Olivia Forms a Band [Hardcover]

Ian Falconer's Olivia series just keeps getting better. It's so refreshing to see a kid's lit franchise where the work deepens over time (okay, the Olivia counting board book, composed of pictures from other Olivia books, was a touch on the crass side, but that's the exception). With the Olivia series, you don't get the sense the author is trying to cash in on a successful book with a series of uncreative knock-offs (I'm looking your way Numeroff, Boynton, Christelow...)

Olivia decides to start a band. She has the idea that her whole family should participate, but their silent reaction- an illustration in which her parent's backs have slightly turned towards Olivia, the pets and infant fleeing- is momentarily crushing. But the charm in the Olivia series is the obstinate irrepressibility of her spirit. She's been told her commotion is like a room full of people, so she figures out that she can be a one person band. We get the classic Falconer spreads with inserted pictures, generous thought bubbles, Olivia picturing a marching band and her mother picturing something a little more hardcore.

I guess if I had to come up with constructive criticism, I might point out the closer, which is a bit of an anticlimax, as Olivia lays in bed picturing herself as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It's sort of clever, with a picture of Olivia amid photos of the real life justices in all their sinister splendor, sitting proper with the Dick Cheney/Doctor Evil hand-wringing thing going on. But it's clearly a joke just for the parents. The best part of the series is that it is artful and sophisticated enough to entertain parents while being a really fun kid's book as well. I just thought it was a touch of a let down, closing on a pure wink to the parents. The only other problem I had with it was a purely personal one, I can't really hold Mr. Falconer accountable. But there is a picture of Olivia's mother diapering the baby piglet. The baby piglet is lying supine, arms splayed, legs akimbo, and it caused a sudden flashback to the fetal pig I dissected in high school Biology. Kind of overwhelmed me for a moment, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't an intentional reference to my dear lifeless Wilbur. ...or was it?....

Overall, great book. The series continues to improve, there is something magical and yet so spot on real about Olivia and her family. All those details and complementary descriptions of the illustrations from the other reviews, I'll second those as well. I'll continue buying these books as quickly as they are published.

My now 2 year old daughter has been obsessed with Olivia for about six months now. We've read all of the books dozens of times so when Olivia Forms a Band was released, we made a special trip to the bookstore just to get this book -- and it was worth it. She is even reading Olivia's and Ian's names and a few other short words in the stories now. In this book, she is particularly fond of the pages when Olivia is making all that noise with her band.

Ian Falconer's little piglet never fails to present loads of teaching opportunities for toddlers (when we were reading the first Olivia ad nauseum we had a lot of discussions about what happens when little girls paint on the wall -- "trouble" -- what happens when little girls get in trouble -- "time out," that mama still loves the little girl even if she gets in trouble, where little girls are supposed to paint -- "paper," etc.; similarly my daughter has learned forgiveness, that doggies don't always understand the rules, etc., from Missing Toy, and that there are times for make believe and times when we have to tell the truth from Olivia Saves the Circus. She also has developed an interest in playing the piano because Olivia plays the piano). This book carries on that grand tradition. Olivia wants her family to be in a band with her for the fireworks, but no one wants to join her. She does not let that deter her, but decides to make her own one-pig band. She borrows and collects all sorts of noise makers and is very creative in choosing her instruments and putting the band together by herself. She also is clever in how she collects the instruments she needs. Instead of just grabbing the toys from her brothers, she trades them other things they want and remembers to say, "thank you." We have had a lot of talks about sharing, trading and "please" and "thank you" that this book helps to reinforce.

Since I have to read these books every night (sometimes we read ALL of them every night for a week or so), I appreciate the humor that is aimed at adults, and this book is no exception to Mr. Falconer's wry humor. I particularly enjoy Olivia's search for a matching red sock among the sea of red socks already on her bedroom floor. I also love Mr. Falconer's ability to understand and portray the mind of a small child. For example, Olivia, having made her band and played with it for a bit, is completely done with the band (except putting it away, that is) by the time the family is leaving for the fireworks -- even though that was the reason she wanted the band in the first place.

The pictures are spectacular, particularly the sunset at the beach and the fireworks, and my daughter and I both can enjoy these stories. This new Olivia story does not disappoint in the least and is a pure blessing for a mom that has been reading about Olivia every night for months on end.

Big fan of Ian Falconer's wonderful Olivia. This book is a blast, the story if filled with good humor and insight, and the drawings are once again spectacular. I am always amazed by the facial expressions, more eloquent than any word. Olivia's bigger-than-life personality will not disappoint those who already know her, and captivate all those who read one of her books for the first time. A must have in any library, for kids of all ages.

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