are amazing. You can see the weight of the issues in the illustrations and I currently have one as my desktop background. Most importantly though, the story line is crucial as disability, difference, and animal rights are at the forefront of conversation. A bear and a clown-sideshow performers who are unhappy with life, leave for Oregon to find Oregon's(the bear) home. The clown agrees to go because he wants to find love and feel accepted rather than be a performer. As they experience life through a new lens, they come across other folks who help them along and also have their own struggles. Finally, they reach Oregon and part ways. Simple and yet equally as heartbreaking. Upon doing research on traveling circuses and sideshows, the dehumanization and removal of care for the animals is concerning. At one time, the only place for those with difference was the circus and the book is a reminder that it remains a mockery of difference as it turns it into a spectacle. The clown admits that he struggles with his body and wants to find someone who will accept him for him. The bear is used for performance and knows it is not natural. Think of Sea World and the treatment of the whales-it is morally troubling and this book is creating a platform for discussion. Both the bear and the clown feel the weight of the world shift as they part ways. The bear forgets his years of captivity and the clown sheds his nose-creating the assumption that he has come to accept himself not just as a clown but as a human.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un album de Rascal merveilleux, comme tous ses albums d'ailleurs. Les albums ne sont pas que pour les petits, les grands peuvent les apprécier aussi !

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book to read to my kids

[Eduardo Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Le vocabulaire dans cette livre et la histoire (qui est un peu comique/tragique) ne sont pas vraiment pour les enfants, mais les dessins sont belles et au final toute est un petit reflexion de notre nature.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A clown and a bear escape from the circus. Alissa couldn't understand why they chose the wilderness over the circus.

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely illustrations, and a sweet story; perhaps more pathos than most kids of the picture book age are quite ready for. That ending is.... a bit ambiguous.

[Mathilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il meurt à la fin imo

[Yesenia MR · Rating 3 out of 5]

A circus bear, named Oregon, decides that he wants to go to home to the wild. His friend, Duke, that is a dwarf, makes him a promise that he will get him to Oregon. They travels all over the country to get Oregon home. At the end, Oregon is happy to be home and Duke is happy he could help.
This would be a good book to talk about the point of view of bears that are in circuses.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great illustrations, exceedingly fanciful as Duke leads Oregon the bear across the U.S. by bus, hitchhiking, and jumping a train ( and no one seems to notice), and a touching story of companionship. But I didn't quite get the point.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clown and his friend, a bear, leave the circus together to journey to Oregon where the bear, Oregon, is from and wants to go back to.

[Stacy English · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! :) Unexpectedly wonderful.