Olivia... and the Missing Toy

Hyperactive porcine wonder Olivia returns in this third picture-book devoted to her hilarious adventures, following upon the Caldecott Honor-winning Olivia, and the fun follow-up, Olivia Saves the Circus. Here Olivia finds that her favorite toy has gone missing, and in a film-noir setting, she explores the mystery. The solution - the family dog Perry has eaten her beloved plaything - proves rather mundane, but Olivia is capable of making a drama of anything. Fortunately, she's also capable of forgiveness...Like its predecessors, I found Olivia and the Missing Toy absolutely hilarious! Ian Falconer has a real gift for capturing the simultaneously stubborn and sweet quality of his little piglet heroine, as well as the sometimes appalled, but always loving reactions of her very patient mother. The artwork, done in charcoal and gouache, captures all the little humorous details in the story, as well as adding some of its own. I particularly appreciated the use of a darker background, and a strategically placed candelabra, in the 'film noir' mystery sequence. All in all, another winner in this wonderful picture-book series! Recommended to anyone who has read and enjoyed the other Olivia books, or who is looking for children's stories featuring imaginative and somewhat madcap little girls.

This spunky little pig named Olivia and is trying to solve the mystery of her missing toy. Olivia's strong personality comes out in a comical way, while she on the case. The Olivia books are a cute collection to include in a classroom library because kids adore her!

This is a very cute book! This book can teach children that even though something may not go your way, or you may not like it, you can fix it to be your way. Olivia did not like the jersey, so she had her mother make a new one, different from the team's. Olivia's dog chewed her favorite toy, so she sewed it up and fixed it just right again. And even though her dog chewed her favorite toy to bits, at the end of the day, she forgave him and let him sleep by her side, fixing it to be her, way the better and more caring way.

Olivia loses her favorite toy and spends a lot of time searching for it. She later discovers that the dog has eaten her favorite toy.

At first glance, the cover of this book makes it look quite scary. There is a picture of "Olivia" looking frightened, with lightening in teh background and holding a candle in the dark. Inside the book I found that the illustrations were quite repetative and simple. Also, I didn't like they way that Olivia acted when she lost her toy. She screamed at everyobe around her and was never repremanded in any way. I felt like this would encourage children who read it that the behaviour was acceptable.

The best of the Olivia books (to date). Mystery, irony, humour, and some of the wonderful cultural asides Falconer inserts here and there. The opening sequence (Olivia exploring the pyramids on camel, and what happens next) is delicious in itself.