Olivia... and the Missing Toy By Ian Falconer Our Coverage Sponsored by Folkmanis® Puppets
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Olivia has become a staple in my class library. When I get a new Olivia book to read, my students can't wait. When I read Olivia and the Missing Toy, I had so many students that wanted to tell their own missing toy stories. I love when books can ignite ideas in my students. Because they all had their own missing toy stories, I turned it around to have them create their own stories of something of theirs that was missing. We had a blast. Because there was a mystery in which Olivia had to solve, which we loved by the way, many of the students wanted to include their own mystery. And of course, we all had to have a lovable character like Olivia. We all love Olivia and hope more Olivia adventures come our way soon!
Olivia is at again! This time she reverts right back to her originality of wanting to be different then her friends with a red uniform. Of course, red looks the best on her so she must have a red soccer uniform. As her Mother, gets busy sewing Olivia realizes that her favorite and most prized possession is gone. Her doll or “Best Toy”. So a crusade begins. She interrogates everyone in her family about the whereabouts of her doll. She searches the house and complains to her father who as most fathers do, tells her he will buy her an even better toy. Typical. Well the mystery is solved by the end…sorry not going to spoil it for you!
Any parent knows what it is like when their child loses their favorite toy. Schedules are thrown off, errands delayed, it is a full-out crisis! Ian Falconer's "Olivia and the Missing Toy" is yes, about Olivia's missing toy. It is also about a precocious little pig. Olivia dislikes the color of her soccer jersey and requests that her mother make her a red one. Her mother points out that she will look different from the rest of the team, but that is ok by Olivia. Olivia's mother makes her a new jersey and doesn't even get so much as a thanks from her daughter. Then her favorite toy goes missing. Olivia blames her little brother, but eventually discovers it was the dog who took her toy and chewed it up. Olivia's dad says he will buy her a new one to which Olivia exclaims, "I love you more than anyone."
Olivia and The Missing Toy is such a fun book. Not only is my daughter a fan but I am too. It is almost impossible for me to put this book down. Olivia is such a cute and silly little pig. She takes us on an adventure to find her missing toy. We go all over the place and try to help her solve the mystery of where her toy went. I love the illustrations they are awesome. So unique and so different. These books are wonderful for that little reader in your house. They are also the perfect gift for any little girl learning how to read.
