Children's Corner: Olivia Helps with Christmas

Review: Olivia Helps with Christmas another one that gets pulled down out of the closet around the holidays. I have to say I'm not the biggest Olivia fan but my daughter finds her funny, so I entertain her. While she might be out of the age range for these books, she enjoys being able to read them quickly. Let's face it, when Olivia tries to help she's really making a bigger mess.

 Olivia Helps with Christmas is no different. She wants to help decorate the Christmas tree but gets caught up in the lights is just one example. Olivia is definitely plucky and resourceful, I will give her that. She's also the type of pig who makes her mother sigh; sometimes good and sometimes bad.

I do really enjoy the illustrations in the Olivia book. It highlights the beauty and magic of Christmas in the typical Olivia manner. We probably only have one Christmas left with this book, so I will let me daughter enjoy it while she still does.


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Children's Corner: Olivia ...and the Missing Toy

 The other day my daughter asked, "Where's my Olivia book?"

This surprised me, because we haven't watched Olivia in a long time.  I led her to her book case and showed her the several books that are spin offs of the television show, but she said none of them were right... she wanted the black and white one.  I knew immediately what she wanted... the book that used to have a spooky cover... when I told her it was a library book, she said, "But, Mommy, I want to have it to keep."

I was a little amazed.  This is the first time my daughter has ever asked to own something we've borrowed from the library... we own several things we've borrowed from the library, but those were things I thought we enjoyed.  This was the first request from her.

There are a ton of Olivia books out there but this is one of the original books by Ian Falconer that started it all.  I must say, the television show and spin off books are great, but there is nothing quite like the original.  I love the simplicity with which Olivia is portrayed.  To me the television series is through the eyes of an adult, while the Ian Falconer books are through the eyes of the child.  I think that's what my daughter appreciates about it too.