The New Yorker artist Ian Falconer's endearing charcoal portraits of his porcine heroine are spotted with fire-engine red gouache in all the right places--perhaps a tribute to Hilary Knight's red, pink, white, and black celebrations of Olivia's human counterpart? When she dresses up, the bow on her ears, her red lipstick, and her high-heeled shoes are all red. (The only time her shades-of-gray body is pink is when she is sunburned and the area where her bathing suit was is white!) Falconer does a fine job of letting the spare text set up the jokes for the visual punch lines--a dryly humorous interplay that adults will appreciate as much as children.

Preschoolers (and their parents) will see themselves in Olivia--a typical high-energy, over-the-top kid who likes the beach and Degas paintings, but hates naps. On the other hand, she combs her ears and is unusually gifted at sandcastle building. While we are certainly reminded of Eloise, Falconer's portrait is simpler in scope, less demented, and, as a result, less adult. Bottom line: precocious is fun, and we're tickled pink to have Olivia join the parade of, let's just say, individualistic youngsters. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

Olivia

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
"Eloise has met her match! We love Olivia!" --Hilary Knight

A new and unexpected heroine emerges with the irresistible Olivia. Olivia is a spunky little pig with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm. Her daily activities -- singing the loudest of songs, creating art on walls, and building skyscrapers -- do not tire her in the least. Rather, when it is time for bed, she asks for a plethora of books to be read! Olivia's mom, on the other hand, is drained. Parents and kids alike will marvel at Olivia's abounding energy -- and her mom's abounding patience and love.

Readers will be equally enchanted with the book's illustrations. Using simple black and white with splashes of red may sound a bit harsh for a child's eyes, but simplicity, detail, and humor go a long way. Olivia appears at the beginning of the book standing and listening to headphones that are bright red. She then dresses herself in a very smart sailor dress that is, yes, red. Throughout the story, Olivia is shown engaging in her many activities, of which the only colored highlight is a shade of red. Perhaps this serves to counter the active and supercharged (but lovable!) antics of Miss Olivia. In any case, it just works -- wonderfully. Favorite images include Olivia visiting the museum with her mom and brother. Standing in front of a Jackson Pollack painting she declares, "I could do that in about five minutes." And when she she gets home, she gives it a go with some crayons and her bedroom wall. Olivia, you're one heck of a pig.

--Amy Barkat

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Have fun with Olivia...

dressing up

singing songs

building sand castles

napping (maybe)

dancing

painting on walls

and — whew! —

going to sleep at last.

SPANISH LANGUAGE COMMENTARY

Esta nueva y extraordinaria heroína debuta ante nosotros en este irresistible libro. Olivia es una cerdita vivaracha y con una energía desmesurada. Canta, construye rascacielos de arena, se prueba toda su ropa. Intenta librarse de su hermano pequeño, decora las paredes del salón y pide a su madre que le lea cinco libros antes de irse a la cama. A Olivia no hay quien la canse. De más está decir que su madre acaba siempre agotada.

Los pequeños estarán encantados y se sentirán identificados con las travesuras de Olivia... y los adultos compadecerán a su pobre madre que posee un amor y una paciencia casi infinitos.

Ian Falconer ha diseñado decorados y vestuarios para la Royal Opera House y para Convent Garden, entre otros. Es pintor e ilustrador y su trabajo ha sido portada de varios números de The New Yorker Review. Vive en Nueva York y Olivia es su primer libro ilustrado.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Equal parts endearing and impetuous, Ian Falconer's acclaimed star, Olivia, appears in an unabridged board book version of the Caldecott Honor title. In our Best Books citation, PW wrote, "With a masterful use of black line, a minimum of details, a judicious use of the color red and a few choice words, Falconer invents an unforgettable porcine heroine." Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Olivia is a masterpiece of simplicity that portrays the complex, imaginative psyche of children. Olivia's boundless energy tests her mother's patience and her little brother's endurance, while wrapping herself into the reader's heart. Deciding what to wear takes a full page of choices, all executed in charcoal and gouache with highlights of red. With humor and honest emotions, Olivia is "every child" who accepts Degas, Jackson Pollock and Maria Callas as equals. Her bedroom walls reflect her Pollock phase, which causes Mom to say, "Time out!" When Olivia negotiates with her mother over the number of books to be read at bedtime, every parent smiles. Olivia is a Caldecott Honor Book that proves the maxim that "less is more." 2000, Antheneum, $16.00. Ages 4 up. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3-From the articles of clothing strewn across the front endpapers of this droll account of Olivia's escapades, readers may surmise that this porcine heroine is no ordinary youngster. Olivia is constantly on the move, dreaming big dreams and meeting every challenge head-on. She doesn't just get dressed, she tries on every outfit in the closet. She doesn't just dance, she envisions herself as a prima ballerina bowing before an adoring audience. When her mother teaches her to build sand castles, Olivia creates a towering structure that closely resembles the Chrysler Building in New York City. When she views a Jackson Pollack painting in the museum, she immediately concludes that she can do better and proceeds to try her hand at painting a wall at home. Her efforts earn her time out and a bath. The text is brief, funny, and sometimes ironic in relation to the highly amusing illustrations. The only touches of color in the pictures, executed in charcoal and gouache, are the bright reds of the clothing or objects used by Olivia. There are often many renderings of the young pig on each large white background, effectively demonstrating her boundless energy. Even at day's end, she is still going strong, negotiating the number of books to be read at bedtime. For a lively storyhour featuring feisty females, pair this with Kevin Henkes's stories about Lilly.-Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community College, CT Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

People Magazine

High energy piglet Olivia excels at all kinds of things, especially wearing people out. A charming tale sure to strike a chord with the grade school set.

Karen Carden - The Christian Science Monitor

Not only is this one terrific picture book, but it's Falconer's first...Illustrations are stunning, done in stark black and white with splashes of true red. Together, the words and pictures evoke smiles, giggles, and a rare but thrilling sense that this book may be absolutely perfect.Read all 7 "From The Critics" >