The Golf Shop
Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery
Amazon prime logo
Buy new:
-22% $14.00
FREE delivery Wednesday, January 8 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
Limited time deal NO_OF_HOURS hours NO_OF_MINUTES minutes Limited time deal NO_OF_MINUTES minutes Limited time deal NO_OF_MINUTES minutes NO_OF_SECONDS seconds Limited time deal NO_OF_SECONDS seconds Limited time deal
$14.00 with 22 percent savings
List Price: $17.95
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Wednesday, January 8 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Tomorrow, January 4. Order within 6 hrs 50 mins.
Only 15 left in stock - order soon.
$$14.00 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.00
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$9.49
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, January 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Sunday, January 5. Order within 12 hrs 50 mins.
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$14.00 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.00
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Odious Ogre Hardcover – Picture Book, September 1, 2010

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$14.00","priceAmount":14.00,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"00","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"2uJKacSn07mS2v4Om7dbLOHVYwioqGylO%2FKmGpq8oh%2B2roMrxGSaH6bOX26r%2FWkLrJoBLNuF2az7clt%2F%2BsOnnXs0LwiKZPUwS26hOmyhnvRoNjZoh5Dlc30aOcf5AC%2FrYyvXqILTGCQ%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$9.49","priceAmount":9.49,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"49","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"2uJKacSn07mS2v4Om7dbLOHVYwioqGyluHS1mQiv%2Bjpn6UpYnC1jY27ucLwPaXpDcLGxkeMsJf6AzLwpIFFvDQH9gjdU0eGQTNlXy9%2FU3g9aZgPdYHOInyXqgb2oVs3YZ2pLCU0U%2FuX%2F%2F7CA%2Fsdq37w5GOLbExx4G7YnEFxKT452UadXpVPBUx0wZLO51uPN","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

The author and the illustrator of THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH--together again!

This is the story of a really rotten Ogre who is extraordinarily large, exceedingly ugly, unusually angry, constantly hungry, and absolutely merciless. He terrorizes the entire countryside and all the surrounding towns, wreaking havoc, sowing confusion, and dining happily on the hapless citizens. Nothing can stop him. But then he takes a wrong turn and encounters a kind and friendly young lady who does her best to help him--with a surprising result.
Teachers%27%20picks%20%7C%20Explore%20children%27s%20books%20by%20grade

Frequently bought together

This item: The Odious Ogre
$14.00
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jan 8
Only 15 left in stock - order soon.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$5.99
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jan 8
Only 12 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$9.89
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jan 8
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After a nearly 50-year wait, Juster's reunion with his Phantom Tollbooth collaborator Feiffer is squarely in keeping with their earlier fairy tale drollery. Feiffer's ogre, scrawled in scribbly brown outline, snores on his back in a forest of Lilliputian trees in one spread, then strides off in search of a snack in the next. (Feiffer often draws him from the boots up, the better to convey his massive size.) The ogre's victims usually cower hopelessly before him, but this time, the specimen he encounters--a slim, wide-eyed young woman in a long blue dress--undoes him with kindness. Oh, you're not really so terrible, she says sweetly. I'll bet if you brushed your teeth, combed your hair, found some new clothes, and totally changed your attitude you'd be quite nice. The ogre's mighty tantrum shakes the forest, but she remains calm. Would you consider doing that for the orphans' picnic next week? I know the children would love it. The ogre's speedy exit--he drops dead--is a bit of a throwaway, but Juster's narrative insouciance and Feiffer's pen and brush haven't lost their magic. All ages.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2–There is nothing as satisfying as a job well done, and this ogre is beyond satisfied. In fact, he doesn't have to do anything anymore to scare the villagers. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, however, he goes about his business of snacking on them whenever the mood strikes him. Until one day, that is, when he comes upon a beautiful girl in the forest, and she is not afraid of him in the slightest. She sees beyond his odor and hideous face and assumes he is a good person at heart. She offers him tea and muffins and extends every kindness that she can think of. Thrown off guard, the ogre tries every trick he knows to frighten her but nothing will rattle this optimistic young girl. The befuddled and frustrated ogre tromps off through the forest and, well, the odious ogre is no more. Juster's language and imagery are playful throughout. For example, he describes the villagers' unsuccessful attempt at hiding from the ogre by noting that they “stuffed their ears with stale cake.” What child won't chuckle at that image? Later, the ogre complains that the girl is not “the docile dumpling he expected.” The ogre is correct; she is no docile dumpling. Feiffer's loose, colorful sketches are as cartoony as this over-the-top story demands. The text is a bit long for storyhour but the clever repartee and fun illustrations make up for that in spades.Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
© Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0545162025
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Michael di Capua Books; Illustrated edition (September 1, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780545162029
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0545162029
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 year and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD880L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 1 - 2
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.5 x 0.5 x 12.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Norton Juster
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Norton Juster is an architect and planner, professor emeritus of design at Hampshire College, and the author of a number of highly acclaimed children's books, including The Dot and the Line, which was made into an Academy Award-winning animated film. He has collaborated with Sheldon Harnick on the libretto for an opera based on The Phantom Tollbooth. The musical adaptation, with a score by Arnold Black, premiered in 1995 and will soon be performed in schools and theaters nationwide. An amateur cook and professional eater, Mr. Juster lives with his wife in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
32 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read aloud. They appreciate the wonderful artwork and find it suitable for children in grades 2-5. The book teaches children about understanding others and how their view of others is based on their actions.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

6 customers mention "Fun to read"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy reading the book. They find the illustrations and words amusing, making it a joy to laugh together and show one another the wonderful artwork.

"What a fun read! And oh! can you be dramatic when reading aloud. And such delicious vocabulary to briefly explain!..." Read more

"...of a story with marvelous illustrations that are fun for the young and "young at heart"." Read more

"...They found the author's use of words just as amusing as in Phantom Tollbooth." Read more

"...Then we read it aloud together, using our webcams. What a joy to laugh together and show one another the wonderful artwork! Thank you Amazon." Read more

5 customers mention "Visual quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual quality. They mention the wonderful artwork and find it beautiful to look at and read.

"...And such delicious vocabulary to briefly explain! The fantastic illustrations throughout are very fitting for the tale...." Read more

"...skinny line has been fleshed out with eye-tickling and visually satisfying watercolors. It's a beauty to look at, and beautiful to read...." Read more

"...listeners, believe me, this is one humdinger of a story with marvelous illustrations that are fun for the young and "young at heart"." Read more

"...What a joy to laugh together and show one another the wonderful artwork! Thank you Amazon." Read more

4 customers mention "Reading ability"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy reading the book aloud to children in grades 2-5. They find it fun and enjoyable, with interesting vocabulary to explain. The book teaches children about understanding others and how their views of others depend on them. Readers also mention that the book is suitable for dramatizing when reading aloud.

"...And so it did the ogre. Very suitable as a read aloud to grades 2-5 (even higher); independent readers should probably be in grade 3.2,..." Read more

"Well known author and illustrator. A child's book. For anyone over 8 it is a waste of money." Read more

"This book is great for teaching children about understanding others and how their view of you is dependent on how you view yourself and how you act." Read more

"This is so much fun to read aloud...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2015
    What a fun read! And oh! can you be dramatic when reading aloud. And such delicious vocabulary to briefly explain! The fantastic illustrations throughout are very fitting for the tale. The surprising ending, though, is quite a disappointment, but goodness, kindness, generosity, politeness--everything the bullying ogre didn't have--was his undoing in the end. Some who remember such a saying would agree that this is a story exemplifying "turning the other cheek"--oh, how that infuriates the other person. And so it did the ogre.

    Very suitable as a read aloud to grades 2-5 (even higher); independent readers should probably be in grade 3.2, unless precocious.

    The Creative Teacher: Activities for Language Arts (Grades 4 through 8 and Up)
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2010
    There is a certain poignancy to reading "The Odious Ogre." Norton Juster, the writer, and Jules Feiffer, the illustrator, jointly created "The Phantom Tollbooth" five decades ago, and in doing so, created one of the most perfect children's books in history. Juster's copy and Feiffer's illustrations fit seamlessly together--so seamlessly that you'd think the two men shared the same brain. Words and pictures alike shared a wry, slightly ironic yet simultaneously very earnest sensibility and complemented each other perfectly. Among children's book geniuses, only Dr. Seuss was able to marry words and pictures as effectively. Their work combined to form what is truly a work of wonder--a very New York-Jewish magical allegory, the unmistakable subtext of which is, "Learning stuff is cool," without even a hint of preachiness, self-righteousness, or sanctimoniousness. Kids can see right through that and instinctively despise it, but no one in his or her right mind has ever despised "The Phantom Tollbooth."

    The poignancy of reading "The Odious Ogre" comes in when you wonder why it took these two guys fifty years to do another book. Now, at (what is hopefully not) the twilight of their lives, I suppose they figured, "Well, we did one classic. Maybe we'd better knock out another one before it's too late." I'm glad they did, but I wish they'd done a lot more together.

    "The Odious Ogre" is lush where "The Phantom Tollbooth" is spare. Juster's language is deliriously self-indulgent ("I am invulnerable, impregnable, insuperable, indefatigable, insurmountable!" the ogre bellows at one point), perhaps a little too much so for younger readers (but if read aloud with the right gusto, they won't notice it). And Feiffer's trademark skinny line has been fleshed out with eye-tickling and visually satisfying watercolors. It's a beauty to look at, and beautiful to read.

    But best of all, "The Odious Ogre" retains the knowing, savvy, and ever so slightly subversive morality of "Tollbooth." People are easily cowed and buffaloed by bullies, and the bullies know this. But bullies are stupid--slaves to their own methods of intimidation and to routine. The unexpected throws them off-kilter, as does the realization that the object of their bullying may just turn out to be tougher than they are.

    "The Odious Ogre" ought to be on the bookshelf of every bright and bookish parent who's trying to raise a bright and bookish child. I truly hope that this isn't the last hurrah of Team Juster-Feiffer, but if it is, they went out with a bang.
    68 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2010
    I have read this book to three grandchildren, ages 3,4&5. They all just love the story and just literally eat up the wonderful vocabulary. We are babysitting this week for grandchildren ages 3 & 5 and after three nights of the story they already have several lines memorized and can't hardly wait to say them out-loud along with Grandma. They are literally clamoring for the Odious Ogre reading to begin. If you love reading to your kids and relish stories with dialogue lines that you can "act out" for your little listeners, believe me, this is one humdinger of a story with marvelous illustrations that are fun for the young and "young at heart".
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2010
    I bought this book based upon the rave reviews it received in the national media, including on NPR. The author and his illustrator collaborator produced a wonderful book 50 years ago, The Phantom Tollbooth, that is now considered a classic, the story went, and they have now reunited to write another noteworthy children's book. I was intrigued and ordered both books, and have been delighted with their original work.

    Not so with The Odious Ogre. This 21st century offering peddles the notion that if we simply ignore the odiousness of enemies and extend the "warm muffin" of kindness to them, they will decide "It's no use, I'm confounded, overcome, and undone," and in short order keel over, and expire in "uncomprehending disbelief."

    Would that the world were so simple and those who, like the ogre, wish to rend our flesh for their own gratification, could so easily be brought to self-mortification. But that is not the world we live in, and it is foolishness to put forth such soft-headed notions in children's literature.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2010
    When I heard that the author and illustrator of The Phantom Tollboth were collaborating again I was pretty stoked. I love The Phantom Tollboth. I have read it several times. And we've read it outloud as a family.

    A brief blurb of The Odious Ogre sounded like the book had potential. I eagerly looked forward to reading the book.

    I am under impressed.

    While The Phantom Tollboth was aimed at young readers who had moved passed chapter books, The Odious Ogre is a picture book designed for parents to read to children. It is a short book, about 32 pages, and could be read out loud in five to ten minutes.

    But this is not a book I would read to my four-year-old. The first third of the book is about an ogre eats people. Cannibalism is not a topic I think young children need exposure to.

    A young woman, who is kind, generous and understanding "defeats" the ogre. While the point that kindness and understanding are characteristics of strong people and have value, there was too much deus ex machina for me.

    There are better books and I encourage you to skip this one.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2010
    I used it with my Gifted and Talented L/A class as a read aloud (each taking a page or two). I am using it to demo types of books. They found the author's use of words just as amusing as in Phantom Tollbooth.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Oh dear
    5.0 out of 5 stars Grandson, Sully loved it.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 29, 2020
    Excellent choice