Olivia
by Ian Falconer
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Book Reviews of Olivia
Book Review: My three-year-old's favorite book
Summary: 5 Stars
I had seen this book in bookstores but didn't know how absolutely terrific it was until my daughter received it for Christmas this year. The first time I sat with her and read the book, my daughter really connected with the character of Olivia, who, like her, sings loudly, dreams of dancing, refuses to take naps, and conducts a bedtime story bidding war nightly.
My daughter loves all types of kids' stories, from fairy tales to more modern fare, but something in Ian Falconer's book really resonated with her to the point where she actually asks to read the story again and again in the same sitting (and not just as a ruse to forestall nap time or bedtime either). When I tire out after the fifth or so reading, she will flip through the pages and giggle -- I predict that this will be the first book she memorizes from cover to cover. I have never seen her so captivated by a book.
My wife and I love the book, too. It is a book which captures the essence of precocious girlhood to the point where we, like many other parents, are convinced that Olivia could very well have been based on our own little girl.
Book Review: I Had to Buy This--You Don't!
Summary: 3 Stars
Yes, Ian Falconer is a noted illustrator and the pictures are nice. It's cute---BUT---- there are a thousand other books about cute, naughty little pigs, cows, chickens, etc out there!
This one was lucky enough to be written by someone with enough publishing connections to get hyped to death. All the library and trade journals had HUGE ads touting this book, and as a result, demand is high. I'm going to have to buy every durned Olivia book that comes along the pike for the next few years. But this is not the fabulous, marvelous masterpiece people are making it out to be! The best picture books in general have text and pictures that work together. Take away the illustrations in Olivia, and there'd be nothing there.
As someone else said, borrow it from your library--we could use the circulation and your tax dollars pay for stuff like this.
And while you're at it, take a look at Lillian Hoban's Frances books, Kevin Henkes's books about Lily and all the other really great books that will be around for years to come. I doubt that these will.
Book Review: Absolutely the Worst Book for a Toddler
Summary: 1 Stars
I know everybody loves this book, I cannot imagine why. It is terrible. Why would I want to put the following ideas into my stubborn two year daughter's head?
Scaring her little brother is OK
Trying on everything in the morning to get dressed is OK
Drawing on the walls to imitate pictures at a museum
Asking for five books at bedtime
My daughter does not need these ideas put into her head. If I do put these ideas into her head with this book she will learn it is ok to scare younger children, it is ok to try on all your clothes when getting dressed, how to draw on walls, Olivia asks for 5 books so will I. Who is this author? Do they have children and siblings? Do they try to leave the house on time when the children are trying on all their clothes? Do they try to put a child to sleep after just five more books?
I don't get the point of this book. Children learn by what they see, read, hear, etc. Why introduce these concepts to a toddler? This book is plain awful.
Book Review: Love at First Sight
Summary: 5 Stars
I love Ian Falconer's New Yorker covers, and now I love Olivia too. I only discovered Olivia just this afternoon while I was browsing at the local bookstore. Olivia reminds one of Elopise, but at the same time, it's nice to see her with parents and siblings. I was enchanted by this book, I laughed out loud, and darn it all... if I had only had a few bucks more, I would have bought it. The prose is simple, but sharp and direct, and the artwork is hysterical (especially when Olivia's brother is shown copying everything she does.)Even more fun is Olivia's appreciation for art and the like. Imagine a little kid wanting a Callas picture book read to them. It's touches like this that make Olivia the clear winner as one of the best picture books to emerge this past year. I am hoping Falconer will write a few more books about this precious piglet. In the meantime, be proud to buy a copy of this book for yourself, even if you don't have any kids. It will definitely be the literary high point of your week.
Book Review: Big deal
Summary: 3 Stars
I don't see what the big deal about this book is. I found it to be a highly contrived story of a little girl who gets into a little bit of mischief. The girl, of course, takes on the appearance of a pig. The drawings are cute, and in my opinion served to show elementary kids that they can draw as well as a professional illustrator.The story line was lacking and the organization of the text on the page could be confusing at times. Still, I found it to be cute enough that children would enjoy it as a read-aloud, but I still can't understand why it has achieved so much notoriety.
Why 3 stars?:
While it is a cute book, the story isn't very engaging. The illustrations are simple (which I like) and do not distract from the story, though they don't add a great amount either. I haven't found it to be greatly received by schoolchildren when I have read it and seen it used in classrooms. Unless you are a serious children's book collector - I would pass this one up - the hype is bigger than the type.