35 Followers
17 Following
Sparrowbooks

Sparrow

Currently reading

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
Brené Brown, Karen White
Blue Lily, Lily Blue
Maggie Stiefvater
Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography
Neil Patrick Harris
Last of the Curlews
Fred Bodsworth, T.M. Shortt
Recovering for Psychological Injuries 2nd Edition 0941916510
William A. Barton Arnett J. Holloway
Garner on Language & Writing
Bryan A. Garner
Olivia and the Fairy Princesses - Ian Falconer It has been previously mentioned once or twice that Olivia is my favorite. It is true. Olivia rules.

In this one, my particularly favorite part, other than the end, which is awesome, is the Martha Graham page. Also, good use of the words "corporate malfeasance." And Ian Falconer's drawings are, as always, amazing.

Ranking:

1. [b:Olivia And The Missing Toy|123860|Olivia And The Missing Toy|Ian Falconer|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348675049s/123860.jpg|654938]. It has the fold out page, including the surprise, and that is difficult to beat. Plus, it has a premise that is compelling to for all ages. Or, maybe just me because I lose stuff all the time.

2. [b:Olivia|770051|Olivia|Ian Falconer|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349034348s/770051.jpg|2484218]. A classic. Especially the parts where she moves the cat.

3. [b:Olivia and the Fairy Princesses|13546400|Olivia and the Fairy Princesses (Olivia)|Ian Falconer|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340327711s/13546400.jpg|19111518]. This is ranking at a high third! Congrats, fairy princesses! Again, a compelling struggle, use of outstanding extra-textual art, and good vocab! Also, the use of additional characters as Olivia's audience is always really genius. Like, at the beginning, when Olivia is depressed, the way the cat and dog are watching her, concerned, really creates the sense of depression I think Olivia is looking for.

This is where I get a little fuzzy. I think my next rankings are:

4. [b:Olivia Helps with Christmas|306808|Olivia Helps with Christmas|Ian Falconer|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348755216s/306808.jpg|2263710],

5. [b:Olivia Saves the Circus|634187|Olivia Saves the Circus|Ian Falconer|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349035427s/634187.jpg|3259015],

6. [b:Olivia Forms A Band|466881|Olivia Forms A Band|Ian Falconer|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348676437s/466881.jpg|654939], and

7. [b:Olivia Goes to Venice|7382303|Olivia Goes to Venice|Ian Falconer|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348579796s/7382303.jpg|9227944].

"saves the circus" and "forms a band" are mixed up in my head right now, though, so I am having trouble remembering what happens in them. Christmas is a good one, and I think there's another page in the middle that folds out, which is always a win with me. "Goes to Venice" didn't have the pathos of the others, in my view.

Olivia is the best.
________________________
I received a free copy of this in exchange for nothing. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, me!