The Heart and the Bottle

Written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Can joy be rediscovered after loss, or is it forever bottled away?

5.5/7 Bookroo expert·4.4/5 Goodreads · 6,940 ratings

32 pages· 283 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud· ~350L

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

A child's world of wonder fades when their guiding light disappears. Faced with loss, they must choose: hide their heart away or find a new source of magic. Will they embrace the stars and laughter once more, or let the colors fade? This touching tale explores the journey of healing and rediscovery, inviting readers to find joy in unexpected places.

From the publisher

There is a wonder and magic to childhood. We don’t realize it at the time, of course . . . yet the adults in our lives do. They encourage us to see things in the stars, to find joy in colors and laughter as we play.

But what happens when that special someone who encourages such wonder and magic is no longer around? We can hide, we can place our heart in a bottle and grow up . . . or we can find another special someone who understands the magic. And we can encourage them to see things in the stars, find joy among colors and laughter as they play.

Oliver Jeffers delivers a remarkable book, a tale of poignancy and resonance reminiscent of The Giving Tree that will speak to the hearts of children and parents alike.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 32
Words: 283
Reading age: 4–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: ~350L

Themes & topics

Books about imagination Books about love Books about friendship Books about coping with death Books about death

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.5

out of 7

5.5

“The illustrations in this touching book are amazing! They are beautiful and add lovely details to the story. This story has a melancholy feel, but ends on a happy note as the girl gets her heart, curiosity, and joy back from a little girl.”

B is for Bookworm

Trusted reviewer

The author & illustrator