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Olivia would be Eloise, if Eloise were a pig. She is good at singing 40 very loud songs and is very good at wearing people out. And scaring the living daylights out of her little brother, Ian, particularly when he copies her every move. She is also quite skilled at reproducing Jackson Pollock's "Autumn Rhythm #30" on the walls at home. When her mother tucks her in at night and says, "You know, you really wear me out. But I love you anyway," Olivia precociously pronounces, "I love you anyway too."
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
From Publishers Weekly
Come one, come all for this extraordinary debut for both Falconer and his unforgettable porcine heroine. The author/artist begins this day-in-the-life tale with a kind of behind-the-scenes peek at Olivia. Articles from her wardrobe are strewn across the endpapers-red tights, red sunglasses, a red T-shirt and red tank top-until the title page reveals her selection: a red sailor dress with black-and-white striped tights. "This is Olivia./ She is good at lots of things," the narrator begins, like an emcee introducing the star of the show. The genius of the volume is its economy: the brief text brilliantly plays off the artwork, rendered only in shades of red and black with an occasional background setting; a deceptively simple design unifies each spread. For one such spread, demonstrating "She is very good at wearing people out," Falconer shows Olivia engaged in a variety of activities in 13 black-and-white vignettes, using red sparingly-for a hammer handle, a yo-yo, a ball, a mixing bowl spatula and a jump rope-as she progresses from energetic to spent. Against a completely white background, these vignettes seem to bob on invisible undulating waves, with the intermittent splashes of red creating a sense of movement and urgency-until Olivia's collapse at the lower right-hand corner of the spread beneath a single line of text ("She even wears herself out"). The few full scenes amplify the deadpan humor: a beach setting allows for the full impact of Olivia's spectacular sandcastle model of the Empire State Building; a full-bleed black-and-white image of a tutu- and tiara-clad Olivia bowing to unseen fans answers the narrator's question "What could she be thinking?" as she stares at her favorite painting, featuring Degas's ballerinas, in a museum. Whether in full scenes or vignettes, Falconer keeps the focus on his inimitable protagonist. He clearly understands his audience: a standout spread shows Olivia getting dressed in her red-only wardrobe ("She has to try on everything") in 17 separate fashion poses. Falconer's choice to suggest Olivia with a minimum of details and a masterful black line allows readers to really identify with her-no doubt, they will. There's a little bit of Olivia in everyone. Ages 3-7. (Oct.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 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 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Parents' Choice®
Talk about charisma! Olivia, an irresistible young pig of boundless energy, has it in spades. In this her premiere appearance, we discover that red is her favorite color, that her younger brother Ian is a pest, and that she can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art most rainy days. It may not be much. But she leaves us clamoring for more. This is also a first picture book appearance by her creator. Falconer is a welcome breath of fresh air. A 2000 Parents' Choice® Gold Award.
Reviewed by Selma G. Lanes, Parents' Choice® 2000
From Booklist
Olivia, a delightful little pig, is Everychild. She's good at lots of things, especially wearing people out--including herself. When she gets dressed, she tries on everything; at night she's ready to go to sleep, but only after four stories. She's a kissing cousin to Kevin Henkes' Lilly. Unlike the Lilly books, there's no real plot here, and that's too bad. But the spacious design of the book; the appeal of the strong, clever art; and the humor that permeates every page make this a standout anyway. Falconer, a painter and New Yorker cover artist, renders Olivia's world in charcoal with dollops of red brightening the pages. Playing dress-up, Olivia stands in front of a mirror wearing red heels, red lipstick, and a red bow tying up her ears. (Little brother, Ian, the copycat, stands behind her, lipstick smearing his mouth and shirt.) When Olivia gets dressed, it's a two-page spread of her in a red ballerina dress, a red bikini, red earmuffs and mittens, a red ball gown--17 outfits in all. The oversize pictures can be seen clearly in story hours, but pouring over them more than once may be the most fun of all: kids will see themselves in Olivia. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
Dame Joan Sutherland Every granny will recognize and love Olivia and her theatrical desires!
Hilary Knight Eloise has met her match! We love Olivia!
Mikhail Baryshnikov Many dream of dancing on the stage, but Olivia has the legs for it.
Review
Gloria Steinem At last, a pig with self-esteem!
Review
Gloria Steinem At last, a pig with self-esteem!
Book Description
Have fun with Olivia... dressing up singing songs building sand castles napping (maybe) dancing painting on walls and -- whew! -- going to sleep at last.
Card catalog description
Whether at home getting ready for the day, enjoying the beach, or at bedtime, Olivia is a feisty pig who has too much energy for her own good.
About the Author
Ian Falconer is a painter and illustrator whose illustrations have graced many covers of The New Yorker magazine. In addition, he has designed sets and costumes for the New York City Ballet, the San Francisco Opera, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, among others. Olivia is his first children?s book. Mr. Falconer lives in New York City.
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