Olivi's Great Adventure

Olivia goes to Venice

Written and Illustrated by Ian Falconer

Antheneum Books for young readers, 2010

40 pages

Children’s/ Picture book

I choose this story because the Olivia books have always been some of my favorites, and I had not read this one. This time Olivia and her parents are going on a vacation and Olivia could not be more excited. The story follows them throughout their adventure through Venice with A LOT of gelato being eaten by Miss. Olivia. Her and her family goes on a gondola ride; however the driver isn’t too happy about Olivia being on board. They go and see the Grand Canal, and the Piazza San Marco. Olivia wants to get some corn to feed the birds, however they end up chasing her and she does not like that one bit. As their trip is winding down Olivia feels she has to find something to bring back with her, but nothing quite seems right. In the end she finds something, and it leaves the town of Venice remembering Olivia very well.

                Olivia goes to Venice is illustrated with tons of beautiful colored pictures of the whole city of Venice. Olivia and her family however are white, and so are the other pigs in the story and I found that to be rather interesting. Only Olivia’s family’s clothes were in color. The detail that is put into the buildings in the story are magnificent, they look like real replicas of the buildings. After thorough investigating I was not able to find the medium that Ian Falconer uses, however he makes Olivia and her family white so that you can see their expressions and facial features better. The text in this book was on the top and bottom of the page.

                This book would be recommended for Kindergarten to even third graders. Classroom connections with the story can include taking your students on a visual on line tour of Venice. During which you can point out the important historical monuments and buildings to them.  Your students can also write how they relate to Olivia, and what qualities they have that are the same, or different. Olivia is also close to her family and they are also in every story that Olivia is in. Students can bring something from home that is important to them and their family and have a show in tell in class about it and why it is important to their family.