Olivia Saves the Circus

Olivia Saves the Circus

Written and Illustrated by Ian Falconer

Book Review by: Andrea Silvino

Biographical Data:

Title: Olivia Saves the Circus

Author/Illustrator: Ian Falconer

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Published Date: October 1, 2001

Hardcover: $16.22 (Barnes & Noble)

ISBN: 068982954

Pages: 44

Age Range: 3-7

Language: English

Type: Fiction/ Children’s book

Summary:

Olivia Saves the Circus is about the imaginative Olivia going to school and telling her class about her summer vacation. During her summer vacation, she went to the circus and all the performers were out sick with ear infections. She saved the day by becoming Olivia the Tattooed Lady, Olivia the Lion Tamer, Olivia the Tight-rope Walker, Olivia the Clown, and more.

Book Review:

I loved this book! The story follows a short and simple storyline, which makes it an easy book for children to read and follow along.

This book allows the opportunity for children to use their imagination. In the middle of the book, there are pages that are in sequence of Olivia jumping on the Trampoline, which would be a great example to show children sequencing in a book. Olivia Saves the Circus was the winner of the 2002 Book Sense Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year.

Analysis of Literary Elements:

The illustrations are mainly black and white with highlights of red. The illustrations alone tell a lot about the character. It was interesting to see that the illustrations show what Olivia does throughout the day. There are illustrations for every circus performer she became that day and there is even a sequence page that is folded and can be opened up to see her jumping on the trampoline.

Author’s Biography:

Ian Falconer was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut; he then went to study Art History at New York University and painting at Parsons School of Design and Otis Art Institute. He is a writer and artist who has illustrated many covers of The New Yorker magazine. He wrote and illustrated a children’s picture book titled Olivia. The character of Olivia is based on Olivia, Falconer’s real-life niece. Olivia, his first children’s picture book, received many awards included the Caldecott Honor in 2001. He has published several more children’s picture books about Olivia including Olivia Saves the Circus, Olivia Forms a Band, Olivia Helps with Christmas, Olivia Goes to Venice, and more.