Oliver is a bit different. He seems to be quite the introvert, preferring to play quietly on his own with his stuffed animals reading, putting on a puppet show, having tremendous adventures inside his imagination rather than dive into a crowd of people. One day as he's playing tennis against the side of his house (I did this many times, myself), the ball flies over his head and bounces away, through a narrow gate. Oliver steps through the gate and into the best adventure he's ever had; beyond the gate is Olivia, who is a bit different herself. I really, really like Sif's illustrations. She drew them in pencil then colored them in digitally. The colors are muted, rather like Oliver, and he is so nicely placed on each spread that I got a sense of his feelings at each moment. If you have an introverted child in your family, this book is the perfect choice to share. Kids who are like Oliver will instantly feel a connection, and maybe this will encourage them to find their own Olivia. Oliver is a unique individual who finds contentment in books and imaginary play with his stuffed friends. Even without a real breathing friend he leads an adventurous life and is never bored. However, the old saying that “there is a mate for every shoe” holds true and Oliver discovers a kindred spirit in Olivia and they begin and new series of adventures together. I loved Birgitta Sif’s sweet simple story and beautifully subdued illustrations.
