That hyperactive porcine wonder, Olivia the pig, returns in this second delightful picture-book devoted to her adventures, this time sharing a highly embroidered and imaginative retelling of her vacation experiences with her classmates. Since I've kept almost all my old picture books - and my childhood correspondence, too, I am wondering: Had Mira read the book at all? Did she read it only once and then forgot about the card? Did Mira like the book? Does Mira like her aunt? Does Mira miss the book and the card now? Has Mira's Daddy sold her book with or without consulting her? Strange this string of thoughts a card addressed to an unknown receiver can evoke. I am looking forward to being able to visit you again, when we have moved. For your brother I have bought a pair of dungarees.

It says 'Dear Mira-Mouse, I hope that you will enjoy this new picture book. My infatuation with my new old book made my astonishment even more heartfelt, when I turned the last page and found this - a hand-made card addressed to a previous owner: ENDEARING! That unafraid piglet should really become my role model.

I love the half-exasperated, half-speechless look of her teacher and her absolutely-pleased-with-herself stance. In this volume she is supposed to tell her classmates about her holidays and spins a tale which revolves around her single-pawedly substituting all artists and clowns and animal tamers of a huge circus show, because the entire performing staff suffered from an ear inflammation and - certainly - because Olivia already knew how to do these things. The story and the pictures are wonderful. I treated myself with a used copy of Olivia Saves the Circus, one of the two 'real' Olivia books I didn't own yet, via Amazon. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't.

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. and maybe it's books like these that got us thinking wrong behavior is something to laugh about and not something to correct.īut like I said, perhaps I'll save this topic for later and take a closer, philosophical look at it in a blog post. Or how hilarious it is for little children to swear.

I could rant or explain, and maybe some day I will, about how I think it's kind of messed up and backward how parents will video their child throwing the most awful, screaming tantrums and then comment on how cute and funny it is. Or disobediently jumping on the bed to end the story. but lying isn't comical and putting it into story form so that kids can also think lying (or story-telling) is comical is not my cup of tea.

Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer