In her first brand new adventure in three years, Olivia takes her discerning eye for style to beautiful Venice on a family vacation that involves dodging pigeons in the Piazza San Marco, gorging on gelato, and barely staying afloat in a gondola.
Olivia Goes to Venice
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3–Olivia tops her past ventures and escapades when she convinces her family to spend spring vacation in Venice. They wander over many bridges, are enchanted by the beautiful palazzos on the Grand Canal, and feed the pigeons. The pigs consume numerous gelatos and almost sink a gondola from the extra weight they've put on. Of course, Olivia wants to remember her lovely vacation, so she brings home something unique from the city. Her choice is so Olivia, and the Venetians will never forget her for it either. Charcoal and gouache illustrations and photos of the city are digitally enhanced and provide a similar feel to Laurent de Brunhoff's Babar's USA (Abrams, 2008 ). Fans of this series will no doubt find this title humorous and enjoy the piglet's newest adventure.Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY
© Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
© Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
From Booklist
In her sixth adventure, Olivia is off to Venice, where she partakes of the city’s charms, including gondola rides, walking tours, gelato, and more gelato. The charcoal-and-gouache drawings of Olivia and family are set against magnificently Photoshopped background shots of Venice, sometimes digitally altered to humorous effect. Although this seems more sophisticated than other Olivia tales (perhaps because of the setting), fans will enjoy seeing their favorite bossy piggy, this time at leisure. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper
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More About the Author
Ian Falconer is the author and illustrator of all the titles in the bestselling Olivia series: Olivia, Olivia Saves the Circus,Olivia...and the Missing Toy, and Olivia Forms a Band. His illustrations have also graced many covers of the New Yorker. In addition, he has designed sets and costumes for the New York City Ballet, the San Francisco Opera, and the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), among others. Mr. Falconer lives in New York City.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
105 of 111 people found the following review helpful
By Mobylisa
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I want to start by saying that we LOVE Olivia around here. We have and love all five previous books; we have read them and shared them countless times. I've even defended the books by commenting on reviews here that complained that "Olivia is a bad role model" etc..
We pre-ordered the book and I could not wait to get it. We have great memories of European travel and can't wait to share that with our son. He has shared his first experiences with the beach, the museum, helping around the house, etc., with Olivia. And my son is just discovering the world map and the concept of other languages and so I thought the timing was perfect.
Nope. This book is different from the others.
First, the illustrations. The art is fascinating, and I give it credit. Very different from the three (or rarely 4) colors in the previous books. The Venice streetscape shots populated with the pigs are vivid and interesting. Venice is breathtaking wherever it is. But the simplicity that made the book so accessible to little ones - and so distinctive - is lost.
More disappointing and less forgiveable - because I can understand wanting to experiment with illustration style - is the diction, attitude, and "feel" of the books. "Low blood-sugar?" "near hysteria?" "search for weapons?" "typical tourists" Really? The simple but true language of the earlier books was perfect.
Being run out of Venice? Destroying San Marco Square? A "fat joke"?
Gelato is great but surely could be better introduced and used. Never before has an Olivia book so beat anything to (cliche-filled) death.
Look, this might be a good book for a third grader who is a reluctant reader. I see from the description above that this may have been geared to such a person. But I have known Olivia as one beloved by much, much younger kids (1-3 years). By the time these kids are in third grade I think they will have left Olivia type books behind. I'm guessing the new Olivia is inspired from the same original that inspired the earlier ones, and that real-life Oliva may have the vocabulary and attitude this one has (although it is strange that while Olivia has made developmental leaps, poor William is evidently still an infant in diapers).
But in this case she left the audience behind. (At least our bit of that audience.) And the place she's gone is not that appealing. Olivia's attitude was always tempered with a bit of self-deprecation and tenderness, but that - the charm - is all but absent here.
Might be great for certain older kids, but this one has been shoved under the bed until it makes it to the library donation pile. Arrivederci.
Two stars, just because I had such high hopes, and do love Olivia! But not this one.
I see that others like it and I really am glad. But I want to share our experience so that others who are coming from the same place we are with the books can be warned to keep this one on the shelf, at least for a while.
We pre-ordered the book and I could not wait to get it. We have great memories of European travel and can't wait to share that with our son. He has shared his first experiences with the beach, the museum, helping around the house, etc., with Olivia. And my son is just discovering the world map and the concept of other languages and so I thought the timing was perfect.
Nope. This book is different from the others.
First, the illustrations. The art is fascinating, and I give it credit. Very different from the three (or rarely 4) colors in the previous books. The Venice streetscape shots populated with the pigs are vivid and interesting. Venice is breathtaking wherever it is. But the simplicity that made the book so accessible to little ones - and so distinctive - is lost.
More disappointing and less forgiveable - because I can understand wanting to experiment with illustration style - is the diction, attitude, and "feel" of the books. "Low blood-sugar?" "near hysteria?" "search for weapons?" "typical tourists" Really? The simple but true language of the earlier books was perfect.
Being run out of Venice? Destroying San Marco Square? A "fat joke"?
Gelato is great but surely could be better introduced and used. Never before has an Olivia book so beat anything to (cliche-filled) death.
Look, this might be a good book for a third grader who is a reluctant reader. I see from the description above that this may have been geared to such a person. But I have known Olivia as one beloved by much, much younger kids (1-3 years). By the time these kids are in third grade I think they will have left Olivia type books behind. I'm guessing the new Olivia is inspired from the same original that inspired the earlier ones, and that real-life Oliva may have the vocabulary and attitude this one has (although it is strange that while Olivia has made developmental leaps, poor William is evidently still an infant in diapers).
But in this case she left the audience behind. (At least our bit of that audience.) And the place she's gone is not that appealing. Olivia's attitude was always tempered with a bit of self-deprecation and tenderness, but that - the charm - is all but absent here.
Might be great for certain older kids, but this one has been shoved under the bed until it makes it to the library donation pile. Arrivederci.
Two stars, just because I had such high hopes, and do love Olivia! But not this one.
I see that others like it and I really am glad. But I want to share our experience so that others who are coming from the same place we are with the books can be warned to keep this one on the shelf, at least for a while.
79 of 88 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There is a page in the book that is downright creepy. In it, TSA (or some security organization) is wanding Olivia for weapons. There are two of them, and Olivia has her hands held over her head. "As they went through the airport, Olivia was searched for weapons. She was very pleased." ... what an odd, propaganda-ish page. Coupled with the TSA's tendency to touch the genitals of anyone they wish -- children included -- it seems more like a desensitizing exercise and an attempt to make the unacceptable, acceptable to our children. Upon seeing this page I returned the book, my niece will be getting something else for her birthday.
59 of 66 people found the following review helpful
By Bronzino
Format:Hardcover
Truly appalling that a children's book includes an illustration of TSA-like goons searching a "child" for weapons. Even more appalling is that Olivia "is pleased" by this search. Children should not be raised on fear nor should they be taught to believe illegal search and seizure is normal and proper. Sick minds who prey on children will seize upon examples such as this. Mr. Falconer and Amazon.com should be ashamed of themselves.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bye bye sweet Olivia
Well, the Olivia my children and the schoolchildren I read to has come to this. I console myself as I see Olivia's approval of her civil liberties being violated in light of the... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Matt and Andy's Mom
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful
My daughter loves Olivia and this book will be great for when she's older (she is now 2). The pictures are beautiful, but this story was a little advanced for my daughter. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Katherine Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars
too cute!
My daughter just can't get enough of Olivia's adventures! I enjoy reading this to her often and many of the other Olivia books
Published 1 month ago by Alexis Martin
1.0 out of 5 stars
No Way
Received as a gift for my 1 1/2 year old. My first introduction to the Olivia book series. Illustrations are really great, but story and character are truly awful. Read more
Published 2 months ago by rborn
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as funny as the others, colors drab.
We love the Olivia books, but this one is just not as clever as the others. The muted color scheme of the Venice background seems a little mature for young children who tend to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Neuromom
1.0 out of 5 stars
Olivia
"As they went through the airport. Olivia was searched for weapons.She was very pleased." WHAT KIND OF BRAINWASHING DRIVEL IS THIS...????? Read more
Published 3 months ago by Enough
1.0 out of 5 stars
Training your Children to be Obedient Slaves
Olivia goes to Venice has a page that shows Olivia being patted down or scanned by a generic form of TSA agents. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Hobbit Joe
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed in this book
I love these books normally. This one was so disappointing. Propaganda for the TSA? Sorry I bought this one. We won't be reading any more of these.
Published 3 months ago by L. Blume
1.0 out of 5 stars
TSA-style shenanigans in a children's book?
Does Ian Falconer know what he is doing? Jackboot thugs harassing a child at a security checkpoint is not good for young minds. Read more
Published 3 months ago by B.R. Unger
4.0 out of 5 stars
Olivia Goes to Venice
Olivia enjoys this book because Olivia the character has to go through security and take a plane to get to Venice. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Michelle
