Oliver's Fruit Salad

by Vivian French, Alison Bartlett (Illustrator)

Remembering his experiences helping Grandpa pick fruit in the country, Oliver insists that only fresh fruit grace his dinner table, although he refuses to eat it until a funny thing happens. By the author of Oliver's Vegetables.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Food

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 1998

About the author

Vivian June Isoult French MBE was born in 1945 and educated at Exeter University.
Vivian French was best known in school for being extremely skinny and for talking a lot. At school she developed an attachment to words and later became an actor, then a storyteller, and finally a writer of children's books. She is the author of more than two hundred books. Ms. French lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has four grown daughters.

Reviews

[Joanna Marple · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first impression of this book was that it would make a great addition to any class teacher introducing various fruit varieties to her young class. Oliver has just returned home from a wonderful holiday with grandparents who introduced him to their organic fruit garden. Back home he is somewhat critical of all the packaged fruits his mum tries to offer him. But when mum takes him to the supermarket to buy fresh fruit he confesses he hadn’t actually EATEN any fruit whilst on holiday. Granny and Grandpa arrive and come up with a creative solution to Oliver’s lack of love of fruit. The fruit and fruit colours all seem to mingle together with the characters through the illustrations. This is a simple story with simple text that would appeal to very young children and early readers.

[Sanjukta Bagchi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is all about eating fresh. Fresh fruits are healthier than canned ones. Oliver initially did not like to have fruits. But finally he was encouraged to see his mom and grandparents eating fresh fruit salad. The book makes children aware about the dietary benefits of eating healthy. Healthy food is more nutritious than canned ones.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book for discussion around where fruits come from and the different kinds of fruits, as well as healthy eating. Also good for children who may be able to relate to Oliver if they do not like eating fruit and veg. Very colourful and great illustrations for visuals.

[Maria Verduzco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an okay read. A boy who enjoyed healthy habits after a week with his grandpa. He had thought he enjoyed eating them when he had realized he had helped his grandpa prepare the fruit rather than eating them. Grade level is prek-2.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kid (Oliver) is a little bratty, but in the end he does better and it could encourage kids to try new things/things they don't think they like. Per Amazon for 3-6 years old.

[Elwyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

He didn't like the salad but now he likes.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book to a reception class in connection with the topic of fruit and healthy eating. I felt that the children associated with the book due to the fact they are reluctant to try different fruit. The children enjoyed the book, but I felt that they did not take much for it, and the same feeling was with me as well.

Overall I think it is a good book, but not a great book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oliver has recently spent time with his grandparents and it appears that any food or drink he is given at home by his mum is not good enough. For example, he compares blackcurrant juice to seeing real blackcurrants at Grandpa’s. Oliver’s mum takes him shopping to buy some fresh fruit but when they get home he tells her he does not like fruit. However, when Oliver’s grandparents visit his house, Oliver with the help of all of the adults make a fruit salad. He then asks for this fruit salad and when questioned by his mum for saying he did not like fruit, he replies he enjoys fruit salad.

I did enjoy reading this story but I think for the age I believe it is suitable for, it is far too long so therefore I rate it 3*. From observations of this story being read to school Nursery children during the topic of ‘Colours’, they were becoming rather bored and after a while, they were not fully focused as they could be. I believe it was suitable for this age because of the follow-up activity I observed and carried out where after the story was read, children then went into the kitchen where the book was firstly re-read to them to emphasise the concept that were being taught which was ‘Colours’. The children then were given the opportunity to make a fruit salad with the support of a Practitioner but allowing them to cut the fruits themselves after safety was highlighted. Throughout the activity, children were given the opportunity to use their senses that include taste, smell, sight and touch as well as allowing them to extend their language, explore, discover and an attempt at guessing. An example of a question which allowed children to guess before they could see the answer was, “What colour do you think the plum is inside?” Children were then allowed to take this home which they thrived on.

[Amandeep Daffu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book to be used in a lesson on healthy eating. It is a fun, colourful and adventurous book about a little boy who eats a variety of fruits at his grandparent’s house. When he goes home he asks his mum to prepare a dish of these fruits, but he refuses to eat them because they are not grown in the back garden as it was in his grandparent’s house. Therefore his mum decides to take him shopping so he can buy the fruits fresh from the supermarket but he still does not eat it. In the end his grandparents come over to visit and they make a wonderful fruit salad that they all enjoy.

I like this book because it introduces children to a variety of fruits and therefore it can be used to enhance their vocabulary. To make this book interactive teachers can bring the fruit into the class for children to hold, feel and taste. This will then enhance their use of adjectives too. I believe this book will encourage children to eat healthy and understand the goodness fruits provide, therefore ask their parents to buy them these fruit to eat too.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, This story is is obviously a ploy to get kids who don’t like fruit to eat fruit. I suspect most kids will see that, but some kids may think the book makes fruit look more palatable. I liked the story about Oliver and his parents and grandparents, and especially appreciated the humor, and I liked the cat. I really wanted to enjoy the illustrations and I liked them but didn’t love them. I’ve seen fruit look more appealing but I did kind of like the blurry visuals. I'll try the book Oliver's Vegetables.

Oh, I did appreciate the illustrator's last name: Bartlett, as in the type of pear.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The boy brought it home from school to practice his English - and it's nice for that since they just learned about food etc. Of course at age 8 he's actually too old for this, but since he's just learning English at school, it's just the perfect difficulty level for him to actually understand what's happening without having to ask me about every other word.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oliver is unhappy with all of his mother's fruit selections. At Grandpa's house everything is home grown. Can mom find a solution and what will Oliver do? Cute ending. Length is preschool plus.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another standby book I use nearly every year with early elementary school to discuss fruits. Kids seem to enjoy the Oliver books-nutrition related.

[Justin Brenner]

good