What Ollie Saw

by Joukje Akveld, Sieb Posthuma (Illustrator), Bill Nagelkerke (Translator)

Overview

Ollie doesn't see things the same way everybody else does (and he certainly doesn't see things the same way his older sister does). Instead of cars in traffic, Ollie sees a circus parade. Instead of cows grazing in a field, Ollie sees deadly bison with sharp horns and hooves. And at school, instead of letters on the board, Ollie sees birds with pointy beaks, and fish with flapping tails in the big blue sea.

Ollie knows he doesn't need glasses, because he likes the world better the way he sees it. But will his parents and bossy sister see things his way?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646140398
Publisher:	Levine Querido
Publication date:	04/06/2021
Pages:	56
Sales rank:	1,124,768
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Joukje Akveld studied Dutch and has worked for various publishing houses. As a journalist, she writes about children's books and theatre for newspapers and magazines, while also writing her own books.

Sieb Posthuma was an award-winning Dutch illustrator whose books have been published around the world. His work has been adapted into television shows, theater, opera, and shown in numerous expositions.

Bill Nagelkerke is a prolific children's writer, translator, and former librarian. His stories, poems and plays have appeared in many New Zealand anthologies. In 2013 Nagelkerke was awarded the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award in recognition of his dedicated contribution to children's literature and literacy in New Zealand.

Editorial Reviews

02/15/2021

This Dutch fantasy centers a young pig who sees differently from those around him. Posthuma’s ink-and-wash drawings, putting off strong William Steig vibes, show Ollie and his family on a train excursion (his mother calls these outings “Happy Family Time”). Ollie’s easily bored sister dismisses the cows she spots in the countryside: “How dull,” she grumbles. Ollie, however, sees water buffalo, with “hooves that could squash any sister.” On another outing, stuck in traffic, she groans. “You might be older,” Ollie thinks to himself, “and bigger. But you don’t see clearly.” Amid the sea of cars, Ollie spots a parade with mice acrobats and trained seals. Suspicions grow that Ollie’s eyesight is the problem. His teacher shows the class alphabet charts; Ollie sees birds and whales. Does Ollie really need glasses? Or is he just a pig who sees the world his own way? Posthuma’s subversive drawings are full of snarky mirth: Ollie’s sister’s “grizzling” is all the funnier for being spoken by a pig in a dainty dress and pearls. In a fine translation by Nagelkerke, Akveld champions staying true to oneself, no matter what others indicate those letters on the eye chart are. Ages 5–9. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Posthuma’s ink-and-wash drawings put off strong William Steig vibes in this Dutch picture book about a young pig whose diminished eyesight encourages an active imagination.” -Publishers Weekly (Hot of the Press),


[STAR] "Ideal for shelves about outsiders and those who march to that different beat, this encourages all children to view the world with wonder." -School Library Journal (starred),


“Posthuma’s neat borders, pale colors inside fine outlines, and steady visual restraint in even the outlandish scenes make for a tale that’s quirky yet calming.” -Kirkus Reviews,


“Does Ollie really need glasses? Or is he just a pig who sees the world his own way? Posthuma’s subversive drawings are full of snarky mirth. In a fine translation by Nagelkerke, Akveld champions staying true to oneself, no matter what others indicate those letters on the eye chart are.” -Publishers Weekly,

From the Publisher

★ 12/01/2020

PreS-Gr 1—Who determines what "perfect" is, and how can a child's imagination shape that? For Ollie, a somewhat smug pink pig, the ability to see the world in his own unique way is thoroughly satisfying. While his sister can see only boring cows in a field, Ollie envisions water buffalo with sharp horns and hooves that could trample his grouchy sister. Unfortunately Ollie's teacher thinks that his view of the world needs adjusting as well, and Ollie is forced to bend to conventional expectations, at least some of the time. Whimsical, expressive illustrations done in ink and watercolor and a superb, humorous story that celebrates individuality and nonconformity make this a first purchase. VERDICT Ideal for shelves about outsiders and those who march to that different beat, this encourages all children to view the world with wonder.—John Scott, Friends Sch. of Baltimore

School Library Journal

2021-03-02
A young pig uses vivid imagination—and possibly poor eyesight?—against sibling woes.

Ollie’s a pale-pink pig in a blue beret. He’s also a younger brother. His sister, who’s “bigger. And older,” is weighing him down. She scowls and looks disdainful; she’s a sourpuss, raining on parades. The intimate narrative voice (“Look, there’s Ollie. Maybe you already know him?”) says that Ollie’s sister “grizzle[s]”—a word most readers will learn right here—“a lot.” On family outings, Ollie’s sister calls cows “dull,” cars “dumb,” and an excursion boat a “slowpoke.” Ollie, rebelling, sees not cows but water buffalo; not cars but a circus parade with acrobats; and no plain slowpoke boat but a pirate ship—on which his sister’s tied to the mast. Ollie’s fantasy flights work so well as resistance to negativity that it’s baffling when, almost halfway through, a new possible cause for what he sees emerges: Ollie needs glasses. The sudden theme of weak eyesight never quite finds its place, nor does Ollie ever admit that he does need glasses, though readers see the evidence on the classroom blackboard—or does Ollie simply value imaginative play higher than teacher approval? In which case, why was the early theme so sister-focused? It’s OK—Posthuma’s neat borders, pale colors inside fine outlines, and steady visual restraint in even the outlandish scenes make for a tale that’s quirky yet calming.

From the Netherlands, an appreciation of imagination. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews