Olivia

Olivia

Written and Illustrated by: Ian Falconer

Age Group: 1st Grade

Published: 2000

The book Olivia is the first in a series of books about a pig named Olivia that has a lot of energy and is good at lots of things that she tends to wear out everyone around her and herself. Olivia starts out telling us w ho she lives with and her family members. She goes through her daily routine of getting ready, including getting dressed and trying on various outfits that for all different weather conditions. She goes to the beach with her mother and brother, and instead of just making a plain sand castle she makes a really big and detailed castle that looks like a real building you would see in New York City. Olivia does all these activities and never seems to get tired. At the end of the day though, Olivia goes to bed and tells her mother that she loves her even though she knows she wears her out and makes her tired at the end of the day.

Throughout this book Olivia gives lessons about following yourself and what you enjoy. Olivia also has to deal with consequences from her mother and father if she doesn't follow instructions and do what it is right. When her parents tell her to do something, she always listens, which shows children reading the book that it is important to listen to your mother and father and the people in your life that care and want to take care of you. The book shows  Olivia making smart choice, that children can learn from, example, when in the sun and getting burnt, to leave and get out of the sun. Olivia has a great imagination that can make the children reach and learn.

The text that the author uses in this book, i don't think is too hard for children to understand. The pictures in this book do a great job telling the story, so with the words really helping children understand the book. The author only uses 4 colors when making the pictures for this book, black, white, grey and red, which is really effective. They only use the color red when talking about things that Olivia does or wears. 

Overall I would recommend this book. All the children that I know love this book because of all the activities that Olivia is involved in, that they feel they can do anything too. This book has so many funny parts, that children love to laugh at and read over and over again.