Olivia Helps with Christmas

October 22, 2007
More a succession of family anecdotes-in-the-making than a plot-driven story, the holiday installment of a much-loved series finds the adroitly accessorized piglet and her family decking the halls of a house in the country on Christmas Eve. Olivia, charged with “a very special job” (Mom-speak for interrupting the “Santa watch” Olivia and her younger brothers mount by the rain-streaked picture window), proudly shows off the table she has set by herself, topped with a decorated miniature tree: “Why, that's beautiful, darling. Where did you ever find that perfect little…” her mother beams; open the gatefold to see the rest of the room, where a saw and a stool stand next to the family's (decapitated) “…tree?” as the mother falteringly completes the question. Readers will claim other episodes as their own favorites; as usual, Falconer knows how to play pictures and text off each other to maximum comic impact. Ages 3-7.

October 1, 2007
PreS-Gr 2-Children who are familiar with this irrepressible pig will know what kind of help Olivia is likely to provide as her family prepares for the holiday. Her antics seem a little forced in this selection, but the dazzling illustrations, highlighted with green as well as Olivias signature red, are as charming as ever; and the endinga snowy Christmasis quite satisfying. This is a good bet for family sharing."Virginia Walter, University of California, Los Angeles"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2007
Its not easy trying to keep Olivia occupied while she awaits Santa. The popular little pig burns some Christmas cookies, gets tangled in the tree lights, and throws herself in front of the fireplace when her father comes around with logs: Do you want to cook Santa? She tries to stay up on Christmas Eve, and she really does hear some scratching on the roof (a raccoon). There are presents on Christmas morning, though not all are successful. Then its time to hit the slopes; apr's ski, its hot soup and a roaring fire without fear of roasting Santa. Some of the antics here will be familiar, though most children dont go to ski lodges for Christmas. As in previous books, much of the humor here comes from the artwork, festively decorated not only in Olivia red but also holiday green, and featuring the myriad expressions Olivia keeps in her arsenal: pleased, displeased, very displeased, and outraged. A grand book to haul out around the holidays.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

November 1, 2007
Although interestingly agnostic on the subject of Santa, Olivia's latest disaster-prone caper otherwise wholeheartedly indulges in every (secular) Christmas motif: snow to be wished for, a tree to be decorated, lights to be untangled, stockings, presents, more presents, sledding -- and even a dream-Nutcracker starring you-know-who. Olivia is her customary impetuous self, and Falconer strikes a spirited balance in letting the words and pictures tell the story in turn, with a particularly lively use of photocollage adding wit to the pages.

(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2014
Olivia's latest disaster-prone caper wholeheartedly indulges in every (secular) Christmas motif: snow, a tree, lights, stockings, presents--and even a dream-[cf2]Nutcracker[cf1]. This board book version is mostly satisfactory (despite the condensed pages, occasionally modified text, and a few missing illustrations), but the story unfolds much more effectively in the original picture book and is geared toward an older audience, anyway.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)