What Ollie Saw

Starred review from December 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 1-Who determines what "perfect" is, and how can a child's imagination shape that? For Ollie, a somewhat smug pink pig, the ability to see the world in his own unique way is thoroughly satisfying. While his sister can see only boring cows in a field, Ollie envisions water buffalo with sharp horns and hooves that could trample his grouchy sister. Unfortunately Ollie's teacher thinks that his view of the world needs adjusting as well, and Ollie is forced to bend to conventional expectations, at least some of the time. Whimsical, expressive illustrations done in ink and watercolor and a superb, humorous story that celebrates individuality and nonconformity make this a first purchase. VERDICT Ideal for shelves about outsiders and those who march to that different beat, this encourages all children to view the world with wonder.-John Scott, Friends Sch. of Baltimore

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2021
A young pig uses vivid imagination--and possibly poor eyesight?--against sibling woes. Ollie's a pale-pink pig in a blue beret. He's also a younger brother. His sister, who's "bigger. And older," is weighing him down. She scowls and looks disdainful; she's a sourpuss, raining on parades. The intimate narrative voice ("Look, there's Ollie. Maybe you already know him?") says that Ollie's sister "grizzle[s]"--a word most readers will learn right here--"a lot." On family outings, Ollie's sister calls cows "dull," cars "dumb," and an excursion boat a "slowpoke." Ollie, rebelling, sees not cows but water buffalo; not cars but a circus parade with acrobats; and no plain slowpoke boat but a pirate ship--on which his sister's tied to the mast. Ollie's fantasy flights work so well as resistance to negativity that it's baffling when, almost halfway through, a new possible cause for what he sees emerges: Ollie needs glasses. The sudden theme of weak eyesight never quite finds its place, nor does Ollie ever admit that he does need glasses, though readers see the evidence on the classroom blackboard--or does Ollie simply value imaginative play higher than teacher approval? In which case, why was the early theme so sister-focused? It's OK--Posthuma's neat borders, pale colors inside fine outlines, and steady visual restraint in even the outlandish scenes make for a tale that's quirky yet calming. From the Netherlands, an appreciation of imagination. (Picture book. 3-6)

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April 15, 2021
Preschool-Grade 1 Ollie, a pig, and his bossy sister never see eye to eye on anything. When she sees cows from the window of a train, Ollie spots exciting water buffalo. She grumbles about all the cars keeping them stuck in traffic, but Ollie sees a wonderful circus parade with performing acts. Is Ollie's imagination or poor eyesight responsible for the differences---or could it be both? After Ollie's teacher realizes the piglet is unable to correctly read what's on the blackboard--he observes birds with long beaks and legs while the teacher is pointing to different styles of the letter A--Ollie's parents make an eye appointment for him. The verso contains the majority of text, while the cartoon illustrations decorate the recto and reveal what each of the siblings sees. Muted colors are used with a splash of red, yellow, and blue--as well as pig pink. If readers look closely, they will observe that everyone in the story except for Ollie wears glasses. An engaging and imaginative look at perspective.

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