You know, sometimes it really bugs me when a book becomes a movie or a TV show. I really think the book is better. I don’t go for the excuse that maybe some kid will pick up a book because he/she saw the movie first. Most reluctant readers won’t pick up the book because they have seen the movie. The kids who read the book after they see the movie would probably have read the book eventually anyway. Now, this is not research based, and if you know of a case were I am proved false, I am delighted. After all, as a teacher I want kids to love reading.

I was extremely disappointed when I discovered that Nick, Jr. made the Olivia books into a TV show.

When Olivia was first published, I bought it for my classroom. The kids loved her. One little girl (I was teaching third grade at the time) read Olivia every chance she could get. If the book was missing, I knew I just had to open her desk and there it was.

Ian Falconer based these books on his niece, Olivia, and her younger brothers Ian and William, along with their dog and cat. An artist first, his illustrations use minimal color and simple lines; yet I dwell on each page to take in the wonderful drawings.

I had to take a peek at the TV show. It is SO CUTE!! I was hooked right away, and so of course are Lily and Emmy. However, we don’t have cable. We live in an urban area so our TV antenna works just fine. This means that we watch Olivia on the computer, and my valuable blogging time while the children are parked in front of the TV…vanished! Really, click on that link. I’m telling you, you will love Olivia. But please, read the books, too! (Even if you don’t have little kids!)

Olivia by Ian Falconer

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Olivia is a very active, precocious little pig. She loves the ballet, loves the museum, and builds the best sand castles. She’s not perfect; she tried to paint a Pollock-like image on the wall and ends up in time-out. And oh, yes, she doesn’t want to take a nap.

This is a delightful read aloud for little ones, and older ones will love to read it on their own!

Olivia and the Missing Toy by Ian Falconer

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is our favorite of the Olivia books. Olivia is focused on herself, as usual, and hilarity results!

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Tomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-Pow-la) is one of my favorite children’s authors and illustrators. I taught books written by Tomie for years as a second grade teacher. As part of our unit, each student would write a letter to Mr. dePaola, telling him which story was their favorite and why. I would mail the letters to his publisher, and a few weeks later we would receive a letter from Tomie, an autographed photo, and a class set of bookmarks.

Last night, as I browsed information about Tomie, I discovered…his blog! Unfortunately, comments are closed, or he would have a gushing fan writing who knows what! (Actually, I would probably be so starstruck that I wouldn’t be able to write a thing.)

Would you consider me a book-nerd if I admitted I would rather meet authors than celebrities? One summer, I was on vacation with my sister and dad in Anchorage, Alaska. We were visiting my aunt, who lives up there. At a local library, author and illustrator Steven Kellogg was speaking to a group of children. I dragged my sister and dad there, even though they were dragging their heels. Mr. Kellogg drew and told his story The Island of the Skog for us. He was a great speaker, and in the end, even my dad admitted that he had a great time. (I’m sure Steven Kellogg and this story will pop up again in a future Book Nook!)

Tomie dePaola has a huge variety of books. Some are for very young children, and some are for older children. He also has a series of chapter books; the first one is titled 26 Fairmount Avenue.

Here is one of my favorites:
Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola

My review
rating: 5 of 5 stars
This sweet book tells of Tommy’s weekly visits to his grandmother and great-grandmother’s house. Tommy is four, and his Nana Upstairs is ninety-four. One day, Tommy’s parents tell him that Nana Upstairs died the night before. They go to her house, and it isn’t a Sunday. Tommy runs upstairs, and Nana Upstairs’ bed is empty. Tommy struggles with the concept of death, but seeing a falling star reminds him of Nana Upstairs.

My husband and I take our daughters to visit his parents every Sunday. We recently lost my husband’s mother. Last Sunday, as my toddler ran into her grandparents’ living room, she pointed to a chair and said, “Gamma.” That chair is where her Grandma sat every Sunday, when we came to visit.

Death is a difficult concept to understand, even for adults. I can never reach the end of this book without crying, yet this book is also a comforting story of a little boy’s love for both his Nanas.

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