Olivia Forms a Band

by Ian Falconer, Ian Falconer (Illustrator)

Overview

Everyone's favorite Caldecott Honor-winning porcine diva is back and with fanfare! There are going to be fireworks tonight, and Olivia can hardly wait to hear the band. But when she finds out that there isn't going to be a band, she can't understand why not. How can there be fireworks without a band?! And so Olivia sets to putting a band together herself...all by herself. Using pots, pans, her brother's toys, and even her father's suspenders, Olivia forms a band spectacular enough to startle any audience. Lavishly brought to life in Ian Falconer's signature style, and introducing an eye-catching shade of blue, here is Olivia doing what Olivia does best — making noise.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416924548
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	06/06/2006
Series:	Olivia Series
Pages:	50
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Ian Falconer is the author and illustrator of the Olivia book series, including Olivia, Olivia Helps with Christmas, Olivia and the Fairy Princesses, Olivia and the Missing Toy, Olivia Saves the Circus, to name a few. Falconer’s illustrations have graced numerous covers of The New Yorker. He has also designed sets and costumes for the New York City Ballet, the San Francisco Opera, the Royal Opera House, and many others. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Ian Falconer is the author and illustrator of the Olivia book series, including Olivia, Olivia Helps with Christmas, Olivia and the Fairy Princesses, Olivia and the Missing Toy, Olivia Saves the Circus, to name a few. Falconer’s illustrations have graced numerous covers of The New Yorker. He has also designed sets and costumes for the New York City Ballet, the San Francisco Opera, the Royal Opera House, and many others. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Hometown:

New York, New York

Date of Birth:

August 25, 1959

Place of Birth:

Ridgefield, Connecticut

Education:

Studied art history at New York University and painting at Parsons School of Design and Otis Art Institute

Editorial Reviews

Olivia dreams grandly, as children do and children should. When she is told the family will be going to see fireworks in the evening, she decides that there must be a band. She boldly proclaims, "We'll be the band!" The expressions on the faces of her parents and the piglets make it clear that Olivia is on her own, so Olivia declares, "I'll be the band." The illustrations of her efforts to collect everything she needs are hilarious. After she finds just the right outfit to wear, Olivia begins to practice. The noise has the family holding their ears and the cat's hair standing on end. Although Olivia is perfectly happy with the sound and convinced that she sounds like a real band, she decides not to bring the band instruments to the fireworks. She does primp and pose while getting ready to head out and, finally, the family leaves to have a picnic. The sunset is striking and they have a wonderful, but exhausting, evening. Olivia sleeps soundly that night, having yet another dream. Hmm, Olivia on the Supreme Court? This really is the only part of the story that dates the book because it is not close to the composition of the court, even as recent as 2009. This version of the book comes with a CD read by Dame Edna and it is delightful. The music really does accentuate the drama and provide youngsters with a whole new experience, and at that age they really will not know the composition of the Supreme Court. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford and Marilyn Courtot

Children's Literature - Carolyn Mott Ford and Marilyn Courtot