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Summary
Summary
When his sugary dreams don't go according to plan, Oliver learns that the wide world around him might just be the sweetest thing of all.
Oliver finds the perfect lollipop on his birthday trip to the zoo, and it's all he can think about! Forget riding the carousel--he might drop his precious treat. No point roaring at the lions with his brother or engaging with any of the animals. After all, who needs the peacocks' beautiful feathers or the flamingoes' brilliant hues when there's a colorful swirly lollipop to admire?
But when one particular zoo animal threatens to ruin the fun, Oliver learns that there's plenty more to see than the candy he'd been coveting. And sharing the day--and his sweets--with his brother might just be the most special treat of all.
Praise for Oliver's Lollipop :
"Vivid, bright paintings illuminate the well-told narrative centering a child's singular fixation, disappointment, and family warmth." -- Kirkus Reviews
"A gentle, well-paced reminder to live in the moment." -- Publishers Weekly
Author Notes
Allison Wortche (allisonwortche.com) is a fifteen-year veteran of the children's publishing industry. After graduating from the College of William and Mary, she edited books at Knopf BFYR before becoming a freelance editor. She is the author of the I Love Science board book series, as well as Rosie Sprout's Time to Shine . Allison lives in New York. You can follow her on Instagram @allisonwortche.
Andres Landazabal (andreslandazabal.squarespace.com) is an illustrator and art director whose love for drawing and painting was instilled at a young age by reading classic illustrated children's books. His work has appeared in books, film, and television. Andres lives in Colombia. You can follow him on Instagram @landafla.
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Birthday boy Oliver, a bespectacled green-eyed child, is visiting the zoo with his parents--one is white, and one is Black--and his younger brother, Louis. But when a large, rainbow-swirled "perfect birthday lollipop" from the stand at the zoo's entrance becomes Oliver's sole focus, the zoo and all its offerings fade to the background in anticipation of the sweet. After Oliver's treat is abruptly stolen by a mischievous animal, though, Louis helps Oliver open his eyes to the wonders before them. Wortche employs simple yet evocative prose: "It was starting to get dark./ But Mommy and Daddy agreed/ to one last carousel ride./ Oliver chose the dragonfly./ He let go--and felt like he was flying." Landazábal's vintage-inflected artwork, created in gouache, watercolor, and colored pencil, aptly captures the emotions of Oliver and family against the vibrantly colored setting. A gentle, well-paced reminder to live in the moment. Ages 3--7. (May)
Kirkus Review
Dazzled by the purchase of a large, rainbow lollipop, Oliver can focus only on how it will taste rather than on the wonders at the zoo. It's Oliver's birthday and a beautiful day for a zoo trip. At the entrance, a lollipop vendor intrigues, and Daddy buys Oliver "a huge round rainbow on a long white stick. The perfect birthday lollipop." Oliver is told to wait till after dinner to eat it; now, they are to enjoy the zoo. Oliver holds it tight, mesmerized by the colors and the prospect of how it will taste. At the carousel, Oliver is too worried he might drop his treat to ride and decides to stay behind with the stroller, watching little sib Louis, Mommy, and Daddy enjoy the ride. With eyes and thoughts only for the lollipop, Oliver misses all the fun and sights: the lions, the pandas, the monkeys, the flamingos, and the glowing feathers of the peacocks. By the time they get to the giraffes, Oliver can't wait any longer and begins to unwrap the lollipop--when the tall, long-necked animal reaches down and grabs it right out of his hand. Though Oliver's eyes are full of tears, the walk back through the zoo becomes more meaningful when little Louis sweetly whispers, "Look." Oliver blinks and sees the colors of the toucan's beak and much more. Vivid, bright paintings illuminate the well-told narrative centering a child's singular fixation, disappointment, and family warmth. Oliver and Louis are biracial, with a Black mom and White dad. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 50% of actual size.) An upbeat, gratifying birthday excursion despite a child's tense preoccupation. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
