Olly and Me - Hardcover

Shirley Hughes has illustrated more than two hundred children’s books and is renowned as a champion of children’s literature. She has been the recipient of the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Eleanor Farjeon Award, and in 1999 she was honored with an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her distinguished services to children’s literature. About children’s books, she says, "The stories and pictures we take to our hearts as children remain with us always." Shirley Hughes lives in London.

PreS-Gr. 2. Though the jacket looks like that of an inviting picture book, this volume is actually a collection of first-person poems and short prose pieces, written from a little girl's point of view. Her everyday life provides plenty of material for short narratives and reflections involving herself, her little brother, Olly, and Mom, Dad, friends, and extended family. Subjects include a winter walk in the park, a seemingly interminable car ride, a Saturday visit to the library, and a celebration of her mother's birthday. Spotlighting everyday moments in a child's world, the artwork makes this unusual format inviting. No one captures the body language, expressions, and slightly tousled look of young children quite like Shirley Hughes. From full-page pictures to small, spot illustrations, the artwork here celebrates the daily lives of preschoolers and their families. Though this series of connected writings may disappoint those looking for a single narrative, children will find plenty here to enjoy. Carolyn Phelan
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