Olivia
by Ian Falconer
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Book Reviews of Olivia
Book Review: The most charming pig since Wilbur himself
Summary: 5 Stars
Ian Falconer has done many an amusing cover for "The New Yorker" in his day, so it is only fitting that he be responsible for the most New York-inspired children's book since Eloise decided to wreck havoc in the Piazza. For those of you who have never met the charming Olivia, this is probably the best book to begin with. Less pretentious than its sequels, in it you meet Olivia, her family, and her penchant for extravagant imaginings. Drawn in beautifully shaded black and white, this particular tale is dotted with brilliant flashes of Olivia's red belongings. Her adventures are quite tame. Following the day to day adventures of an average child, the viewer views Olivia going to the beach, into her closet, to the museum, and at last to bed. Reviewer Dwight Garner recently noted in his New York Times Book Review that, " `Olivia' is one of those kids' books... that hip mommies and daddies like to give to the children of other hip mommies and daddies in order to demonstrate, yet again, what delightfully hip mommies and daddies we all are". There's no denying that this book is decidedly hip. I've yet to see a mom in a children's book look as particularly metropolitan (read: New Yorkish) as Olivia's black clad momma. And when Olivia creates a castle, she doesn't go halfway. She creates a sand-skyscraper. Mr. Garner does bring up an interesting point, though. Is "Olivia" something kids actually love and hold dear to their hearts, or is it something that parents love and hope their kids will get into? Who doesn't want their children to be inspired by a character that reads about Maria Callas before she goes to bed?
I don't know how kids feel about the story. But what I do know is that it's a quality piece of work. The art is beautiful. The story sublime. Plus it's a riot. Olivia stuffed into one of the legs of her mother's pantyhose is a black and white joke hidden in the corner of a colorful montage of Olivia wearing her full wardrobe (love the ballgown).
"Olivia" is not going to change the world of children's book publishing. And perhaps it's only ever going to be fully appreciated by people over the age of 18. But with all the crummy two-bit picture books out there ("Love You Forever" anyone?) sometimes it's just a small slice of heaven to read something to your child that's enjoyable to them and fun for you as well.
Book Review: What a Wonderful Pig
Summary: 5 Stars
As a twenty year old college student, I enjoyed reading Olivia by Ian Falconer because it brought the little kid out in me. I laughed through the whole story because the story is about an irresistible young pig with boundless energy, with a big attitude. Olivia is good at a lot of things, such as wearing people down and out even including herself. With doing things such as having to try on everything on when getting dressed. The illustrations of her with the seventeen alternatives of what shall she wear. That is something that I can relate to with Olivia in the mornings everyday. She also wears her parents down by having to have read four stories read to her before falling asleep every night. I enjoyed the part where her mother says "you know; you really wear me out. But I love you anyway." Then Olivia says back "I love you anyway too." It was enjoyable seeing OLivia dressing up and standing in front of the mirror wearing red heels, red lipstick, and a red bow tying her ears up. In the background is her brother mocking her with the red lipstick all over him. You get out of this story that her brother is a pest.Falconer has done a wonderful stylish charcoal sketches strategically accented with red paint gouache in all the right places. The red brightens up the pages and shows the aspirations and the disadvantages of a determined little pig girl. The over size pictures can be seen clearly if you were to read this story for story hour. He also does a good job of letting the spare text set up the jokes for the visual punch line. With dry humor interplay that adults can appreciate as much as their kids. The simple text and illustrations really captures the spirit of a child. Olivia fits into the category of the best books for children are these that are not looking down on them, where the humor is grown up and where the author is not afraid to talk to a child as an equal. This is a rare book that bridges the kids and parents together by the taste gap that is so elegantly and effortlessly. Kids can see themselves in Olivia and want to read the story over and over again. This is definitely a book you need to have in your home library.
Book Review: We've Got a Winner!!
Summary: 5 Stars
What a nice little book for kids. No big bad wolves. No mean kids. No mean grown-ups. No one is abandoned or lost. No name-calling.
What a nice little book for grown-ups, with New Yorker artist Ian Falconer's kindhearted, eye-catching illustrations and perceptive humor that really feels like one parent talking to another (although I guess the character is modeled on his niece actually).
Just a cute portrayal of a happy little girl, highlighting some of the universal qualities found in happy little girls. Olivia likes to dance. Her mother let's her know that she loves her but is worn out by the end of a day with her. Olivia likes to go to the beach. She builds sand castles. She goes to the art museum and thinks about the paintings she likes. She gets in a little trouble trying to make her own home Pollock mural. She likes having books read to her at bedtime and enters intense negotiations concerning the appropriate number of books.
(I see that there are some sequels out. I'm a little nervous about checking them out. Whenever I see a kids book I like, it seems to be followed up by sequels that don't live up to mark set by the original, but we'll see.)
What I enjoyed most about this book is that it is an easy book for a parent to read in an interactive way. There are lots of opportunities to ask questions: What do you think Olivia thinking in this picture? How are you like Olivia? How are you different? And so on. Big thumbs up.
Book Review: D.W. meets her match
Summary: 4 Stars
This story introduces Olivia, an imaginative, free spirited, demanding little girl. Based on the author's own daughter, Olivia is like many little girls. Wildly imaginative, observing a Degas painting and imagining herself as one of the ballet dancers. Pondering a Pollock painting and trying it out herself, even if it is on the dinning room wall. Building the ultimate sand castle,annoyed by her little brother, and sometimes butting heads with her mother. To say she is bratty may be accurate, but then I think of the Arthur books, which this story doesn't compare, however Arthur's little sister, DW, is equally as demanding and bothersome to her older sibling and still quite endearing. At the end of the Olivia story, Olivia negotiates with her mother on how many books before bed time to read, meeting in the middle at three. This may raise the eye brows of some parents, but why shoudln't a child have five books read to them before bed? I don't think it's that outragous of a request. I did like the illustration, black, white, shades of grey and splahes of red are both interesting and stimulating to children. My daughter could definately relate to Olivia trying on all her clothes before the day begins and the picture of Olivia in one leg of a pair of panty hose up to her neck cracked us both (me and my daughter) up. All though not a whimsical story or a learning tool, it is an enjoyable story and one that both parent and child would relate to.Book Review: A+ illustrations, C- attitude
Summary: 3 Stars
What I loved:
The artwork.
The artwork.
The artwork.
The skill and subtly of shading is breathtaking. The minimalist palette (black & white plus red) is brave, and certainly helps to highlight key elements (mostly Olivia's clothes!). I am reminded of the ghost-activated inventory in The Sixth Sense. In any case it should come as no surprise that Mr. Falconer is a talented set designer.
What I didn't love:
The many examples of poor behavior.
I can accept that a piglet like Olivia has an ego bigger than her size belies. But letting a young child act out in a selfish and often destructive manner is no recipe for success. Maybe it works in a pigpen but then again, Olivia is anthropomorphized so we must hold her to a higher standard than most swine.
Painting on the walls à la Pollock and intentionally frightening her younger brother are actions not to be admired or laughed at. Olivia's parents are of course complicit to some degree. Allowing her to try on upwards of twenty outfits every morning, and negotiating before bedtime, would never stand in this house. Finally, and possibly most egregious, the goodnight exchange of "I love you anyway" seems far from a secure and sincere expression of love.