Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
A good-humored identity crisis makes this one a royal hoot.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Olivia, the adorable but self-absorbed pig, is having an identity crisis. She's surrounded by girls and \"even a couple of the boys\" who want to dress like princesses in pink -- in ballet class, for Halloween, at birthday parties. Olivia talks to her mom about her desire to be something different, more distinctive, and tries on a few of those identities -- a princess from India, Africa, Thailand, or China, or maybe a nurse or reporter. In the end, she figures out a role that's more significant than princess and so in keeping with her bossy side: queen!
Is It Any Good?
OLIVIA AND THE FAIRY PRINCESSES is more enjoyable than some Olivia outings because she's not being bratty; she's just expressing an honest desire to stand out from the crowd. The art, as usual, is fantastic and amusing. We see Olivia in a sea of pink princesses at a birthday party wearing her preferred blue-and-white striped shirt; in ballet class among the pink tutus wearing a black-and-white striped leotard; and full of angst, "trying to develop a more stark, modern style" in a charcoal gray stretchy number like Isadora Duncan, whose photo hangs above her bed. It's an extreme (and funny) exploration of a common instinct: wanting to not be like everybody else. A great read-aloud for bedtime or anytime.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about wanting to be special. Kids: Do you prefer to dress like your friends or wear something different?
Why do you think so many girls would like to be a princess?
Have you read other Olivia books? How do you think this one compares? Is is as good as the others? Better? What is it about Olivia that makes her books so popular?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Ian Falconer
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Atheneum
- Publication date : August 28, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 7
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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