Tales of Oliver Pig

Oliver and Amanda Pig #1

by Jean Van Leeuwen, Arnold Lobel (Illustrator)

Five adventures of Oliver Pig with his family.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, 1st Grade, Chapter Books, Fiction, 2nd Grade

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Jean Van Leeuwen was an American children's book author, of over forty children's books, including the Oliver Pig series, and Bound for Oregon.

Reviews

[Renita Kauffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. One of the most accurate and relatable portrayals of childhood and being a parent that I've read in a children's book.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love! I don't remember this from my childhood (though it was around then) but it still flooded me with nostalgia. Loving family doing simple household activities together. I appreciated that the mom and the dad both had special activities with their children. The format reminds me of the Little Bear books. Very sweet, gently humorous, felt so true to life! I think every parent will be able to relate to the scene in which mother laboriously gets her children dressed to go outside and play in the snow... then asks them to stay put for one minute while she gets herself ready.... you can imagine what happens but it's played out with such honesty yet such kindness!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me, reading the book:
Oliver, listening: HEY! Im not a pig! NO! Oliver is not a pig!

[Josiah Pearse · Rating 5 out of 5]

We really enjoyed this book.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sean and Harriet love it when I read a story to both of them. Their favorite type of story to share is one about siblings. A recent story that we enjoyed together is Tales of Oliver Pig by Jean Van Leeuwen and illustrated by Arnold Lobel.

Oliver is about five and his sister Amanda is about one. Their closeness in age to Sean and Harriet added to their enjoyment of the book. Oliver has great plans and Amanda wants to do what her big brother is doing but she sometimes gets in the way. Oliver and Amanda need to learn how to play together.

The book is divided into five chapters and each one stands alone as a complete story. The chapters are:

* Baking Day
* A Bad Day
* Grandmother's Visit
* Snowsuits
* Is It Oliver?

"Baking Day" tells about how Oliver, Amanda and their mother bake cookies on a rainy day. Sean liked this story since he and I have loved baking together since he was a toddler. "A Bad Day" is a cautionary tale of how hard it can be to share with a rambunctious toddler. "Grandmother's Visit" reminded Sean of the many trips his grandparents have made. "Snowsuits" shows how hard it can be to get two young children ready to go outside in inclement weather; I think I found it funnier than either Sean or Harriet did. The last story, "Is It Oliver?" is cute story of Oliver playing games before bed with his father. Since Sean and Ian do that too, Sean enjoyed re-reading this story with him.

Tales of Oliver Pig is just one in a long series of books. We checked out the book from the library but I will be keeping the books in mind for future presents.

[MTSN · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, Penguin decided to keep a lot of this series in print, but not this first book. Prequel to books that remain in print - pictures by Arnold Lobel - why not keep publishing this? I don't know. I e-mailed the author and she didn't seem to know either.

Both of my kids, who are five and almost two, have loved these books. I think they relate to the quiet domesticity of them and Oliver and Amanda's sibling relationship. As a parent, I particularly appreciate the part in this one where Mother patiently gets Oliver and Amanda into their snow clothes, leaves them alone for a minute, and comes back to find that they've taken everything off. She starts crying. "Mothers don't cry," says Oliver, concerned, only to hear his mother reply, "Well, I am." Oliver and Amanda are based on Jean Van Leeuwen's children, and you can really tell she's been a parent of little kids. No unrealistic supermoms here.

The almost-two-year-old loves when Oliver makes pretend food for his grandmother, and when Father pretends he doesn't know it's Oliver under the covers. ("It must be a meatball.") I think she's had me read this about ten times over the last three days. Do yourself a favor and track this one down if you liked the more easily findable parts of the series.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Lobel's illustrations. His pigs are my favorite.

This book is great for children who are just becoming comfortable with reading. There are plenty of sight words but also new vocabulary that will require basic decoding skills.

Oliver Pig likes to squabble with his sister, Amanda, but he can also be very caring towards her. Other children just beginning to read might be able to connect with this sibling bond.

The snowsuit story was hilarious!

[Tandri Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baking Day: Loved how the mother included the children in her tasks. Warm fun way to spend a rainy day.

A bad day: Definitely sounded like my two kids, glad Oliver found a way to help his sister instead of always pushing her away.

Grandmother's visit: Cute fun story about preparing for a visit from grandmother.

Snowsuits: Oh how a parent can relate! Loved how they comforted her.

Is it Oliver?: Cute story about tucking his son in and playing along that he doesn't know it is him under the covers.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a charming storybook told in four or five short stories (chapters) Where Oliver (and older brother pig) is getting used to begin an older brother to his toddler sister. But yet sometimes he still wants to be cranky and have things his way as well. His parents are patient with him (and his sister) and teaches both that there is enough love to go around and that being a big brother is sometimes worth it all.

[Sarang Ranade · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really really funny really really really really really really really really really funny and it was super Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper funny and it was also super Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper Duper funny

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had forgotten this one. I have memories of my mom loving it and now I adore it. It is exactly what life with a 4yo and a 1yo is like. Exactly. I want more. I know there are so many books in this series but the pigs grow up. I want more from the early 80s with them just like this.

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beginning reader, cute but nothing special.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lobel's pictures are tasteful and subtle, unlike those of Ann Schweninger in the later books of this series, which are garish.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute beyond measure. So simple, so sweet!

[Jeremy Hornik · Rating 4 out of 5]

The snowsuit story is the best.

[Beth (FebruaryFilly) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a good early reader Rory got from her kinder or 1st grade teacher.

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty simple stuff with nice illustrations.

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable & realistic book for bedtime reading for young ones.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

One rainy day Oliver helps his mother bake oatmeal raisin cookies. It is a good day. Another day isn't so good. This day, Oliver is very selfish. He won't let Amanda touch any of his toys or books. He makes her cry several times. At dinner that night, Amanda won't eat. Then Oliver starts sharing his food with her. She eats everything he gave her. When Grandmother comes to visit, Oliver makes her a special meal. One snowy day, Mother dresses Amanda and Oliver in their snowsuits. By the time she puts on her warm outer clothing, Amanda and Oliver have undressed. They are too hot. Mother cries, and Oliver comforts her. Oliver plays hide-and-seek with Father one night before bed.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really similar as the "Little Bear" series, but I don't think it is quite as charming. There is one part where the Mother Pig cries, and I didn't understand why. Was it because her love for her children made her emotional? Or because Grandmother Pig was leaving?

I think Little Bear was an only child, but Oliver the Pig has a little sister, so this book is good for helping kids get along with siblings.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming stories, darling drawings, everyday situations. I love when the mother starts to cry after the kids have taken their hats, mittens, scarves, and boots off while she rushes to don her own winter clothes.

[Dulce]

Historias pequeñas. Pocas palabras. Oraciones simples. ¡Excelente para los primeros lectores! Con esto conquistarán la habilidad, alcanzarán a terminar sus primeros libros y esa idea de seguridad será un reforzador positivo para continuar.

[Jake]

This is a great bedtime book, because there are 5 small stories in the book. We loved the last one, where Oliver's dad was pretending to not be able to find him as he hid in his room. So silly!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually preferred Oliver and his sister, Amanda to Frog and Toad. A bit edgier, Oliver and Amanda are refreshingly flawed. Much, much easier to relate to.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purchased for my collection.

[Amy Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book when I was younger--it was one of the first books I could read on my own, probably in the first or second grade. I love it as much now as I did then!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, well-done series. Oliver is often in social situations similar to those kids face. Good stories.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids have discovered Oliver the Pig! I like the older ones illustrated by Lobel better, but my kids enjoy them all.

[Amanda]

Emma needed help with a few word. However, she was able to read the story smoothly and she seemed to enjoy it. She was able to re-tell the entire bad day chapter.