Olivia
Olivia is as high-energy as any toddler, from building skyscrapers to trying on every outfit in the drawer. This beautifully illustrated book uses a unique charcoal style with red accents that stands out on any bookshelf.
Olivia by Ian Falconer is estimated to take about 4.5 minutes to read aloud (320 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 3-5.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 320Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5still good at forty
- Vocabulary level
- 3/5a few new words
- Best for
- Ages 3-5Our editorial fit
Our review
The book captures the whirlwind of being a young child without ever being preachy or telling the protagonist to settle down. It embraces the wild imagination and boundless energy that many parents recognize immediately.
The repetition and bold art make it a classic for the three-to-four-year-old age range.
Before you buy it
The art references to Degas and Pollock are really for the adults. If you're looking for what will actually keep a child engaged, it's the "five books for the price of five" bargain at the end.
Themes
- energy
- imagination
- mothers
- bedtime bargaining
Books like Olivia
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Llama Llama Red Pajamaabout 4.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!about 3.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Madelineabout 6 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Silly Sallyabout 3.5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Where the Wild Things Areabout 5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read Olivia aloud?
About 4.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 320. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is Olivia actually for?
Ages 3-5 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 3 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does Olivia survive being read on repeat?
Yes - this is one of the few that is still fine on the fortieth reading, which is why it scores 5 out of 5 with us.
Is Olivia a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise Olivia?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 5 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read Olivia on their own?
Not yet. At vocabulary level 3 out of 5 and 1 sentence a page, it is a read-aloud book rather than a first solo read. Read it to them now, and hand it over in a year or two.
Is Olivia part of a series?
Yes, it belongs to the Olivia series. It stands on its own, so you can start here without reading the others in order, then move to the rest if it lands.
What themes does Olivia cover?
We tag it with energy, imagination, mothers and bedtime bargaining. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
