Olivia by Ian Falconer Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Olivia
Book Review: All the sugar and spice of a small girl
Summary: 5 Stars
Olivia is a very young pig who finds life pretty much like all little girls do around the ages of 5 or 6. She's a ballerina, an art critic, an opera singer, and basically triumphs in all her endeavors. My five year old wants to read her story over and over again!Book Review: An Energetic, Artistic Miss Piggy En Famille
Summary: 5 Stars
Many people compare Olivia to Eloise. While that's certainly a possible model, the more obvious one to me is of Miss Piggy transformed into the setting of her family, rather than being with the Muppets. Olivia's all energy, all female, always dreaming of starring in the arts, and all ready for action. As such, she's a female role model of an upscale Dennis the Menace for the new Millennium. The story takes you through Olivia's favorite activities. She loves to try on and change clothes, put on make-up, be active with her family and pets, and learn about the arts. Olivia clearly benefits from Ian Falconer's background as someone who paints, illustrates, and has done costume and set design for operas and ballet.
Olivia has four primary appeals for me. First, she is hilariously drawn . . . all head and ears with her snout sticking up in the air atop tiny legs and even smaller hind feet with her horizontally striped tights showing. Second, she is a whirling dervish with wonderful drawn sequences of many different illustrations on two page spreads that capture incredible energy and variation. Third, she is absolutely irrepressible . . . the kind of dauntless child that most parents would like to have. Stimulation . . . not a nap . . . is her need. You can imagine her running for president of the United States in a few years on the Fine Arts ticket. Fourth, there is a wonderful connection to fine art here that you can use to interest your child. The book includes reproductions of two paintings (one of dancers by Degas and a "drip" one by Jackson Pollock}, a book about Maria Callas, and references to Olivia painting, dancing, and singing an aria.
If Eloise is the original material girl with confidence, then Olivia is the modern version of the Alcott sisters getting ready to perform on the big stage of life.
Parents will appreciate that this story develops the theme also of how exhausting it can be to be always engaging with your child. This kind of story makes it possible to establish limits based on mutual love and respect, rather than discipline by habit.
After you have finished enjoying the story, I suggest that you ask your child what she or he dreams about. Then find books, paintings, videos, and other reference materials that can stimulate his or her imagination about those subjects of interest. Children, like adults, learn best when focused on something they already like.
Go whole hog with Olivia and have a ball!
Book Review: An enchanting story about a very human pig.
Summary: 4 Stars
We have purchased two copies of this book; one for our daughter and one as a gift for a friend's daughter. The story is sweet and not too long to lose the attention of our two-year-old. She loves to look at the illustrations and will sit for some time by herself just flipping through the pages.Book Review: An heirloom for your grandchildren
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is gorgeous. I read this story to my little boy constantly. Given that he is only 4 months old I've had to do a bit of soul searching and admit to myself that it's really me who's hooked on the story of Olivia the charismatic pig. Olivia lives with her mother, her father, her brother, her dog Perry and Edwin, the cat. Every page gives you an insight into the little pig's personality and every page is guaranteed to make you laugh.
This book has become my number one "new arrival" present. I'm sure that if you want to give someone an heirloom this would be a good place to start. Grab yourself an early edition while you can!
Book Review: Awesome Book!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This hardback book was a pleasant surprise for me and it thrilled our 8 year old daughter. It is a great purchase for any Olivia lover!