SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

November 5, 2018 by Betsy Bird

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Olivia by Ian Falconer

November 5, 2018 by Betsy Bird   6 comments

OliviaBetsySince Kate had such strong feelings about Madeline and Eloise, I figured that we had to go with what I consider to be the third in the triumvirate of . . . let’s call ’em strong-minded ladies. If ever you’ve wanted to know the difference between miniature pigs, pot-bellied pigs, and razorback pigs, boy, have I got the podcast for you! We talk about who the most famous female pig in children’s literature is (honestly, I’ve nothing against Peppa, but wasn’t she a television star first?), which book you’d want to club someone to death with (OED for the win!), and whether or not Shel Silverstein had “a treacly streak” (he did).

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or your preferred method of podcast selection.


 

Show Notes:

– Here’s the New Yorker series I refer to when I talk about Ian Falconer. The blog post was called New Yorker/Picture Book Artists: Ian Falconer – Beyond Olivia. The lady that preceded Olivia (the Easily Shocked Old Lady or ESOL) warranted her own book, but it never happened. Notice how her wardrobe compares to Olivia’s, though:

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Falconer1

olivia

Who wore it better?

– Please bear in mind that this was the “Advance Praise” before the book even came out. Seriously, how did Falconer get these folks?

Olivia9

– How many times have I read this book and not realized that Olivia’s little brother has the author’s name?

Olivia8

– The blog Spirit of the Bees back in 2009 did just the loveliest post by a grandmother about how she helped turn her two and a half-year-old granddaughter into the paper bag monster.

Olivia3

monstermirror1

monsterscaresboppy

– These are the ears of a cat who is faking that he’s not paying attention, but is, in fact, monitoring you closely:

Olivia5

– Legitimately one of my favorite images in a picture book of all time. This drawing alone earned it my final rating.

Olivia6

– Do these shadows match?

Olivia4Olivia1

– Not a bad pseudo-Pollack, if we do say so ourselves:

Olivia2

– Is it weird that I’ve never seen a picture book biography of Maria Callas? I think this was intended as a joke when this book was first published but these days it would be a legitimate subject for a bio for young kids.

Olivia7

– Came in at #54 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll.

– This is the cover that was, I was told, based on WWII propaganda posters:

Olivia

– I know it’s a grown-up thing Kate likes, but I’m loving this children’s literature inspired board game choice of hers.

ChooseYourOwnAdventure

– And here’s the present I gave to Kate. Alan Silberberg sent Kate his latest picture book Meet the Latkes:

Logo

It really is funny.

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Fuse 8 n' KateIan FalconerOlivia

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Margaret & H.A. Rey

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: The Mitten by Jan Brett

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: A Valentine for Norman Noggs by Valiska Gregory, ill. Marsha Winborn

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Who's In Rabbit's House by Verna Aardema, ill. Leo and Diane Dillon

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Strega Nona Stamps Are Coming

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Creating a Collective Black Ancestry: Researcher Kimberly Annece Henderson Discusses Dear Yesteryear

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Victory! Stand!

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Book Review: Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave with illustrations by Tom de Freston

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

SLJ’s Reviews of the 2021 National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalists

Fantasy Award Contenders Layer Identity and Imagination | Pondering Printz

SLJ’s Reviews of the 2022 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Finalists

SLJ’s Reviews of the 2022 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Longlisters

Bank Street Names Irma Black Award Semifinalists

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sara O'Leary says

    November 5, 2018 at 1:20 pm

    Saving the podcast for later but just have to say I LOVE OLIVIA SO MUCH.
    Also, did you read the story about Falconer’s niece Olivia going to one of his book signings and then signing books for people? (IAnd think the Ian referenced in the book is actually his nephew.)

    • DanB says

      November 5, 2018 at 7:00 pm

      I’m pretty sure he is: the dedication to the book is “To the real Olivia and Ian, and to William, who didn’t arrive in time to appear in this book.” An explanation for the baby who shows up in later books.

      • Elizabeth Bird says

        November 5, 2018 at 10:36 pm

        Ahhh. Thanks to both of you, Sara and Dan. This explains much. I’ll include all of this info in an upcoming episode.

    • rockinlibrarian says

      November 6, 2018 at 8:57 am

      Ah, I’d always assumed they were his kids. Shows what I know.

  2. Jason Wells says

    November 8, 2018 at 3:13 pm

    Betsy, you do know I was the publicist on the first two Olivia books right? I sent Ian on his only tours. He never toured again. Great post.

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      November 9, 2018 at 9:55 am

      I most certainly did not know that! I swear, publicists should write memoirs. That’s where all the good stuff is. One of these days I’m just going to interview the lot of you.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023