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Oliver Jeffers
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The Heart and the Bottle Paperback – 2 Sept. 2010

by Oliver Jeffers (Author, Illustrator)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,392 ratings
Teachers' pick for school years 1–9
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Award-winning picture book star Oliver Jeffers explores themes of love and loss in this life-affirming and uplifting tale.

Once there was a girl whose life was filled with wonder at the world around her…
Then one day something happened that made the girl take her heart and put it in a safe place. However, after that it seemed that the world was emptier than before. But would she know how to get her heart back?

In this deeply moving story, Oliver Jeffers deals with the weighty themes of love and loss with an extraordinary lightness of touch and shows us, ultimately, that there is always hope.

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  1. Reading age
    5 years and up
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Dimensions
    25.9 x 0.2 x 26.5 cm
  5. Publisher
    HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks
  6. Publication date
    2 Sept. 2010
  7. ISBN-10
    9780007182343
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0007182343
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

oliver jeffers
meanwhile back on earth here we are what we'll build
Meanwhile Back on Earth Here We Are What We'll Build
Customer Reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
94
4.8 out of 5 stars
5,884
4.8 out of 5 stars
1,480
Price £14.09 £12.87 £12.89
Stunning illustrations ✓ ✓ ✓
Heartfelt story ✓ ✓ ✓
Beautiful messages to share with the whole family ✓ ✓ ✓
oliver jeffers

Finding our place through time and space with award-winning picture book creator, Oliver Jeffers

oliver jeffers

black friday book

christmas gift

We have always thought that Earth is so big that it's best to divide it into smaller bits...

Though really, Earth is not so big. Not compared to... well, SPACE.

Shall we take a detour and see for ourselves?

Meanwhile Back on Earth is both a history of the world and a primer on the universe told through a father's epic journey into space with his squabbling children.

Oliver Jeffers' inimitable wit and warmth combine with his beautiful illustrations to deliver an enduring message for our times and a unique perspective on our world.

oliver jeffers

Product description

Review

Praise for The Heart and the Bottle:

“Beautifully produced and profoundly moving… It made me cry, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be the only one.” The Irish Times

“Jeffers anatomises loss and the processes of grief with an honesty and ingenuity that will move adults and children of any age.” Telegraph

Praise for Oliver Jeffers:

“Oliver Jeffers makes impressive use of space in this affecting story of friendship … illustrations capture feelings of loss and loneliness through the most delicate nuances of facial expression … and body language.” Julia Eccleshare, The Guardian

“Hail to new talent … If only all picture books could be this good.” The Bookseller

About the Author

Oliver Jeffers is a highly acclaimed talent in picture books. He graduated from The University of Ulster in 2001 with First Class honours and has since exhibited his paintings around the world. His outstanding talent has already been recognised by several high-profile awards, including the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Gold Award, the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award and the Irish Children's Book of the Year.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0007182341
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks (2 Sept. 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780007182343
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007182343
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 years and up
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 25.9 x 0.2 x 26.5 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,392 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers

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Oliver Jeffers is an artist, illustrator and writer from Northern Ireland.

From figurative painting, collage and installation to illustration and award winning picture-books, Oliver Jeffers practice takes many forms.

His distinctive paintings have been exhibited in multiple cities, including the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Brooklyn Museum New York.

HarperCollins UK and Penguin USA publish his picture books, now translated into over 36 languages, including The Incredible Book Eating Boy, and the New York Times Bestseller This Moose Belongs to Me and #1 New York Times Bestseller The Day The Crayons Quit.

Oliver won an Emmy in 2010 for his collaborative  work with artist and filmmaker Mac Premo. He has made art for Newsweek, The New York Times, United Airlines, TED, Nintendo, and has illustrated a a number of novels.

In 2007, Jeffers was the official illustrator for World Book Day.

Lost and Found became Oliver's first book to made into animation by London based Studio AKA, screening on Christmas Eve 2008 on Channel 4 in the UK and on Nickelodeon in the US and Australia.

In 2013, Jeffers illustrated the vinyl cover (a drawing of Nelson Mandela) for the U2 song "Ordinary Love". Jeffers also co-directed (with Mac Premo) the video for the U2 song "Ordinary Love".

Oliver grew up in Belfast Northern Ireland and now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

See more at www.oliverjeffers.com, or visit his instagram, facebook, and twitter @oliverjeffers

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,392 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the story nicely illustrated and thought-provoking. They describe the content as heartwarming, touching, and moving. Readers also mention the book is great for children dealing with bereavement and helpful for discussing the death of a family member.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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Story qualityHeartwarmingContent
33 customers mention ‘Story quality’31 positive2 negative

Customers find the story quality to be nice, beautiful, and thought-provoking. They also say it's an effective and lovely way to explain to a young child about a parent.

"...Jeffers book to my child..a heartwarming, thoughtful and a lovely way to explain to a young child about a parent getting old and then no longer..." Read more

"...enjoyed this book and the emotional subtext, as well as the really lovely illustrations...." Read more

"I read this story to my daughter who really liked this book. Lovely illustrations and story about life. Another great from Oliver Jeffers." Read more

"Illustrations lovely, not sure my grandaughter would understand the sentiment, slightly unclear" Read more

16 customers mention ‘Heartwarming’16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, touching, and moving. They say it's perfect for friends experiencing similar emotions. Readers also mention the story is simple yet profound.

"...reading an Oliver Jeffers book to my child..a heartwarming, thoughtful and a lovely way to explain to a young child about a parent getting old and..." Read more

"A beautiful simple yet profound story of love, loss and ultimately of hope...." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book and the emotional subtext, as well as the really lovely illustrations...." Read more

"...and grandchildren, it's a classic and is clever, funny and heart-warming just as you would expect from the author! <3" Read more

14 customers mention ‘Content’11 positive3 negative

Customers find the content heartwarming, beautiful, and helpful for children dealing with bereavement. They say it opens up wonderful conversations.

"...times and I think the mixture of lightness of touch, serious approach to children's grief and ultimate positivity really..." Read more

"...A good way to introduce a concept of loss (death) in a very lovely, clever way that children can understand and apply in other life situations..." Read more

"...Opened up some wonderful conversations with the children I read it to in school" Read more

"...The content is confusing with too much implied and not suitable for a child who has experienced loss." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Jenny fleary
5.0 out of 5 stars Oliver Jeffers at his best.!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 August 2016
Verified Purchase
An excellent read...I'm never disappointed reading an Oliver Jeffers book to my child..a heartwarming, thoughtful and a lovely way to explain to a young child about a parent getting old and then no longer being around anymore and the grief felt through a child's heart and how a simple act can help you cope with the loss of a loved on. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
One person found this helpful
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Miss Rados-Deyn
5.0 out of 5 stars Faith, Hope & Love.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2020
Verified Purchase
A beautiful simple yet profound story of love, loss and ultimately of hope. With short sentences and exquisite pictures that speak more than a thousand words.

A fathers love towards his daughter, and a daughters devoted love towards her father. He is constantly watching, caring and overseeing, guiding her, teaching her, instructing her in embracing and bringing to life before her the deep well and the excitement of riches of life, the universe and everything. Until he is no longer there, no longer sitting in his chair, and the pervasive darkness of grief descends upon his little girl. Who devastated locks away her heart, her ability to love.

Yet she learns through another, someone smaller who still excited, and curious about the world teaches and practically assists in putting back her heart she had secured away into a bottle.

Unselfish love brings its own reward. Although there is much happiness in receiving love, there is even greater happiness in giving or showing, love to others.

That the epitome of love, pure, rich and a ceaseless flowing that love that will never end. When we begin to give our selves away, we find out immediately how good that is. Yet from a genuine caring heart.

When we give joy we receive joy, when we give hope we receive hope, when we give love we receive love, and when we give mercy we receive mercy. Everything we give away multiplies itself. And we rediscover the joy, gift and privilege of being alive.
10 people found this helpful
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Melanie
5.0 out of 5 stars The theme is only implied but children grasp it - and that's the real strength of the book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2016
Verified Purchase
Bought this to read with my five year old son as a way into discussing our loss of my father in law. We love Jeffers' other books but I loved the way that death is in no way explicitly mentioned - there's simply an empty chair - but my son immediately made the link to his own situation and he initiated a conversation about the activities of the characters in the story and his own reading with his granddad as we read. It was important to me that we treated his grief on his own terms, and this book was a beautiful way in. We read it a few times and I think the mixture of lightness of touch, serious approach to children's grief and ultimate positivity really
helped my son at a tough time. It helped his parents too!
5 people found this helpful
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stephan grimwood
5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 May 2017
Verified Purchase
I had recently chatted with a stranger online, who took the time to speak and they just asked the right questions. She then said that she had the perfect book that suited me to a tee, this was that book and i could not have said it better myself.

It is all to easy to hide our hearts away from others, we experience hurt and loss and at the time it seems the logical thing to do.

I put my heart in a bottle back in 2001, tried to take it out in 2011 but i got hurt even worse than before. In 2014, i took it out and started to accept any hurt and discuss my feelings and learned how to protect my heart without the need of a bottle but i know the bottle is there still.....

...but it is empty!
One person found this helpful
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atk
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful but not to be purchased lightly
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2012
Verified Purchase
I almost cried when I first read this, and I know colleagues (I am a teacher) that couldn't finish the book. It is a very beautiful book (I would say, undoubtedly Jeffers' best book) and it is the best rendition (children's book or otherwise) of how death can constrict someone's life. Do not underestimate the delicacy, poigniancy and power of how jeffers illustrates and tells this.
On first reading, I closed it, and stated that I would never buy it and never read it again. It was too moving - too horrible! Furthermore, I argued that it is not aimed at children. Thinking of children that I knew who knew of loss, this book would not offer them anything (as the story is of how a child's heart is broken and it is not until adulthood when they have their own child that their heart is somewhat repaired).
I still stand by that, however, it does have a place in terms of helping children (or anyone) understand grief.
One person found this helpful
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Monkeytoes
4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely illustrations, narrative lacking.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 June 2018
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book and the emotional subtext, as well as the really lovely illustrations. However, it was a bit confusing for my 3 year old who can normally follow stories easily. It doesn't read that well when reading aloud and doesn't have much of a narrative.
4 people found this helpful
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STEVE
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 October 2020
Verified Purchase
I read this story to my daughter who really liked this book. Lovely illustrations and story about life. Another great from Oliver Jeffers.
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MM
5.0 out of 5 stars i had to read it twice to get the bereavement ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 December 2015
Verified Purchase
i had to read it twice to get the bereavement theme
i won't share it with my children (i'm worrying my son with SPD will be uncomfortable with the story) but it's been immensely helpful for me
not that i've recently lost someone, not that i am bereaving, but because i relate to the heart-locking concept of the story, i tend to lock my heart so that i don't get hurt, and in the process, i tend to lose all the beauties of the world, the wonders of nature, the giggle of my children, i get obsessed with things that are not as important as the kindness i once had when i had my heart and my soul within me.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Gizem Aktan
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt wonders
Reviewed in the United States on 15 February 2024
Verified Purchase
The story is a gentle exploration of loss, love, and rediscovery, wrapped in Jeffers' signature whimsy and charm. I am a dedicated fan of Oliver Jeffers' and his ability to convey complex emotions with simplicity is truly remarkable. The illustrations, as always, are a visual feast.

This book delivers a poignant message about the importance of keeping our hearts open despite loss and challenges. Through charming illustrations and heartfelt storytelling, Jeffers reminds us the beauty and wonder that awaits when we embrace life with an open heart.
Customer image
Gizem Aktan
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt wonders
Reviewed in the United States on 15 February 2024
The story is a gentle exploration of loss, love, and rediscovery, wrapped in Jeffers' signature whimsy and charm. I am a dedicated fan of Oliver Jeffers' and his ability to convey complex emotions with simplicity is truly remarkable. The illustrations, as always, are a visual feast.

This book delivers a poignant message about the importance of keeping our hearts open despite loss and challenges. Through charming illustrations and heartfelt storytelling, Jeffers reminds us the beauty and wonder that awaits when we embrace life with an open heart.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written and illustrated.
Reviewed in Canada on 17 February 2021
Verified Purchase
This lovely book! I have had it for several years and this copy I bought to give to my 17 year old granddaughter who was going through a tough time. It is not only for children...
One person found this helpful
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Shrek
5.0 out of 5 stars A good one for children
Reviewed in India on 26 September 2022
Verified Purchase
Thumbs up to both - quality of the book and the content
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Leng Family
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
Reviewed in Germany on 4 June 2021
Verified Purchase
I originally came across this book for my daughter's reading/writing lesson at school. It is such a beautiful book, both in its text as well as illustrations, that I had to purchase a copy for our home library.
It is a bittersweet story but with a hopeful ending. The author takes such a difficult topic (death of a loved one, depression and sadness that follow) and tells a story that even a child (of reading age) can understand. The book is a great one even for adults. In fact, there are likely a lot of adults that this book would resonate beautifully with.
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Maria Carolina de Almeida Amaral
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in Brazil on 3 May 2019
Verified Purchase
Very touching and kind.
One person found this helpful
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