September children's picture book of the month - This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers

[RachelMumsnet]

Our September picture book of the month is Oliver Jeffers' delightful new offering The Moose Belongs to Me. It tells the story of Wilfred who thinks he owns a moose called Marcel, and follows him around reading aloud the rules of How to Be a Good Pet. They are getting along swimmingly until someone else claims to own Marcel. This is a story about ownership and sharing which is brought to life by Oliver Jeffers' beautiful and hilarious illustrations. Find out more about The Moose Belongs to Me, watch the video and apply to win one of fifty copies (before 5.30 pm on Wednesday 5 September) by visiting our September Picture book of the month page.

We're delighted that Oliver will be reading all feedback about this book and his other books on this thread. Post your questions to Oliver here and if yours is one of ten chosen, you will win a bundle of his books. We'll be linking to the archived Q&A from here in early October.

[thisthreadwilloutme]

Hi, both of my kids love Oliver Jeffers book and we have watched Lost and Found on many rainy afternoons.

My daughter Eve would like to ask Oliver what his favorite book was when he was a child.

Thanks!

[mahalo]

Big skies, wild landscapes and animals...searching, exploring, devouring knowledge (sometimes literally). How much of you is reflected in your books?
Cat

[lionheart]

We love his books and the beautiful illustrations. DS would like to know why the boy doesn't have a name?!

[savoycabbage]

I haven't seen this but I'm going to look for it now as it sounds right up my animal loving/pet wanting dd's street.

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

We are big fans in the Moaning household. My children are 3 and 5 and we read How to Catch a Star and The Way Back Home often I love the pictures, and the rhythm of the books, with the waiting and waiting and waiting and the higher and higher and higher bits.

Is that cute blond boy pictured at the end of the book you as a child?

Do you love stars very much too? Sorry, 2 questions but they are little ones.

[DoubleYew]

Who are your favourite artists / illustrators?

[Helium123]

Hi, I love the look of your illustrations. They are beautiful and have a classic timeless feel to them yet appear with a modern twist. I understand one of your books was made into animation. My question follows, do you have plans or would you like to at some point create a children's television animation programme? :)

[Firewall]

Hello! My daughter aspires to become a writer/illustrator one day, in your opinion, to become an illustrator is it something which you need to have a natural flair for or is it something that can be learnt and developed?
Do you take inspiration from others to create your style or is that something one develops through practice? Thank you.

[countingdown]

My whole family love your books, the illustrations are incredible (our first Oliver Jeffers book was bought after falling in love with the illustrations whilst in a bookshop) We wondered, which comes first in your head - the illustrations or the story?

Would also love to know what else is lurking in the little boy's cupboard...an aeroplane which flies to the moon, a rocket, a boat...what is going to come out next?!

Now I am thinking about it, I have so many questions I'd love to ask! My children have the 'Lost and Found' dvd, which they love - were there any aspects of that which you weren't happy with, as it does differ slightly from your book.

We look forward to adding many more Oliver Jeffers books to our collection over the years!

[gazzalw]

Dear Oliver

Firstly your books have been classic reading in our house for our DCs - wish your books had been around when DW and I were children.

Secondly, absolutely love your other artistic works and am looking forward to getting a copy of your coffee table book "Neither Here Nor There". Do you have any plans to do an A-Z in the same vein as the A Light Rain print? I for one would be interested!

Also, as someone who is an author, illustrator and artist, which authors, artists and illustrators inspire you?

[iwantavuvezela]

We love your books and especially loved your talk at this years Hay Festival. My daughter asked you a question and was delighted with your answer.

[nickelcognito]

But it's hardback!

most people don't buy hardbacks (round here)
even if it's recommended. :(

but I love Oliver Jeffers books - especially How to Catch a Star and Lsot and Found.

He's also recently done illustrations for older children's books - for David Almond and John Boyne, and they're fabulous.

[ThursdayNextIsMyHero]

No questions, I just wanted to say how much I love your picture books. How to catch a star, and the incredible book eating boy are much-loved favourites of --mine- ds1

We even saw a theatre production of the way back home

[tootssweet]

We were introduced to your work through the fab Bootworks production of 'the Incredible Book Eating Boy' - have you seen it? Looking forward to Stuck now.

[DuchessofMalfi]

It looks like a lovely book - I missed the deadline :(

[DowagersHump]

Applied even those deadline had been and gone. I absolutely love Oliver Jeffers - the 'trilogy' of Lost and Found etc was the first book I ever bought my son (he'd had hand-me-downs before that) and we have all of them now.

My question is this: your books are often about friendship and how important friends are. Is this something you consciously want to write about to teach children to value their friends or is it more subconscious than that and do you know why that is? (Apologies if that is too personal a question)

[ladygoldenlion]

Hi

We are big fans of The Incredible Book Eating Boy.

I used to rip down the sides of the pages and eat them

Is Henry based on you or someone you know?

Thanks,

Ladygoldenlion and lion cubs age 10, 8 and 4 xx

[Blatherskite]

Hi Oliver. We met you in London while filming the Up and Down promo

The children and I love your books and the beautiful illustrations and also really enjoyed the film that was made of Lost and Found. Are there any plans to turn more of your books into short films?

[Lilpickle08]

Hello

Huge fan here, both my husband and I love your books and illustrations as do our two young kids!

As an aspiring children's writer.. (haha, well, ok, I might have written one book... !) I heard you mention that every story comes under 1 of 7 plot lines or story types (something like that?). What are they? I'm intrigued!

Thank you

[Indith]

Oh dear I didn't even realise the deadline was gone before filling it in, I wish these threads were stickied when posted :(

We love the Oliver Jeffers books dearly, some we own, some are frequent visitors to our house from the library. all are adored :)

[lionheart]

Just seen the illustration on the advert. It looks beautiful.

[Blatherskite]

I missed the give away but have one on pre-order anyway. I should have had it by now but Amazon are being rubbish! Tempted to buy one tomorrow and cancel the order rather than wait

[OhNoMyFoot]

How do I always miss these?

[DuchessofMalfi]

Perhaps there ought to be a childrens' bookclub newsletter we could sign up for then we wouldn't miss out. I always seem to miss these and DS would have loved this.

[FairyPenguin]

Everybody in our household loves Oliver's books, and they are real favourites that we go back to time and again. We don't get bored of reading them at all, and have recommended them many times to others.

The only question I can think of is: "Did you also feel seasick in the animated version of Lost and Found when they were sailing through the storm?!". It was so realistic, I had to look away after a while! Apart from that, we were pleased that it stuck to the storyline. We love the boy and the penguin.