Oliver Has Something to Say!

Whenever Oliver is asked a question, he never seems to get an opportunity to reply before his well intentioned parents or bossy older sister speak on his behalf. Would he like some more spaghetti? How old are you today? What did you wish for, Ollie? Would you like to pet Brutus? All these questions and more are answered by somebody else before Oliver can get his mouth round the words! Even his birthday cake candles are blown out for him before he could get his act together. He feels frustrated and powerless, and to add insult to injury, he hears people commenting on how quiet and shy he is!

Finally, on his first day at kindergarten, Oliver finds a teacher who gives him time to speak up. Having broken the barrier, he goes home to make sure that his family knows how he really feels about all those questions they answered for him in the past!

The idea for her first book came from a situation Pamela Edwards observed in her own family, when her daughter was routinely overwhelmed by her more confident, well meaning older brother. Many children (and adults!) will be able to relate to Oliver’s predicament in this charming, humorous picture book for children aged three to six.

The animated, colourful cartoon-like illustrations by Louis Pilon bring out the inherent humour and pathos of the story and in doing so enhance the reader’s enjoyment. The pictures are extremely expressive, capturing Oliver’s sense of frustration as well as his small moments of rebellion.

The true to life situation, complementary illustrations, and upbeat approach are totally engaging and will make this a great asset for story times as well as for caregivers to use when discussing the topics of self-confidence and shyness. A must-have for all libraries. Highly recommended.