Book Review – I Love Ollie Series by Anna Walker

Jul 26, 2010
Susan Whelan

I Love My Grandma - Anna Walker

With beautiful illustrations and simple text, this sweet series for preschoolers features an affectionate and inquisitive young zebra called Ollie.

The I Love Ollie picture books by Australian children’s author and illustrator Anna Walker focus on the special moments and relationships of childhood. With simple rhyming text and appealing illustrations, this series is ideal for special reading times with toddlers and preschool-aged children.

I Love Ollie Books

With the recent release of two new titles, the I Love Ollie series currently includes nine titles:

I Love to Dance (Scholastic, 2008)
I Love to Sing (Scholastic, 2008)
I Love Holidays (Scholastic, 2008)
I Love Birthdays (Scholastic, 2008)
I Love My Mum (Scholastic, 2009)
I Love My Dad (Scholastic, 2009)
I Love Christmas (Scholastic, 2009)
I Love My Grandpa (Scholastic, 2010)
I Love My Grandma (Scholastic, 2010)

The series features Ollie, a young zebra who loves exploring with his dog Fred and spending time with his family and friends. Each story begins with the statements ‘My name is Ollie. I love …’ and finishes with Ollie tucked into bed at night.

In each book Ollie lists different things he loves about the particular celebration, activity or person featured in the title. He enjoys craft activities, exploring, baking, games and simply spending time with those that he loves.

Although referred to in this review as ‘he’, Ollie’s gender is never specified as the books are written from a first person perspective, enabling both boys and girls to identify more easily with Ollie throughout the stories.

Toddler Bedtime Stories

I Love Ollie books are ideal for toddler bedtime reading, with the simple illustrations and stories creating a gentle, soothing atmosphere. The relationship Ollie has with his parents, grandparents, friends and pet dog Fred are conveyed as being very positive and affectionate and Ollie mentions the kinds of activities and special moments that toddlers and preschoolers should be familiar with from their own everyday experiences.

Despite the brief text and simple illustrations, the I Love Ollie books manage to convey a surprising depth of emotion as Ollie celebrates the many people and things he loves. While the illustrations are quite soft and unassuming compared to many of the bright, colourful pictures seen in books for this age group, details such as a plate of fairy bread at the birthday party, a picnic with Grandma and a visit to the park with Dad, are sufficient to spark conversation with toddlers about the things they enjoy and enable them to connect to the stories as they are read to them.

Australian Author and Illustrator Anna Walker

In addition to being both author and illustrator of the I Love Ollie series, Anna Walker has illustrated several other picture books including the Friends for Keeps series (Scholastic) by Emma Quay and Little Cat and the Big Red Bus (Viking, 2009) by Jane Godwin.

Sweet Picture Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers

With the soft illustrations and simple text, the I Love Ollie books are likely to appeal to those interested in creating a calm, positive reading time routine with their toddler or preschooler.

I Love Ollie books would be ideal as a gift for a newborn or toddler, with their small hardcover format and coloured spines (a different colour for each book in the series) also making them attractive to display on a toddler’s bookshelf.

Review copy details