Olivia's Opposites

Olivia knows all about opposites. Sometimes this porcine heroine of Ian Falconer's Caldecott Honor Book, Olivia, is "plain," attired only in red briefs. Other times she is "fancy," with high-heeled dress-up shoes, lipstick, pearls, and a big red bow. Sometimes—-when Olivia is running the circus, for example (Olivia Saves the Circus)--she is very "loud" with a lion, which renders the lion rather "quiet." Whether meeting this energetic and incorrigible piglet for the first or the 100th time, readers of all ages will be happy to watch Olivia do pretty much anything, even something as simple as counting (Olivia Counts) or teaching about opposites. This sturdy little board book, with lots of white space and black-and-white illustrations, splashed with occasional red, is a perfect introduction to the concepts of opposites, from "up" and "down" to the "open" and "closed" mouth of our yawning, pajama'd pig at the conclusion. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter