Everyone's favorite Caldecott honor-winning porcine and #1 Kris Cringle enthusiast is helping to make the season brighter than ever. Christmas is coming, and Olivia is incredibly busy. She has to wait for Santa, make sure dad sets up the tree, wait for Santa, watch mom make the Christmas dinner, wait for Santa, oversee the care with which the stockings are hung and, of course, OPEN HER PRESENTS! Do you see how hard it is to be so helpful during the holidays! A lovingly-told and lavishly-illustrated Olivia Helps With Christmas is the perfect stuffing for any stocking, and the newest star atop the Olivia series.
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Olivia's Family Traditions
 It did not matter how much discussion there was to be had with his editors during the process of creating Olivia Helps with Christmas, there was one thing that Ian Falconer was absolutely certain about... Santa Claus would appear NOWHERE in the book. Olivia and her brothers and sisters would do everything they could to get ready for Santa, and they sure would be anticipating Santa's arrival, but readers would not see the fabled Kriss Kringle. With all the ideas that were put on the table for this book, that was one Falconer would not stray from. And with good reason. This was to be a different type of Christmas book. A book about how a family celebrates Christmas, and how a lot of family holiday traditions really revolve around preparations. In fact, the reason the book has such a personal feel to it is because many of the traditions that Olivia and her family celebrate were taken straight from Ian's childhood memories: Being asked to set the Christmas table was a big honor for Ian (as it is for Olivia in the book). The caroling by the piano, the "Santa watch," the order in which things were done (tree up Christmas Eve, dinner, caroling, hanging stockings), even the phrase "warming your trotters by the fire"--all of it has roots in the Falconer home. And since Ian never did catch a glimpse of Santa at Christmas, neither could Olivia. It's for the best, really. Olivia likes to be the true star of her books--Santa would have met his match. For your viewing pleasure: A bonus illustration of Olivia not available in Olivia Helps with Christmas!
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 Different in tone to the other Olivia books, but wonderful in its own way |
| Review Date: October 6, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Gen of North Coast Gardening, California |
This book feels just like Christmas Eve does to a young one - frenetic, thrilling, and filled with anticipation. The book doesn't flow in the way the other recent Olivia books do, and there isn't a real storyline beyond them waiting for Christmas and enjoying the holiday in a sweet way together.
Each page tells its own story in a few lines. Olivia and family begin by getting a tree and coming home from shopping, then there is a page on Olivia helping put up the tree, feeding William the baby, peering up the chimney for Santa, putting up Christmas lights, setting the table, singing carols, setting out cookies for Santa, and so on till Christmas morning arrives and there are PRESENTS!!! All through the book are the charming touches and interludes that we love in Olivia books. I don't want to ruin them for you, but there were many scenes that made me laugh out loud!
In the more recent books, Olivia does something that drives the plot, and the story gains momentum in that way. This book feels more like the first Olivia book, where we are introduced to her and follow her through a number of separate activities in which she shows her great charm. It was hard for me to shift from expecting a little storyline to just enjoying the illustrations and the small touches of cleverness, and honestly I was a tiny bit disappointed at the lack of continuity through the book.
That said, if you go into it expecting a style more like the first one than the latest three, you will enjoy it a lot!
The pictures are clear and beautiful, Olivia's little brother Ian is really growing up and becoming a part of things, and Perry the dog's scene in which he "helps" Santa with the cookies is hilarious. I think parents and children alike will enjoy this charming little book. I am 28 years old and enjoy Olivia anyway (who says I am too old?), and this one is certainly going into my permanent collection for Christmas rereads. |
"NOT A PIGLET WAS STIRRING"
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| Review Date: October 7, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Gail Cooke, TX, USA |
Many young readers have already met and fallen in love with Olivia, the perkiest porker to be found. If your favorite school-ager hasn't had the pleasure yet, now is a perfect time as Olivia gets into the spirit of the holiday season.
Ian Falconer's illustrations are irresistible as is his text which is liberally sprinkled with quips. Who could resist smiling when Olivia gets soot on her snout as she peers up the chimney looking for Santa?
Her family goes through the traditional pre-Christmas rituals, singing carols, trimming the tree (as Olivia tangles herself in strings of lights), and leaving a snack for St. Nick.
We're treated to both visual and verbal gifts from the irrepressible Mr. Falconer on the night when "not a piglet was stirring" (supposedly).
- Gail Cooke |
Olivia steals the show again!
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| Review Date: January 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Cynthia E. Bryant, |
| This sweetie of a doll was the favorite passed around this Christmas! The expression, the polkadot jammies, and well attached gift stole the show. We also got the book--she's on the back in this outfit! The kids and adults alike gave a thumbs up! |
Just love her
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| Review Date: February 18, 2009 |
| Reviewer: frisky2000, smallville |
| Plump and precious, little Olivia is a favorite in our home. She comes ready to be hugged and cuddled, with her pretty present held nice and tight. This is one of the cutest story book characters of our kids' generation, and I'm so happy that the plush toys are well made and bear such a great likeness. Makes story time and pretend play even more fun! |
Perfectly captures holiday atmosphere
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| Review Date: October 24, 2007 |
| Reviewer: M. Grabulosa, |
| This is this is an excellent book, full of Ian Falconer's witty and beautifully executed drawings. The author perfectly captures the holiday atmosphere with Olivia in the middle of all the preparations. The drawings themselves are beautifully rendered with new techniques unseen in earlier books, and the rich red cover with an embossed title makes this the perfect holiday gift. To make your gift more substantial, you may add to it books from the series Why Some Cats are Rascals. |
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