Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Precocious pig Olivia lights up 4th of July.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
It's the 4th of July, and Olivia wants to start a band. When no one else in her family wants to join, she becomes a one-girl show. Of course, when it's finally time to go see the fireworks, she has lost interest.
Is It Any Good?
This is a rather meandering story about a spirited swine who decides to form a band to help celebrate the 4th of July. But it's a charming installment in the Olivia collection.
It's Olivia's spunky, childlike energy -- not the storyline -- that makes this book so enjoyable (choosing the perfect outfit is her final step in creating her one-girl band). That and the stylish illustrations, that is. This Olivia installment blends Ian Falconer's trademark black, white, and red with aqua flourishes. Parents and kids alike will crack up at the images of Olivia donning lipstick and admiring herself in the mirror, or the parting shot of an illustrated Olivia sitting amongst a photo of the Supreme Court justices.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how they'll celebrate the holiday. The may be inspired to try the activities shown in the book: planning a picnic or even forming a family band. Parents may want to use Olivia's bad example to remind their kids why it's important to clean up after they've finished an activity.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Ian Falconer
- Genre : Picture Book
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Atheneum
- Publication date : July 3, 2006
- Number of pages : 50
- Last updated : September 22, 2015
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