Norman's Gift

Norman the Button #2

by Michelle Olson

How can a button show a bear just how important their friendship is?

Norman the Button has forgotten to get his best friend a Christmas gift, and time is running out. With big dreams and a small budget, he sets out to find the perfect gift to show his love for Freddy. But when his extravagant gift ideas don't work out, he must settle for something made from the heart. Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2019 , recipient of a B.R.A.G Medallion, and first-place winner of the 2020 TopShelf Book Awards.

If your kids liked Pig the Elf, Turkey Claus, or Bear Stays Up for Christmas, this book is sure to tickle all their funny bones this holiday season.

Praise for NORMAN’S GIFT

“The message that real friends value their pals most for being themselves couldn’t be delivered by a cuter button.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A fun holiday sequel with an evergreen message.” - Publishers Weekly

Verified Goodreads Reviews…

“Very sweet. I love the visual gags in the pictures. The best book ever about a button!” -Kaethe

“I don’t often receive children’s books to review, but when I do, I’m looking for high-quality illustrations or pictures, a cute story and interesting characters — Norman’s Gift has all three.” -Bobbie Crawford

“The photograph illustrations on each page are beyond adorable! Little ones (and their parents/caregivers/teachers, too) will gravitate towards and LOVE this book just for the pictures!” -Eugenia Chu

“This book was absolutely adorable!! My grandson and I enjoyed it so much! The story was precious and the pictures made us laugh. We went back several times over each one to see all of the cute little details. I will definitely be getting the other books by this author!” -Susan Crowe

“I thought "Norman's Gift" was a really cute book for all ages! The pictures were really vibrant and the story-line was just really cute and funny.” -Traci Wilkerson Steckel

“It is an adorable and perfect book for Christmas that inspires children to make gifts for their friends and family.” -Claire Hua

Other titles

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christmas, Friendship, Holiday, Fiction

34 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2019

About the author

I love writing books about buttons who go on adventures. Join my launch team here https://www.belliebuttonbooks.com/launch to receive ARC's and enter to win a free book!

Reviews

[Sophia Triad]

Norman the cute button is looking for the best Christmas present for his best friend aka Freddy the teddy-bear.
Great combination of photographs and illustrations, great choices of wordplay.
A nice suitable option for present this Christmas for your little ones.

“Any gift that brings me closer to you is the best gift ever,” said Norman.

(I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review)

[Erin]

Thank you to the writer and illustrator, Michelle Olson, for an advanced copy of her picture book for children. When I was an elementary teacher, these were exactly the type of stories that I enjoyed reading to my students. Norman, a button, and Freddy, a bear, are the best of friends. But with Christmas just around the corner, Norman is very worried that he won't find the perfect gift to show Freddy just how special their friendship is to him. What results is a very good lesson on it's not the size or price of the gift that matters.


Just a super cute story.


Goodreads Review published on 15/09/19

[Matt]

First and foremost, a large thank you to Michelle Olson and Bellie Button Books for providing Neo and me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Neo loves stories that offer not only wonderful entertainment value, but also provide a warm-hearted lesson for the reader to enjoy. When approached by Michelle Olson to read her upcoming children’s book, Neo could not contain his excitement and hopes others will share these emotions when they have the opportunity. Norman the Button is inseparable from his best friend Freddy Teddy, literally. Norman is the button affixed to the edge of Freddy’s nose. When Freddy and Teddy realise that they need a little time apart at night, Norman is a little distraught. Added to this, Norman learns that Freddy has found the ‘best Christmas present ever’ for his best friend. Norman is panicked any must think of a gift like no other for Freddy, but time is running out. By Christmas, Norman is worried that his chosen gift will not be enough, but must hope for the best. What follows is truly indicative of a great friendship and how the heart is the best idea-maker. Neo was so pleased by this book and all that Michelle Olson had to offer. With a great story and cute ‘real life’ pictures, the reader is taken on a journey of two friends as they try to find the greatest gifts for one another. With easy to read sentences and a well thought out story, readers of all ages can find something in this piece. Olson has a lifelong fan in Neo and we can only hope that others will see the magic soon!

[MissBecka Gee]

Oh my gosh, I think this was even cuter than the first book!!!
Some very clever play on words going on in here...

Norman's adventures continue on after the first book.
Don't worry, you can totally read this as a stand alone.
Thanks to Michelle Olson for my DRC!

[Michelle Olson]

Yep...this is my book. Hope everyone enjoys the second book in the Norman the Button series.

[La Coccinelle]

I'm always a little hesitant when I read self-published picture books now. So many of them simply lack the quality that makes for a really good read. When I was approached by the author with an offer to let me have a look at her newest book about Norman the button, I was a bit worried. But after seeing some of the reviews of the first book from trusted Goodreads friends, I felt a little better. As it turns out, I didn't really need to be worried. Norman's Gift is surprisingly good.

This is a cute holiday story about Norman and his quest to find the perfect Christmas gift for his best friend, Freddy Teddy. He thinks it needs to be something spectacular to show Freddy how much their friendship means to him. But after exhausting his piggy bank and still coming up with nothing suitable, Norman has to turn to his own special talents and make his friend a gift from the heart.

The writing is pretty strong and tells the simple story nicely. The illustrations are pretty entertaining, too. (I suspect I missed how Norman and Freddy met in the first book, but you can read Norman's Gift and get a lot out of it without knowing the backstory.) Norman and Freddy inhabit our world, but there's also overlap with the world of toys. Norman lives in a dollhouse, for example. The pictures are mostly photographs, with touches of illustration. I just realized that Norman doesn't have any facial features other than eyes; still, he manages to convey a full range of emotions through just his eyes and eyebrows!

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. Norman's Gift is a sweet holiday story highlighting friendship and thoughtfulness. This is one self-published picture book that I can feel comfortable recommending.

Thank you to Michelle Olson for providing a digital ARC.

[Lisa]

Absolutely adorable. Norman will definitely win your heart!

[Rachel]

(recommended by MissBecka and Erin)

[Kaethe]

It's almost Christmas when Norman learns his best friend has the perfect gift. Norman needs to come up with a perfect gift of his own.
Very sweet. I love the visual gags in the pictures. The best book ever about a button!

Review copy from author

[Sharah Powell]

Norman’s Gift is the second picture book in the Norman the Button series by Michelle Olson. Norman’s Gift is a sweet little Christmas story in which Norman is on the hunt for the perfect gift for his best friend, Freddy Teddy. The book contains gorgeous pictures which are a combination of photographs and illustrations. Thanks to the author for my digital copy of this book.

[Nick-library]

Fell good to read

[Shawn Deal]

Here is a very enchanting and wonderful little tale about a button and a bear. The story is very cute based on a gift that the button is trying to come up with for the bear. The book is wonderfully illustrated and a Christmas theme. So this would be a wonderful gift to set under the tree this year or to read for that little someone over the holidays. Great book! Highly recommended!

[Amy Moreno]

We loved this book! Michelle Olson sent an ARC for me (and my kids, 3 and 5 years old) to review and we are all big fans.

For starters, the main stars are... cute as a button. The kids and I were huge fans of how hard Norman was working to find his best friend the perfect gift and we laughed at a few of his mis-steps along the way as he tried to pick out the perfect gift.

We all loved the perfect gifts that both of them ended up exchanging because one is hilarious and one is an adorably heartfelt message about doing what you are good at and being considerate to your friends.

I was also a BIG fan of the puns periodically thrown in to make sure mom and dad get something out of the book too. They flew right over my kid's heads since they are too young to get puns, but I laughed waaaaay harder than I should have.

[Bobbie Crawford]

I don’t often receive children’s books to review, but when I do, I’m looking for high-quality illustrations or pictures, a cute story and interesting characters — Norman’s Gift has all three.

The pictures in this adorable book were taken by the author, who is also the illustrator. The story is sweet and teaches children that friendship is very important — when it comes to gifts, it’s the thought behind them that really counts.

Teacher’s guides are available for both books in the series. There are some free, printable activity pages available on the author’s website. I would also love to see some pre-made colouring pages of the characters.

I could easily see the opportunity for Norman and Button toys, shirts, etc. to be sold along with this book — they’d make fantastic companion items.

I highly recommend this book for readers aged 4-8!

[Luanne]

I received an ARC of Norman's gift from the author and I read it to my 5 year old granddaughter. What a delightful story, she & I both loved it. She could appreciate the fact that Norman didn't have enough money for what he "thought" would be the best gifts. A good lesson for kids that the most expensive gifts are not really the best gifts. My granddaughter got a real kick out of the cell phone mix up. The pictures are really cute & she loved the fact that Norman was a button! Will be a sweet book in time for the holidays

[Susan Crowe]

This book was absolutely adorable!! My grandson and I enjoyed it so much! The story was precious and the pictures made us laugh. We went back several times over each one to see all of the cute little details. I will definitely be getting the other books by this author!

Thank you to Michelle Olson for providing a digital ARC.

[Beth]

The pictures are sharp photos arranged to accompany the story, and they really drive the enjoyment. The prose follows the worries and plans of the small button, with child-sized misconceptions and dreams, but the real joy is watching the toys move about, just as they do in the imagination of kids. The slap-stick solution will also appeal.

[Rebecca Hill]

What a cute read! I absolutely loved this book! I read it with my boys, and they really liked it as well. Another fabulous book from Michelle!

[Edwina Book Anaconda]

This is a wonderful story about the love shared between "the best of friends."
I can't wait to share it with my grandchildren.
Highly recommended!

Thank you, Goodreads Giveaways for providing me with a free copy to read and review.

[Carol Farrington]

This is a super sweet story about thoughtfulness and finding the perfect gift for your best friend. Norman the button has several ideas, but once again they don’t work out, before he has the perfect idea. The pictures are well thought out and add monumentally to the story. I’m in love with this series of books!

[Coralie]

I was graciously given an ARC from the author. See my thoughts below:

This was different from any other children's book I've ever read. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters. The friendship between Norman and Freddy was sweet and by far my favorite part of the book. I'm a sucker for friendships anyway. The plot was cute and it had a satisfying ending.

The book takes place during the Christmas season, but that setting plays a very minor role in the book. The author's intent was to portray a story about friendship that just so happened to happen around Christmas, but she was very intentional about creating a book that could be read at any time of the year. Personally, I'd have liked more Christmas in the atmosphere, but I certainly understand her decision.

Additionally, the pictures themselves were what set this book apart for me. They were realistic and portrayed scenes that could be found in any kid's bedroom or home. Though there were a few pages I enjoyed (Norman by the fireplace and the very last picture were my favorites!), the aesthetic didn't really feel like a children's book to me. It obviously was, and a good one at that, but the reality of the pictures didn't give me the feeling of falling into a story and being engrossed in the story. I felt more like I was reading non-fiction.

While this book was a cute little book, and one I enjoyed, I can't say it makes the list of favorites for children's books. I'd recommend it for those looking for something new and unique, for cute and fluffy, for heartwarming and friendship, but I don't think I'd search it out to add to my book box. I'd read it to my kids if it was sitting nearby, but it's probably not one I'd read again and again unless my kids latched onto it, which, they very well may depending on the kid.

[gj indieBRAG]

We are proud to announce that NORMAN'S GIFT (Norman the Button Book #2) by Michelle Olson is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!

[Diann Boehm]

The story, Norman's Gift, is about two best friends, Norman, the button, Freddie the Teddy bear. The two did everything together; that is, until it was time to go to sleep. Freddie snored, and Norman could not handle the loud noise, so they agreed to sleep apart. Freddie the teddy bear in bed and Norman the button in the playhouse. One night Norman wakes up to the sound of Freddie's voice and overhears Freddie talking about his Christmas gift for Norman. Norman realizes he needs to get Freddie a gift. The search for the perfect gift begins. Norman put time and effort into what the gift should be but he kept running into roadblocks till he finally decided to make Freddie something. Christmas morning came, and Norman was very nervous that Friedie would not like his gift. Still, after they each exchanged gifts, Freddie and Norman discovered they each gave one another the perfect gift for their best friend, and most importantly, they will never be separated day or night. Freddie gave Norman ear muffs so that Freddie's snoring would not bother Norman anymore. Norman knitted Freddie a scarf to keep his neck warm on a cold night and it turned out to be the perfect gift. Norman's Gift is a sweet story about friendship, and it is for all ages. The Illustrations are adorable, and you want to have your own Freddie the teddy bear and Norman the button.

[Eugenia Chu]

This is the most adorable book! Norman the Button and Freddy Teddy are inseparable best friends! They did everything together except at night, when they slept separately because of Freddy’s snoring. One night, Norman overheard Freddy telling the other toys and stuffed animals that he got the best Christmas present for Norman. Norman then had a mission to find the perfect gift for his very best friend. He brainstormed, shopped, tried new ideas - but at the end of the day, he made Freddy a gift from the heart! Of course Freddy loved it! And wait ‘til you see what gift Freddy got Norman and how they used it – hilarious!

The photograph illustrations on each page are beyond adorable! Little ones (and their parents/caregivers/teachers, too) will gravitate towards and LOVE this book just for the pictures! But this book isn’t just pretty, it shows kids what it means to be a friend and how to be a good one. Kids will see that it’s important to do things for others and how great it feels to make someone else happy. This book will encourage kids to use their imaginations and inspire them to give from their hearts. Kids will want to read this book over and over and over again!

[Christine Calabrese]

Imaginative pictures embedded in creative illustrations give this book a flavor of reality plus fantasy.

Norman, the button and Freddy, the teddy, are two adorable friends who would never part from each other. Unfortunately there is a problem and the two cannot stay together day and night. Christmas is quickly approaching and the two best friends are going to give each other memorable gifts. While Norman tries to find Freddy an impressive gift, he has many laughable moments. Ultimately, Norman realizes that gifts ought to be given from the heart and not to impress! Humble gifts make big impacts, this is an important lesson for children.

This captivating book design presents interesting scenes which will surely stimulate discussion.

Norman’s Gift includes a clever play on words and an enticing storyline. This book will make a wonderful Christmas gift for little listeners and readers. I loved this book and children will relish it!

[McKenzie Richardson]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

I was given an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book was adorable. I have not read Olson's first book, Norman, but could still follow this story and instantly fell in love with the characters.

My favorite part of the book was the pictures. The book is well-written, the story is interesting, but those pictures are what really sets it apart. I loved the miniature worlds created on each page and the fun details throughout.

The story itself is simple, but heartwarming. A story of friendship, kindness, and thinking of others, the ending is sure to make you smile.

What a fun, cute book. I think I'll just have to go back and read the first one as well.

[Ilham Alam]

This is a story of how true affection and friendship doesn’t need to cost a thing, as heartfelt sentiments and being there for each other is what matters. This is a quick read especially for Pre K and younger kids. And it is a good message to remember for Christmas time when we all do the crazy dance of hyper consumerism.

I bring up Christmas as this is a Christmas themed story, which ups the fun factor.

The illustrations were interesting as they were hi-def photographs of Christmas settings within a house, so it’s very warm colours, polished mahogany floors, dollhouse and toys. You can definitely spend time observing the pictures and notice little things in the background after you are done reading this book.

However, I felt the choice to use photographs made Norman and Freddy look stilted, especially Freddy Teddy.

[Maria Rivas-mc]

It’s a story where the lead characters are a button (Norman the Button) and a teddy bear (Freddy Teddy).
It is also a story about caring, thoughtfulness, and friendship. Yet the very simplicity of the story makes it easy for children not just to follow the plot but to absorb the values that the author is conveying. Norman’s Gift provides an ideal platform through which parents and pre-school teachers can engage their children. The author conveniently offers a teacher’s guide and free colouring book from her site which is a definite plus. Just as in the first Norman the Button story, Michelle Olson blends her skill sets of photography and graphic design to turn out on point illustrations. I can’t wait to see what Norman the Button and his new sidekick, Freddy Teddy, get up to next! Thank you to the author who provided a free copy for a fair review.

[Catherine Masterson]

I received an ARC of "Norman's Gift" from author Michelle Olson, and read it with absolute delight! With a publishing date of November 15, this book addresses the age-old question -- What do you gift your best friend to show just how much you care?

Adults and children alike can identify with Norman's anxiety regarding budget, talent, and time constraints as Christmas approaches. I recommend this healthy little tale, which stresses the true value of friendship.

The charming illustrations, also done by Michelle Olson, can stand alone as a cute picture book for the "not quite reading yet" set. When I choose a book for the little readers of my family, it is important to me that even the tiniest feels a connection to the material, and I am quite pleased with this one!

[Traci Wilkerson Steckel]

I thought "Norman's Gift" was a really cute book for all ages!
The pictures were really vibrant and the story-line was just really cute and funny.

As a former educator (elementary education for 8 years), I can say that Norman the Button would have definitely been a character that my students would have been familiar with, as we would have had the entire collection of Bellie Button Books in our classroom library!

The author Michelle Olson is clever, and has done such a wonderful job creating such fun and entertaining stories for children and adults alike, with everyday media.

I definitely recommend this book and any of Norman's other adventures as well.