Lost. Found.
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Touching, funny takedown of "finders, keepers" is a gem.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
A bear walking through a blustery snowstorm loses his red scarf to a gust of wind. It's soon found by a pair of raccoons, who get so distracted tussling over it that they leave it behind, where it's found by a playful beaver. Soon, he, too, loses the scarf, which passes in and out of the possession of various forest dwellers before the wind blows it into a clearing. All the animals dive after it, shredding it into a tangled mess of yarn just as the bear happens upon the scene. He quietly gathers up the yarn and begins to mend his scarf. The repentant forest animals lend a hand, and the former adversaries enjoy new camaraderie as they work together.
Is It Any Good?
Humor and heart abound in this simple, lovely story about respecting one another. The understated text allows the artwork to shine: scribbled lines, a limited watercolor palette, and the critters' marvelously animated faces tell the story of LOST. FOUND. Young children will "tsk" at the squabbling raccoons and tricky squirrels, but it's hard to begrudge the mice their joyful trampoline-ing or the beaver's delight in dressing up with the discovered scarf. As heart-rending as it is to see the bear's silent sorrow, it's a warm pleasure to find the animals become comfortable companions by the story's end. Matthew Cordell's wonderful illustrations bring Marsha Diane Arnold's clever story to life and make it one of those very special books even very young children can explore and savor on their own.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what you can do when you find something that may have been lost. When is it OK to keep it? How can you try to find the owner?
Examine the expressions on the animals' faces throughout the book and talk about the feelings you see.
Have you ever broken or damaged something that belonged to someone else? Were you able to make it right?
Book Details
- Author: Marsha Diane Arnold
- Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Friendship, Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date: November 3, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 3 - 6
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate