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Oh Dear Geoffrey
Join accident-prone Geoffrey giraffe as he tries to make friends at the waterhole, on the plains and up in the trees in this funny debut from exciting new talent Gemma O’Neill.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Gemma O'Neill
14 books4 followersGemma O’Neill graduated from University College Falmouth, where she specialized in picture books and illustration.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
May 24, 2014
GREAT art, okay story. Geoffrey the giraffe is clumsy, but eager to make a friend.
The mixed media artwork is breathtaking, especially the final two page spread (talk about frameworthy!) The story is a bit too long for a read aloud, but is overall positive and incorporates a lot of different animals whcih holds a certain appeal.
This is the author's debut and I think we'll see other great books to follow; she's just getting warmed up. PreK-2.
The mixed media artwork is breathtaking, especially the final two page spread (talk about frameworthy!) The story is a bit too long for a read aloud, but is overall positive and incorporates a lot of different animals whcih holds a certain appeal.
This is the author's debut and I think we'll see other great books to follow; she's just getting warmed up. PreK-2.
June 28, 2018
Geoffrey ,a young, tall, and somewhat clumsy giraffe who tries to make friends, but has a hard time of getting down to their level to do so. But when he finds the tallest tree on the African savanna things begin to happen as he finds new friends at the highest of heights.
March 24, 2022
I wouldn't say that I love the content of the book, but the art was absolutely amazing.
The book talks about a giraffe that is so tall that it's clumsy. Because of that, it keeps messing things up and nobody wants to be its friends. But towards the end there was someone who wanted to be its friends-- the birds and the monkeys.
This kind of story has the same moral as some other children books that I've read before. However, there is something that I don't like about this one. That is the monkeys want to be the giraffe's friends because they want helps rather than because of the giraffe's personality or something-- like "friends with benefits"! Another thing is that they don't resolve the giraffe's problem with other animals that it tried to make friends with before. I was really expecting that at the end they would all somehow become friends like other stories since it already made friends with the birds and the monkeys. However, it just ends at the giraffe has so many bird and monkeys friends than it couldn't count. I was shock! What about other animals? Is the giraffe just going to ignore its problem and just make friends with only those who wants to make friends with it? Just because it's lonely, it will ignore being used? Is this the story you want to teach your kids?
The giraffe personality is not well-portrayed here. In the entire book, there is no mention of personality, just physical traits and what's bad or good about it. It's just too superficial to me. Not really recommend it.
The book talks about a giraffe that is so tall that it's clumsy. Because of that, it keeps messing things up and nobody wants to be its friends. But towards the end there was someone who wanted to be its friends-- the birds and the monkeys.
This kind of story has the same moral as some other children books that I've read before. However, there is something that I don't like about this one. That is the monkeys want to be the giraffe's friends because they want helps rather than because of the giraffe's personality or something-- like "friends with benefits"! Another thing is that they don't resolve the giraffe's problem with other animals that it tried to make friends with before. I was really expecting that at the end they would all somehow become friends like other stories since it already made friends with the birds and the monkeys. However, it just ends at the giraffe has so many bird and monkeys friends than it couldn't count. I was shock! What about other animals? Is the giraffe just going to ignore its problem and just make friends with only those who wants to make friends with it? Just because it's lonely, it will ignore being used? Is this the story you want to teach your kids?
The giraffe personality is not well-portrayed here. In the entire book, there is no mention of personality, just physical traits and what's bad or good about it. It's just too superficial to me. Not really recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2025
Geoffrey is a young giraffe, tall, gangly, clumsy, and wanting a friend. I especially enjoy the beginning of this gorgeously illustrated story about endearing Geoffrey. “Meet Geoffrey …”. “Meet some more of Geoffrey...” Funny and adorable. He tries to make friends but small mishaps occur on a big scale, until he doesn’t have to make the effort anymore. A sweet story, and an encouraging one for children.
March 20, 2018
Geoffrey has really good intentions, but he's just so tall and gangly and clumsy. Finally, he finds friends up high in the trees who appreciate his height. Cute story, nothing awesome, great illustrations though. Kids would enjoy the repeated refrain of "Oh dear Geoffrey!" Would work with a friends, jungle animals, or body types storytime. 3+
November 29, 2017
I loved the illustrations in this book. Geoffery is a bit of a mess but so easy to love.
May 29, 2018
The story's cute on this one, but what I REALLY love are the illustrations! I want to frame some of them, I love them so much!
January 11, 2019
I love the artwork in this book - especially the last spread - wow!
Cute but clumsy young giraffe struggles to make friends.
Kids enjoyed it.
Cute but clumsy young giraffe struggles to make friends.
Kids enjoyed it.
August 11, 2019
I'm not gonna act like clumsy giraffes is a new picture book concept for me, but it's one I always enjoy reading about. This one was pretty great.
March 15, 2021
Darling characters and hopeful message about making friends in this debut picture book by Gemma O'Neill.
January 21, 2022
Some children's books are written for the child and the parent. This is one of those!
December 19, 2024
Artig bok, gøy når sjiraffen til slutt fikk mange venner!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2026
Pretty forgettable story, illustrations are unique and fun.
November 21, 2016
Bright, colorful illustrations capture all the movement in this book. Wonderful story.
October 5, 2014
Geoffrey Giraffe wants to make friends with the other animals, but his long legs are keeping him from connecting. Every time he bends down his awkward pose has him landing on the ground. Geoffrey finally realizes that he can be friends with the animals that live in the trees.
The charming mixed media illustrations make the images come alive. We can see those awkward legs of the giraffe up close as he tries to talk to the animals on the ground. The story has a repeatable refrain of "Oh, Dear, Geoffrey!" that kids will love to say right along with their adult reader.
I would recommend this book for purchase by school and public libraries. It would make an excellent read aloud for any class from Preschool through grade 1.
This book was provided by the publisher for review by SWON Libraries.
The charming mixed media illustrations make the images come alive. We can see those awkward legs of the giraffe up close as he tries to talk to the animals on the ground. The story has a repeatable refrain of "Oh, Dear, Geoffrey!" that kids will love to say right along with their adult reader.
I would recommend this book for purchase by school and public libraries. It would make an excellent read aloud for any class from Preschool through grade 1.
This book was provided by the publisher for review by SWON Libraries.
May 25, 2014
I saw Oh Dear Geoffrey! up high out of my reach at Barnes and Noble but I certainly didn't let it stop me from scaling the shelves to pull it off the shelf. The cover illustrations caught my eye and I knew immediately that it would be worth getting in trouble with store staff.
Geoffrey is a very tall, clumsy yet adorable giraffe who stumbles and bumbles his way through the day attempting to make friends. Although a bit on the long side for a read aloud, I think Geoffrey makes for a pretty decent read aloud for story-time. Lots of kids are going through clumsy stages and know the difficulties of trying to make friends while feeling a bit awkward themselves. It would be easy to come up with a good story craft activity and finger-play or poem for this story.
Geoffrey is a very tall, clumsy yet adorable giraffe who stumbles and bumbles his way through the day attempting to make friends. Although a bit on the long side for a read aloud, I think Geoffrey makes for a pretty decent read aloud for story-time. Lots of kids are going through clumsy stages and know the difficulties of trying to make friends while feeling a bit awkward themselves. It would be easy to come up with a good story craft activity and finger-play or poem for this story.
September 16, 2014
Oh Dear, Geoffrey! by Gemma O'Neill features the awkward and gangling Geoffrey the giraffe. Geoffrey tries to play with the other animals, but always creates a mess with his uncoordinated body. Finally, some monkeys and birds befriend him because he can reach the tops of the trees like they can. He can even see the stars.
O'Neill's watercolor illustrations make the book pop. The plot can seem a little simple and fabricated, but the illustrations are worth looking at alone. The text features a variety of nonsense words to describe Geoffrey's falls that could be used to promote phonemic awareness. The movement of the text on each page could be used to develop print awareness. The book would be appropriate for children between two and five years of age.
O'Neill's watercolor illustrations make the book pop. The plot can seem a little simple and fabricated, but the illustrations are worth looking at alone. The text features a variety of nonsense words to describe Geoffrey's falls that could be used to promote phonemic awareness. The movement of the text on each page could be used to develop print awareness. The book would be appropriate for children between two and five years of age.
June 29, 2014
Geoffrey isn't as adorable as Abigal, the giraffe in Catherine Rayner's illustrations, but his story is better and since he is a male giraffe being just good looking is enough I suppose. He does have more of a story then Abigal. This is a great story for sound play from wibbly-wobbly , slip and slide to trips, skips, and flips and more. Poor Geoffrey is just so clumsy when he tries to get lower. I love the splashing, mud, and star effects in the mixed media illustrations. Geoffrey does meet and make friends with some animals who don't mind his height at all.
story 4.0
illustrations 4.0
story 4.0
illustrations 4.0
April 13, 2016
Let me just start by saying that I love the illustrations. They are so creative and colorful and vibrant. With that said, I found the story to be disappointing.
It was cute and silly with Geoffrey's clumsiness causing him all sorts of difficulty. Then it just seemed as if the author was unsure of how to end the story and it just fell flat.
Maybe that's just my own personal prejudice because it ended on a vaguely sentimental note, but even the tone change felt disjointed to me. I might be over analyzing, but darn it, I know when a book jives and I just didn't feel it with this one.
It was cute and silly with Geoffrey's clumsiness causing him all sorts of difficulty. Then it just seemed as if the author was unsure of how to end the story and it just fell flat.
Maybe that's just my own personal prejudice because it ended on a vaguely sentimental note, but even the tone change felt disjointed to me. I might be over analyzing, but darn it, I know when a book jives and I just didn't feel it with this one.
July 13, 2014
Geoffrey has trouble making friends because he's so clumsy, but when he sulks off to his favorite tree, he discovers there are some animals he can't fall on, splash, or smash: birds and monkeys. Geoffrey finally fits in.
The story is fun to read aloud, with its use of onomatopoeia and exclamations, but it's the illustrations that make it. They are gorgeous, so rich and interesting, full of color and texture, perfectly capturing each animal's characteristics and emotions.
The story is fun to read aloud, with its use of onomatopoeia and exclamations, but it's the illustrations that make it. They are gorgeous, so rich and interesting, full of color and texture, perfectly capturing each animal's characteristics and emotions.
September 15, 2014
"Geoffrey is a very tall, very clumsy giraffe. He tries to make friends with the animals down on the ground, but he just trips, slips, and falls ... usually flat on his face. Poor old Geoffrey tries everything to fit in, but it's only when he realizes that his height can be an advantage that he stretches out his long neck and finds a host of friends in the trees. Soon he discovers he can find friends just by being himself."--Publisher.
May 8, 2014
Geoffrey is challenged by his height and his clumsiness. As he goes about his day, he keeps tripping over his own feet. With the help of some new friends, the better he starts to feel and the more he can feel good about himself and rise to new heights. I really liked the luminous illustrations in this picture book as well as its positive message.
May 27, 2014
While young Geoffrey is gawky and clumsy, his height is actually a good thing, and it helps him to make friends that a shorter animal might never have met.
The book will be reassuring to kids who are unsure of themselves, but mainly it's just a cute and clever story about the way individuals have good and bad features.
The book will be reassuring to kids who are unsure of themselves, but mainly it's just a cute and clever story about the way individuals have good and bad features.
June 25, 2014
This is a sweet story about a giraffe who tries to make friends with other animals only to find his clumsiness getting in the way. However, his great height is advantageous when he discovers some new friends in the treetops. While the story is cute, it's the gorgeous illustrations that steal the show.
July 17, 2014
For the elegant illustrations and the well-made construction of the book, I was expecting a more profound story than the one presented in these pages. It is a good story about being who you are and friends will find you, but it's a message that isn't clear right away. Of everything, the illustrations are phenomenal!!
January 15, 2015
I always have a soft spot for clumsy characters. I also love the illustrations, and word placement (the words tumble as Geoffrey stumbles). Geoffrey a clumsy giraffe, just wants to say "Hello," but he always has a mishap. He gives up, but then some monkeys ask for some help and want him as a friend. So do the birds. Have to try it in my friendship story time.
May 14, 2014
The illustrations carry this story…they are beautiful and will captivate children. While the story is basic and simple children will be captivated with the images and the message of the story. I thought Geoffrey was cute enough but then got to the pages with the monkeys - very cute!
May 20, 2014
Geoffrey is tall. Geoffrey is clumsy. He falls and he bumps into his friends....AND Geoffrey keeps trying. Make a new friend, and read about Geoffrey the young giraffe and his friends in the African savannah. For ages 4-7. Reviewer #27
May 29, 2014
Age: Preschool
Animals: Giraffe, African
A light and fluffy story about being yourself accompanied with large pages full of beautiful artwork. Geoffrey finds out that he's not so clumsy when he reaches up towards the sky and makes friends in the trees.
Animals: Giraffe, African
A light and fluffy story about being yourself accompanied with large pages full of beautiful artwork. Geoffrey finds out that he's not so clumsy when he reaches up towards the sky and makes friends in the trees.
August 9, 2014
Cute book with cute illustrations. Geoffrey the giraffe tries hard to make friends but keeps running into problems because of his big, gangly body. Soon, he realizes he had friends all along that he just wasn't really noticing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews