Product Description

Everyone flocks to see that outrageous orangutan. But all he wants to see is the world beyond the zoo. So whenever his keeper, Mr. Frumbee, leaves his cage open the tiniest bit, Wallace takes off on an adventure -- to the department store, the museum, or even the beach.

So it's up to Mr. Frumbee -- with a little help from you -- to find that errant ape within the nine action-packed, full-color panoramas. (And while you're at it, Wallace has six friends who tag along on each of those adventures. Can you figure out who they are and find them in each spread? Here's a hint: Check out the totem pole in the Nature Museum.)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #369851 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 48 pages

Amazon.com Review
That wily Wallace! Where has he gone this time? The funny little orange-furred orangutan is always surrounded by friends at the zoo. But time after time Wallace's wanderlust drives him to escape from his comfortable day-to-day existence with his friend the zookeeper--to a department store, to the circus, to a baseball game, to the beach. The zookeeper is not as disturbed as you might imagine by Wallace's repeated breakouts. In fact, one might almost think he plants the ideas in Wallace's head himself... After all, every time Wallace disappears, it's up to the zookeeper to find him, even if that means spending an hour or two at an amusement park or the nature museum.

For over 35 years, readers of all ages have gleefully searched these pages for the mischievous ape. Hilary Knight, well-loved illustrator of the Eloise series, among many other picture books, created a classic with Where's Wallace?. Each of nine intricately detailed panoramic pictures is packed with lively, humorous activity, making the search for Wallace a delightful challenge. For those who pride themselves on having found the orange fellow on every spread, the book ups the ante. See if you can find the six additional characters accompanying Wallace on every adventure, including a cello player, a jogger, and an old woman who manages to keep knitting in the most unusual places! (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly
A friendly orangutan named Wallace leaves his cage, and vists the circus, the beach, the natural history museumall the places he has longed to see. Readers can join the zookeeper's search for Wallace in the pictures. PW's comment: "Both children and adults will pore over this story with great pleasure."
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Hilary Knight is one of America's most beloved illustrators of books for children. Mr. Knight started his career collaborating with Kay Thompson on the best-selling Eloise books, Eloise, Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime, and Eloise in Moscow. Since that time, Mr. Knight has illustrated dozens of books for children, including Side by Side and Happy Birthday, both with Lee Bennett Hopkins. He has worked for Vanity Fair and now lives and works in New York City. Mr. Knight is an aficionado of zoos worldwide, but it was an orangutan in the Central Park Zoo who inspired the hero of Where's Wallace?

Customer Reviews

Ovations for Outrageous Orange Orangutan Outings!
This book clearly deserves more than five stars.

Like all of the great children's books, this one succeeds at several levels. The story creates a connection for the reader or listener between humans and animals at a caring, considerate level that can provide a model for human relations as well. It also succeeds as an adventure story, along the lines of a gigantic hide-and-go-seek game. At another level, it helps the reader or viewer become more observant with an early version of Where's Waldo? and I Spy. Finally, the book shows the potential for all to enjoy themselves more by cooperating to expand curiosity and exploration.

The book begins with the relationship between Wallace, an orangutan in a little zoo in a big busy city, and his keeper, Mr. Frumbee. The two are very attached to each other. They eat, read, and play games together . . . almost like parent and child. Mr. Frumbee even keeps Wallace's money for him in a bank. Then one day, the door of the cage is left ajar and Wallace escapes with his bank to buy some fine clothes. Seven more escapes follow, each following a discussion about the outside world that interests Wallace. For each of the eight escapes, Hilary Knight provides a wonderfully detailed two-page spread where you are encouraged to find Wallace. If you cannot, for some reason, he tells you where Wallace is on the next page. After you tire of this game or memorize the locations, Wallace has 6 companions in each of the panoramas that you can locate, as well. These illustrations will remind you of the best of the Richard Scarry drawings in their beautiful detail and colorations.

Along the way, Wallace is found each time by Mr. Frumbee, and they manage to spend a little time having fun with each other before returning to the zoo. What a nice counter model to the usual outrage and screaming of the caregiver who is looking for the lost child! Wallace finds himself in a park having a picnic, a department store buying clothes, a natural history museum with a dinosaur skeleton, a three ring circus, a baseball park, a midway at an amusement park, and an apartment building near the zoo.

The first hint that this could be a great book comes when you see that the story and panoramas are by Hilary Knight, the famed illustrator of the four Eloise stories.

The second hint comes quickly thereafter when you read Judith Viorst's description of her copy of the book, acquired in 1964 when it was first published. Her "original copy . . . [is] chewed on, dribbled on, spilled on, exhaustively read." Now what more could you hope for from a children's book?

The third hint hits you when you open the first panorama and find yourself engrossed in the beautifully detailed, small drawings across the two page spread. If you are like me, it takes you a minute or two to find Wallace, even though he isn't that hard to find in this panorama.

The fourth hint shows itself when you notice that Wallace is trusted with the door open, even though he takes off a lot. What is that trust all about? Ah, you see that Hilary Knight is subtly trying to show how you let children grow up by giving them chances to be responsible with suitable, simultaneous observation.

The fifth hint struck me when I noticed that Mr. Frumbee seemed to be enjoying the serendipity of the outings as much as Wallace was. This suggested a new level of mature behavior to encourage parents to be a little less up-tight.

The final hint for me was when I found myself smiling as I turned every page, in happy anticipation of a fun adventure. Few books affect me that way. I was glad to return to the days of being 6 years old when the world seemed totally unlimited in its potential to amaze and amuse me. I think you will also enjoy that return visit in the time machine. The book also ensures that your child will feel that expansiveness, as well.

After you finish enjoying this wonderful story for the fifth straight reading in the same day, I suggest that you arrange to duplicate the adventures . . . starting with a trip to a zoo (or a farm, forest, or park, if you don't have a zoo handy). You can pick five types of animals to look for. But be sure to just explore whatever is there, as well. You can then make a scrapbook of your visits, with colored drawings (or, if you want to get fancy, you can take some photographs).

If you have a chance to go to Manhattan, you should know that Hilary Knight was inspired by an orangutan in the Central Park Zoo to write and illustrate this story. Then, you can make a literal pilgrimage. While you are there, remember that Eloise is only a few blocks away at The Plaza Hotel. Be sure to visit her picture in the south part of the lobby area, just off of the Palm Court.

Where's the fun? It's all around you . . . if you take the time to pursue it! Loosen up to enjoy being with your child more.

my all time favorite book growing up
When I was pregnant with my son, I searched for this book. When I was growing up, my Mom would read Where's Wallace to my siblings and I every night. We couldn't get anough of it. I was so excited to find it still in print. Finding Wallace on every page, as well as other recurring characters, was one of the highlights of my childhood, and although my son is only 1 1/2 now, I hope it will be of his too.

I am thrilled to share this with my children
This was a favorite of mine as a child. I am so pleased to be able to get them their own copies.(mine is a bit tattered) They love finding Wallace and all of his friends over and over again. This book just stands up to the test of time. We read it every night.