Oliver in the Garden (published in the USA as Night Cat) is a 2000 picture book by Margaret Beames. It is about a cat called Oliver that chooses to stay outside all night but after a number of adventures decides it is better indoors.

Oliver in the Garden
AuthorMargaret Beames
IllustratorSue Hitchcock
LanguageEnglish
SubjectChildren's literature, Picture book
Published2000 (Scholastic)
Publication placeNew Zealand
Media typePrint (hardback, paperback)
Pages32
ISBN9781869434526
OCLC49221508

Publication history

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Reception

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The Horn Book Magazine, in a review of Oliver in the Garden, wrote "Hitchcock's digitally rendered illustrations feature wonderfully dramatic and sometimes chilling nightscapes in a palette of deep purple and black occasionally cut by swaths of light and color. The story is more atmospheric than well-plotted, the cozy conclusion more inevitable than satisfying."[3] A reviewer for the School Library Journal compared it to books like Marcia Brown's Shadow and concluded "this import from New Zealand promises to bewitch American picture-book readers."[4]

Oliver in the Garden has also been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews,[5] and Publishers Weekly.[6]

It is one of the New Zealand Book Council 50 New Zealand books every kid should read by age 12,[7] and won Best Picture Book and the Children's Choice Award at the 2001 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.[8]

Sequels

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Beames has written further books involving Oliver including Oliver's Party (2003),[9] and Oliver Goes Exploring (2008).[10]

References

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  1. ^ Solomon and Mortimer. OCLC. OCLC 49221508. Retrieved 25 October 2017 – via worldcat.org.
  2. ^ Solomon and Mortimer. OCLC. OCLC 229270433. Retrieved 25 October 2017 – via worldcat.org.
  3. ^ "Night Cat". catalog.wccls.org. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Night Cat". Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Night Cat (star review)". Kirkus Media LLC. 1 August 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2017. A great read-aloud for both large groups and snug one-on-one.
  6. ^ "Night Cat". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. 19 May 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2017. the book's frightening visuals may haunt young readers after the covers close.
  7. ^ "50 New Zealand books every kid should read by age 12". bookcouncil.org.nz. New Zealand Book Council. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Past Winners". nzbookawards.nz. New Zealand Book Awards Trust. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  9. ^ Oliver's party. OCLC. OCLC 156008897. Retrieved 25 October 2016 – via www.worldcat.org.
  10. ^ Oliver goes exploring. OCLC. OCLC 226978177. Retrieved 25 October 2016 – via www.worldcat.org.
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