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Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea
Ollie Alexander Kandersteen, successful amateur gardener, longs to be a Strong. Tall. And mighty enough to stand up to Everett, the bully next door. Ollie is rather short for his age, and when things are too heavy or too high to reach, Everett is sure to point it out. Ollie wilts, he withers. Inside and out, he feels small.
But when Everett, feeling jealous of Ollie’s gardening skills, steals Ollie’s sapling, an idea takes root…
“I couldn’t. I shouldn’t.”
But he does! Ollie SWALLOWS an acorn. He waits, wonders, and rumbles … Burp!
With a little care and cultivation, a tree-mendous transformation begins! Ollie’s feet root, his arms branch, his locks leaf, and his limbs stretch to the clouds. He’s finally strong and tall enough to confront Everett. But when he does, he finds out that being the biggest doesn’t always mean you’re the mightiest and getting even with a bully might just make you feel smaller than ever.
Readers of all ages will root for and relate to Ollie in this whimsical story about working together despite differences, the power of kindness, and what it truly means to be mighty.
But when Everett, feeling jealous of Ollie’s gardening skills, steals Ollie’s sapling, an idea takes root…
“I couldn’t. I shouldn’t.”
But he does! Ollie SWALLOWS an acorn. He waits, wonders, and rumbles … Burp!
With a little care and cultivation, a tree-mendous transformation begins! Ollie’s feet root, his arms branch, his locks leaf, and his limbs stretch to the clouds. He’s finally strong and tall enough to confront Everett. But when he does, he finds out that being the biggest doesn’t always mean you’re the mightiest and getting even with a bully might just make you feel smaller than ever.
Readers of all ages will root for and relate to Ollie in this whimsical story about working together despite differences, the power of kindness, and what it truly means to be mighty.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published April 9, 2024
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
October 18, 2023
This imaginative tale of friendship and standing up for yourself is cleverly told by Hacket who also weaves in scientific elements of nature and plants. Windness’s textured and emotive illustrations perfectly capture the beauty and mood of the outdoors. A lovely read for school, library, and home bookshelves and discussion starter for SEL and STEM topics!
January 16, 2024
Fun and imaginative! My kids enjoyed following along with Ollie's antics. Lots of giggles and comments of "oh no" and "uh oh." As a mom, I especially appreciated the additional author note at the end.
June 27, 2023
An amazing story with vibrant illustrations, OLLIE is the perfect pick for parents and teachers to encourage kindness and empathy!
February 18, 2024
This is a delightfully fantastical story, with great illustrations!
April 23, 2024
The title page illustrations set the stage for a story that is both familiar (a kid getting bullied by a bigger, neighbor kid), and outrageous! Or it will feel outrageous for anyone who is not a kid, but could actually sound pretty logical to young audiences.
Ollie is an avid and very successful gardener. He loves the growth of his plants, but longs to grow as big and strong and tall as a mighty oak tree, His neighbor Everett is bigger, stronger, and "needles" Ollie often.
That opening premise launches Ollie on a series of "I couldn't, I shouldn't..." possibilities that he promptly proceeds to try. He just might become an oak tree if he will swallow an acorn, followed by the other things an acorn needs to grow that are not naturally in his stomach! That repetition of "I couldn't, I shouldn't..." sustains the reminder to readers that this is fantasy, so Ollie's eventual transformation and decisions (and consequences) lead to a fun resolve. Ollie's understanding of what "I could, I should...." choose to do is satisfying. The relationship is happily resolved, followed by friendly back matter that describes what plants need to grow, and why those elements are NOT MEANT TO BE SWALLOWED!
Ollie is an avid and very successful gardener. He loves the growth of his plants, but longs to grow as big and strong and tall as a mighty oak tree, His neighbor Everett is bigger, stronger, and "needles" Ollie often.
That opening premise launches Ollie on a series of "I couldn't, I shouldn't..." possibilities that he promptly proceeds to try. He just might become an oak tree if he will swallow an acorn, followed by the other things an acorn needs to grow that are not naturally in his stomach! That repetition of "I couldn't, I shouldn't..." sustains the reminder to readers that this is fantasy, so Ollie's eventual transformation and decisions (and consequences) lead to a fun resolve. Ollie's understanding of what "I could, I should...." choose to do is satisfying. The relationship is happily resolved, followed by friendly back matter that describes what plants need to grow, and why those elements are NOT MEANT TO BE SWALLOWED!
February 18, 2024
This is such a wonderful book. It feels like a story that we all know well - the underdog is bullied but somehow overcomes his fears to stand his ground and get his own back. But there is so much more to this version of the bullying story. Ollie, in his desperation, takes some desperate measures, which are delightfully whacky (including bouncing on the trampoline to take a bite out of the sun!). And the result is... well, incredible (he turns into a tree!). But the realization and reconciliation at the end are masterfully portrayed, and it finishes on such a heartwarming note that the anxiety and enmity at the start are completely laid to rest. The illustrations are sublime, setting the perfect tone of mischief, wild caper and humor. And the section at the end about why it's not a good idea to copy what Ollie did is perfect. On top of all that, there's a thread of science and nature that runs throughout, making it an educational story on so many levels without being at all didactic. With the clever word play and catchy refrain, this would make a superb read aloud in any classroom setting and is sure to be a hit at bedtime too.
February 15, 2025
What a fun idea. This book is about bullying. This small kids is bullied by his neighbor. The kid is small like a twig and the other kid is strong. The twig wish to be a big strong oak so he can't be bullied.
Ollie has a great garden. We has a green thumb, so he's a super cool kid. He gets the idea to become a tree, so he eats an acorn, then soil, then water and finally sun so that he turns into a might oak. It's a lot of fun, just trust on this. Kids will love this.
The artwork is digital. There are amazing colors in this book. The art has a silliness that matches the story perfectly. Great colors. Sometimes, the backgrounds are lacking, but it's fine.
I love the ending of the book.
Kids who love trees will love this.
Spoilers:
Ollie eats the bully as a tree and feels very guilty. He is spit out and they talk things out. The bully is jealous of Ollie's garden, so the two work together in the bullies garden to make it all grow well. I actually really love this ending. I love that things changed, people changed and they grew together. It's the beginnings of a beautiful friendship.
Ollie has a great garden. We has a green thumb, so he's a super cool kid. He gets the idea to become a tree, so he eats an acorn, then soil, then water and finally sun so that he turns into a might oak. It's a lot of fun, just trust on this. Kids will love this.
The artwork is digital. There are amazing colors in this book. The art has a silliness that matches the story perfectly. Great colors. Sometimes, the backgrounds are lacking, but it's fine.
I love the ending of the book.
Kids who love trees will love this.
Spoilers:
Ollie eats the bully as a tree and feels very guilty. He is spit out and they talk things out. The bully is jealous of Ollie's garden, so the two work together in the bullies garden to make it all grow well. I actually really love this ending. I love that things changed, people changed and they grew together. It's the beginnings of a beautiful friendship.
January 9, 2024
This book "leaf-t" me wanting more!
Filled with witty tree references and play on words, the narration, along with the beautiful illustrations that accompany it, will have both child and adult smiling with each turn of the page.
The story follows Ollie, a enthusiastic gardener, as he tries to figure out how to deal with his bully of a neighbor. Ollie tackles the emotions of a child who is dealing with a bully while at the same time explaining the growth cycle of a plant!
One part I thought was pretty awesome? The section in the back! It not only further explain how to grow a plant, but also explains the idea of how what we can imagine or read in a book does not actually work in real life (and why!!)
This children's book is full of beautiful illustrations that immediately catch the eye of it's reader and with witty tree references woven throughout the narrative and dialogue, adults, as well as children, will find themselves smiling and wanting more from these characters.
Filled with witty tree references and play on words, the narration, along with the beautiful illustrations that accompany it, will have both child and adult smiling with each turn of the page.
The story follows Ollie, a enthusiastic gardener, as he tries to figure out how to deal with his bully of a neighbor. Ollie tackles the emotions of a child who is dealing with a bully while at the same time explaining the growth cycle of a plant!
One part I thought was pretty awesome? The section in the back! It not only further explain how to grow a plant, but also explains the idea of how what we can imagine or read in a book does not actually work in real life (and why!!)
This children's book is full of beautiful illustrations that immediately catch the eye of it's reader and with witty tree references woven throughout the narrative and dialogue, adults, as well as children, will find themselves smiling and wanting more from these characters.
February 5, 2024
Tackling the topic of bullying is a particularly tough challenge when it comes to picture books, and OLLIE, THE ACORN, AND THE MIGHTY IDEA excels in its mission, enlivened with energy-packed pages and vibrant scenes by the ever-talented Kaz Windness. Author Andrew Hacket deftly intersperses emotionally expressive verbs, catchy refrains for reading out loud, and pithy wordplay plus meaningful character names throughout the storyline. Not to mention a STEAM tie-in on top of all that, plus takeaways that include owning up to mistakes, the power of empathy and kindness, finding ways to work through differences, and what being mighty means... OLLIE, THE ACORN, AND THE MIGHTY IDEA is a powerful addition to any library—for classrooms, for the public, and at home.
January 22, 2024
I had the chance of reading an ARC of this book and I found it very creative, unexpected, and with a powerful message about standing up to bullies.
I enjoyed the repetition, the fun illustrations, and just how unusual and surprising (and mighty) the story is. The ending is satisfying and full of warmth. I also liked the back matter including information about how trees grow and why kids shouldn't copy what Ollie did in the story. That was so sweet.
This is definitely a book that would make a great addition to libraries, schools, and homes. A story that will definitely amaze children.
I enjoyed the repetition, the fun illustrations, and just how unusual and surprising (and mighty) the story is. The ending is satisfying and full of warmth. I also liked the back matter including information about how trees grow and why kids shouldn't copy what Ollie did in the story. That was so sweet.
This is definitely a book that would make a great addition to libraries, schools, and homes. A story that will definitely amaze children.
April 19, 2025
Ollie wants to be a tree. He doesn't feel strong enough or tall enough to keep away the boy next door who picks on him and steals his potted plants. So Ollie decides to swallow an acorn, hoping to solve his bully problem. The story delves more and more into fantasy as Ollie gets his wish, or does he? Turns out Ollie has everything he needs to solve his bully problem, right in his own back yard. I liked the texture the illustrator used in her cutesy character designs and she used a nice variety of compositions. The author uses textbook writing tropes to plant his message of compassion and cooperation.
February 7, 2024
OLLIE, THE ACORN, AND THE MIGHTY IDEA will leave you surprised and tickled!
Ollie's next door neighbor constantly teases Ollie for not being big or strong enough to lift heavy thing in his backyard garden. To show the bully who's boss, Ollie decides to become a big, strong oak tree! What could be stronger than that?
But in his quest to defeat the bully, Ollie makes some very questionable decisions!
This humorous story will make kids giggle so much, they won't even realize they are learning a beautiful lesson in empathy and forgiveness.
Ollie's next door neighbor constantly teases Ollie for not being big or strong enough to lift heavy thing in his backyard garden. To show the bully who's boss, Ollie decides to become a big, strong oak tree! What could be stronger than that?
But in his quest to defeat the bully, Ollie makes some very questionable decisions!
This humorous story will make kids giggle so much, they won't even realize they are learning a beautiful lesson in empathy and forgiveness.
February 20, 2024
What a hilariously fun way to learn about plants! Ollie wants to be a oak tree so he can be strong and mighty... and NOT get picked on by the bully. He daringly conceives a plan to become one, but it doesn't turn out as expected. Instead he learns a valuable lesson in standing up for one self and the power of friendship.
I also love that the author added clarifying backmatter for young students. As an educator, this is a great read aloud to start a unit on plants.
I truly enjoyed this book.
I also love that the author added clarifying backmatter for young students. As an educator, this is a great read aloud to start a unit on plants.
I truly enjoyed this book.
February 25, 2024
When Ollie has to deal with a bully, he wishes he were big and strong -- like a tree! What ensues next is maybe a bit unbe-leaf-able, but it is just what Ollie needs to process his feelings and get to the root of the problem! Andrew Hacket's imaginative text and Kaz Windness' fantastic illustrations weave a story of bullying, compassion, and ultimately friendship, while simultaneously teaching kids about the needs and life cycles of trees. Kids will never look at an acorn the same again! Fun, heartfelt, and important. Don't miss this book!
April 8, 2025
The is an imaginative take on being bullied and learning how to deal with being bullied. Ollie uses his imagination to show Everett, who is always mean to Ollie, that Ollie can be bigger and stronger and no longer have to take Everett's bullying. But Ollie also realizes that he can't really become bigger or stronger than Everett and figures out the peaceful way to confront and then befriend Everett. The author makes sure readers understand that Ollie's actions at the beginning are not real and should not be imitated. Fantastic, bold illustrations caught my eye throughout.
January 6, 2024
Andrew Hacket’s word play and witty storytelling make this a treeemendous choice for parents, educators, school counselors, and librarians. Readers will have fun predicting what the acorn needs and will learn about friendship and growing plants along the way. OLLIE, THE ACORN, and the MIGHTY IDEA is a picture book that kids will ask for over and over again. You’ll definitely want to check out the clever back matter as well. Great book!
January 15, 2024
THESE ILLUSTRATIONS!! Wowza! Stunning. This book has so much to offer, especially for teachers, with themes of Friendship, kindness, aspects of bullying, science and plants, self-talk, decision-making, creativity, and much, much more.
Loved Ollie's inner "I couldn't"s and "I shouldn't"s. These will be fantastic when reading aloud to my first graders. I hope to use them when teaching how to make choices.
Loved Ollie's inner "I couldn't"s and "I shouldn't"s. These will be fantastic when reading aloud to my first graders. I hope to use them when teaching how to make choices.
January 31, 2024
A very imaginative story about bullying. The words used in the story relate so well to the theme, from the character’s initials to descriptive words like wilt and bloom. The illustrations bring this story to life, my favorite is seeing the expressions of Ollie’s cat. And I love that there is backmatter explaining Ollie’s diet throughout the story, it’s written to be both fun and educational. Highly recommend.
April 11, 2024
When Everett steals Ollie's sapling, Ollie decides to swallow an acorn (don't worry: there's a disclaimer in the back matter explaining why this isn't a good idea in real life) and hilarity ensues until reality sets in. An engaging book with a thoughtful message, excellent wordplay (including a repeating refrain that kids will enjoy), and vibrant illustrations. Perfect read aloud, especially in the great outdoors.
April 15, 2024
Oh my goodness! Like the old lady who swallowed a fly, Ollie first swallows am acorn - even though he know he shouldn’t - and then some soil - even though he knows he shouldn’t - and so it goes on. Why? you ask. Well, Ollie is on a quest to become a mighty oak so that he can stand up to a big bully. I love the wordplay and color palette in this SEL picture book about courage, communication, compassion and friendship.
April 25, 2024
👦🏻 reviews: I re-read this several times and I have enjoyed this thoroughly. This is a funny, silly and cute book about Ollie and Everett dealing with issues that could simply be solved by communicating with each other. Ollie’s big mighty idea caused more problems after eating the acorn and dirt, drinking lots of water and eating the sun. Did he accomplish anything though? This book is so perfect for kids similar to Ollie and what they can achieve with their imagination. A must read!!!
January 6, 2024
Ollie Alexander Kandersteen is a sweet, relatable main character. He makes and mends a big mistake in this interactive story and leaves readers with social emotional and STEM learning extensions. With delicate, playful writing by author Andrew Hacket and vibrant, quirky art by illustrator Kaz Windness, OLLIE, THE ACORN, AND THE MIGHT IDEA is truly a treat.
January 17, 2024
Kids will delight in this fantastical story about Ollie who yearned to be mighty so he could face the bully next door. High marks for readability with a delightful refrain “I couldn’t, I shouldn’t” . . . but will he? Can Ollie be mighty like the oak tree he admires? Illustrated by the incomparable Kaz Windness.
February 8, 2024
With a fun refrain, a slightly dark climax, and multiple messages, including bullying, apologizing, and the science of growing plants, this book is a great read for kids and classrooms. The backmatter is important (a "don't do this at home" reminder in a fun way), and the illustrations are rich and fantastical!
February 21, 2024
An empowering book on bullying that would be a perfect addition to bookshelves of educators, counselors, and parents. Andrew Hacket's creative and silly wordplay makes the serious topic of bullying approachable in a safe manner. Paired with beautiful and vibrant illustrations by Kaz Windness, this story is one that many will enjoy! (I know I did!)
February 24, 2024
Full of playful language, captivating illustrations, and outdoor adventure!
Kids will love this fantastical story of a boy who becomes a mighty oak tree and the questions that arise from his transformation. This picture book is full of playful language, captivating illustrations, and outdoor adventure, not to mention LOTS of heart and science facts about the needs of plants.
Kids will love this fantastical story of a boy who becomes a mighty oak tree and the questions that arise from his transformation. This picture book is full of playful language, captivating illustrations, and outdoor adventure, not to mention LOTS of heart and science facts about the needs of plants.
April 17, 2024
Ollie's story invites kids and caregivers to explore the power of kindness. With fun wordplay and colorful illustrations that bring Ollie's mighty idea to life, this book tackles a tough topic with humor, mischief, and heart. It's fun to read aloud and exciting enough to be read over and over again. This book will make an excellent addition to classroom and home libraries everywhere.
April 21, 2024
Autumn leaves and adorable illustrations by Kaz Windness draw you to this cover and you can't wait to get inside where Andrew Hackett's crazy story takes over. Will swallowing an acorn seed make Ollie big and strong like the trees in his yard to help him face his nemesis? Journey through these delightful pages and whimsical story to find out!
April 24, 2024
Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea is a wonderful picture book full of stunning and whimsical illustrations. Such a fun and creative story about bullying, understanding, and giving grace with a huge and hilarious surprise! I highly recommend this book and know that you’ll want to read it again and again!
June 10, 2024
What a clever way to teach children about life lessons: bullying, working out differences, revenge, compassion, kindness! Andrew Hacket is a master at word play. His writing, superb! The illustrations by Kaz Windness are poignant, dramatic, colorful, fun! A perfect read aloud book that will become a favorite for children ages 5 and up! Bravo, Andrew!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews