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What is Olivia?

3/13/2012

4 Comments

 
I'm still trying to digest the mysterious writing of picture books.  Most weeks, I pick up a stack from the library to study and I'm slowly compiling a list of favorites.  I usually choose books based on recommendations but sometimes inspiration comes from unconventional places. Like a recent Jeopary show, when the answer to a clue was "What is Olivia?" Olivia, in case you're a picture book deprived soul, is Ian Falconer's hysterical piglet. She embodies a somewhat pampered, self-absorbed young girl with a short attention span. Olivia manipulates her younger brothers when she needs instruments for her one-man band, tortures her parents when her favorite toy goes missing and quickly forgives the dog for chewing it up. In other words, Olivia' a pretty normal six-year-old girl.

Maybe because I 've never had a child to read to, the picture books I'm drawn to offer humor adults can relate to. It's hard not to laugh at Falconer's illustrations, rendered in simple lines and minimal color. He expertly captures the expressions of bewildered parents and a fierce, imaginative child. In Olivia and the Missing Toy, Olivia begs for a new soccer shirt. Her mother spends the day sewing it, tormented by Olivia's impatience to have it done. When her mother finally presents the shirt, Olivia is too enthralled in a book to look up at the forgotten shirt.

There are ten Olivia books, including the original Olivia, a Caldecott Honor book. I'd like to have them all and I'd like to personally thank Falconer for his piglet. To read more about Olivia and Falconer, visit his website here. You can also catch Olivia's animated series on Nick, Jr.
4 Comments
Maureen Ungar
3/15/2012 08:00:38 am

I am the parent of four children, so of course, it was my duty to go to the library each week to pour over their selection of illustrated stories. I was very particular about the ones I chose, because for the next week, I had to read those books every night. I stuck with four; they had to have great illustrations, and funny, clever, or otherwise interesting writing too. I still recall some of my favorite lines from those stories, can quote them to my grown children, and they will know exactly why I recall them.

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Susan Banghart
3/15/2012 08:19:43 am

Maureen, I'd love to hear what yours and your childrens' favorites were.

Reply
Maureen Ungar
3/15/2012 01:26:54 pm

Susan, we all loved, 'There Are Rocks In My Socks' Said The Fox to the Ox..'lumpy old, dumpy old, bumpy old rocks' by Patricia Thomas, illustrator, Mordecai Gerstein--such fun rhymes.

Also, 'The Wild Baby', by Barbara Lindgren, illustrator, Eva Erickssen; 'Moma loved her baby Ben, her small and precious child,but he always disobeyed her, he was reckless, loud, and wild.' We loved this boy, because he grew up to be Ben, my husband, a joke our children loved about their dad.

'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day' by Judith Viorst, is another favorite. 'I think I'll move to Australia,' he moans at one point. I've had times I know how he felt.

And who did not adore Dr. Suess? One day I made green eggs and ham for breakfast. And we liked them, Sam I am.

These are a few that pop up. I did not stop reading to my children; when they were older, I read novels while they ate breakfast before school. They read my books, I read theirs. Still do.

Susan Banghart
3/16/2012 12:55:06 am

Tnank you for sharing those, Maureen. I love that those books are still alive in you and your children, and how fabulous that you kept reading to them as they grew older. That is so rare and I bet they treasure those moments.

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    I write middle grade and young adult books with a magical twist.  I'm represented by the fabulous Leslie Zampetti of Dunham Lit.
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