The New Jumper

The New Jumper (The Hueys) by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)
PB RRP $24.99
ISBN 978000420650
Reviewed by Sharon McGuinness

Award winning author/illustrator Oliver Jeffers introduces us to a new quirky group of characters, the Hueys, in his new picture book The New Jumper. Jeffers tells the story of the Hueys in his simplistic style, but that doesn’t mean his themes are ‘light’.

The Hueys all look the same and all do the same things until one of them called Rupert, knits himself a new jumper. Rupert wears his new jumper everywhere, however the other Hueys are unimpressed – horrified actually that someone dared to be different.

Gillespie, Rupert’s friend, thought about what Rupert did and he found the idea of being different rather interesting and knitted himself a new jumper so he could be different, too.

Rupert and Gillespie were no longer considered different by the other Hueys – in fact, they start a trend and new jumpers began to be knitted by more Hueys as the idea catches on.

Jeffers is able to celebrate difference on a level easily understood by young children. However, the quirky drawings will also appeal to older children and even adults.

Clever use of black and white with the addition of only one colour until the last endpapers adds another layer to an enjoyable simple story. Oliver Jeffers is certainly an author whose books are worthwhile additions to anyone’s shelves.