The Invisible Moose

by Dennis Haseley, Steven Kellogg (Illustrator)

When the most beautiful moose in the forest is captured by an evil trapper, a shy young moose knows that he must take action. He has always secretly been in love with the beautiful moose. Now he will follow her all the way from Canada to the wilds of New York City. He will rescue his true love come what may. But how? Luckily, Professor Owl McFowl has concocted a new formula—an invisibility potion! It’s a delightfully silly story of magic and adventure with a surprisingly touching core. Our moose hero’s tale shows us that the truest beauty isn’t visible to the eye—it can only be seen by the heart.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Kids, Animals, Fiction, Canada

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Dennis Haseley a écrit de nombreux livres pour enfants (Kite Flier, The Old Banjo). Il vit à Brooklyn, New York, avec sa famille.

Reviews

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 2 out of 5]

A shy young male moose with question-mark-shaped antlers falls in love with the most beautiful moose in the forest.
She is captured by an evil trapper and taken to NYC.
He drinks a potion to make him invisible and sets off for NYC. Once he gets there he wanders the city unable to find the female moose. Finally, he finds her, gives her a drink of the potion, and they leave together.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clear out some of the verbiage (and plot clutter) ... then it would be a stronger story. As I was reading, I was thinking about the kids' reactions. The beginning especially needs to be simplified in order to keep their attention.

I like the message that appearance may be attractive in the beginning, but in the long run, it's a good heart that matters.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute story.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually thought that this was a very heart-warming story of love. This was a new find for me - it was unknown to me when we brought it home from the library. I thought is was descriptive, quirky in just the right way, and the art of Steven Kellogg was a treat too. The two moose were very sweet and gentle amidst a rather harsh background (fighting moose, animal poachers, big city, etc). My kids LOVED it and eagerly listened to every word.

[Dov Zeller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. A story about a gentle, kind, princely guy moose who travels from the Canadian woods to NYC to rescue a beloved lady moose who has been captured by a sleazy smarmy moose-kidnapping dude with a wacky, gadgety evil vehicle. I didn't love the art and the story I found to be exceedingly so-so. I don't think I would have given it even a three stars if Lena hadn't enjoyed it. Not one of her favorites, but she liked it okay.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't think this was that good of a book, but my four year old loved it, so we give it three stars. It was a very boring book, although it had potential to be awesome since the moose becomes invisable - that is pretty sweet. I guess I like the theme that it is what is on the inside that counts, but it wasn't developed enough to even say that much about it. Very Forgettable.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange, but enchanting story about a moose in love who sets out to rescue a damsel moose in distress...by becoming invisible and walking from Quebec to NYC to save her.

The illustrations are entertaining and they include some subtle humor that is intended for the parents more so than the children. The story is a bit long, but sweet, and of course it has a happy ending. Our girls liked it.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shy young moose is in love with a beautiful young female moose who doesn't know he loves her. She is kidnapped before he has a chance to tell her. He goes to great lengths and personal risk to rescue her. Pictures by the master illustrator Steven Kellogg.

[Susan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story on friendship and respect

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow,the moose has been invisible !Wish I can be invisible too.cool moose.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story wanders a lot and would be best for elementary aged kids.

[Ashley Zink · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't the best children's book ever, but it wasn't the worst, either. Everything just seemed very forced and nothing really made sense within the story. At least it had a happy ending. 2nd-4th

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was terrible but the illustrations were very well done.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very imaginative. I’m not a huge fan of stories about the prince saving the damsel in distress.

[Aileen Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Invisible Moose, was surprisingly sweet. It was the story of a shy moose trying to gain enough courage to speak to a lovely girl moose. Unfortunately by the time he gathered that courage and started a conversation a very bad trapper captured her and carted her off to New York City. With the help of a wise owl, Moose traveled to the city and rescued his new love. I don't want to give too much away so I won't say more, but I am sure kids will love this interesting story.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story that shows bravery as better than bravado. Would be five stars if it didn't imply that hunters are evil.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy moose loves a Girl moose! She is the most beautiful moose, and every other moose wants the "honor of her hoof," but this particular Boy moose has also seen the goodness of her heart- she frees other woodland creatures from the hunters traps. One day she gets captured and taken to (gasp!) New York City! Boy moose alone braves the hunters and goes to rescue her.

As usual, wonderful illustrations by Steven Kellogg. Too long for storytime, but a great winter story with lots of personality.

[Kay]

Since I've enjoyed A Story for Bear by Hasely so much, I decided to read all of his books that are owned by the local library system. I read six this weekend, and this one - plus Photographer Mole - were my favorites.

A shy moose with deformed antlers falls in love with the most beautiful moose in the forest, and when he witnesses her kidnapping by an evil wild animal trapper, he consults the wise owl as to how he might rescue her.

It's a very sweet story with fanciful illustrations by Steven Kellogg.

[Marilea Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this special love story! Definitely a keeper! I would keep this book in my classroom library for students to pick up and read when they choose to. I would also use the story as a read aloud for young students. This would also be a good story to show to more advance readers in a class with young students because there are a lot more words in it but there are also pictures that will keep them interested in what’s going on in the story.

[Kayla Christ · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this one wasn't really a winner for my son and I. He lost interest halfway trough the story. This book is better suited for older children in the 5-8 range I think(Mine is 3). Illustration was nice and the story was cute, but neither of us were feeling it. I did love the part where the girl moose asked if the boy moose only loved her for her beauty and he said "No, I love you for your heart." That was sweet :)

[Carolyn Ferguson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very surprised by this book. I really thought I would read it and love it but I actually did not like it at all. I felt like the story became too complicated and at times slightly hard to follow. I could not see myself ever reading it again. I really wish I could say something about this book that I loved but I truly can not do that. I even felt like the illustration were cluttered and dull.

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shy little boy moose is in love with a sweet girl moose. Can he overcome his shyness when his girl is kidnapped by an evil man? He talks to his super smart friend, Owl. Owl provides the perfect way for a very large moose to rescue his lady friend. Moose will become invisible.

The illustrations are precious. This book has quickly become a family favorite that we read often. The story is sweet and sends a message of never giving up and overcoming odds for love.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was cute: a shy moose finally works up the courage to talk to the beautiful moose, only to have her whisked away to New York by a bad man with a strange machine, and the shy moose drinks an invisibility potion so he can safely go rescue her. It's a wacky, fanciful story with a good message about beauty and courage coming from within.

[Abigail Olsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book quite strange, eclectic, and predictable. It is filled with exaggerated characters with little depth (such as Steel McSteel, the villain, who cuts down forests and destroys nature with his giant steel machine). It would certainly be a fun read for certain ages, but not an exceptional children's book.

[Sarah M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story the difference of living out in the woods and the city is describe by text and the pictures. The theme of the story is that everyone is different, but yet they are the same. It can alos teach students to not be afraid to show who they really are.

[Larysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book illustrated by Steven Kellogg, so the pictures are adorable. It was sweet story about a love-smitten moose who travels far to save his beautiful love.

[Corri Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love moose and so one of my students checked this book out of the library for me to read. To apease them, I read it. I didn't like it a whole lot. A bit too slow for me.

[Hedd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Love a one's heart, not the superficial.

[Megan Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

story of a courageous moose who travels from Canada to New York City to rescue his lovely moose. For older kids

[Truman Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truman loves the pictures and story of this book. I end up skimming through it since it's a little long for 3 year olds.