Title: Oliver
Author/Illustrator: Birgitta Sif
Age Group: 2-6
Synopsis: Oliver doesn’t quite fit in but his imagination doesn’t let that prevent him from having fun.
The Low Down:
When I was 12, we moved about 40 minutes away. Far enough, that I couldn’t visit often without being a huge hassle. I felt out of place in my new home. Although honestly I hadn’t really fit in at my old school either but I was friends with others who didn’t fit in, so it didn’t really matter. For three or four years, I just haunted the library. I felt comfortable and relaxed there and though I already had a good relationship with reading it cemented how priceless books can be. I’m much better now with moving. I know how to throw myself into activities in order to meet people and sift true friends from the fake. Books like Oliver speak to me so deeply because underneath all of these layers that I’ve learned to build, I am still that socially awkward girl who sequestered herself among bookshelves.
Oliver is much more comfortable with himself than I ever was. Embracing his inability to fit in, he focuses instead on his ability to sink into his imagination. Birgitta Sif demonstrates her skill once again at leading young ones on adventures of make believe and self acceptance. Oliver is fine with who he is but finds someone else in the end who also doesn’t quite fit in. Not fitting in together is the root of great gifts of friendship. It’s a message of strength, hope, and self acceptance that can never be expressed too many times to young minds.
Sif illustrates a quirky and wonderful world that matches perfectly that described within the text. Her style of using muted colors does nothing to diminish the extremely expressive pictures. Each of these continues to accentuate the meaning of the words not only through the main characters but through the inanimate objects as well. Oliver’s puppets and dolls add just a dash of expression that gives the entire book an extra dose of flavor.
Our lives constantly change and while we can’t always control the way in which they change we can control how we respond to it. Oliver is an amazing example of being open not only to new experiences and people but also to who we actually are. I hope that as Bug grows he’s able to hold on to that and meet it with the acceptance and love that we all deserve.
Story Tips:
- Keep an eye out for the little mouse. He’s on every page and lots of fun to spot.
- Olivia is covertly lurking throughout the book. See if you can spot her!
I need more!
This is the second Birgitta Sif book I picked up in the last month. I’m very much in love with her stories and style right now. Check out my review on Where My Feet Go for more info.
Add to my library:
Amazon: Oliver
