Ollie the Stomper

by Olivier Dunrea, Olivier Dunrea (Illustrator)

Overview

Ollie longs to stomp in his very own pair of boots just like Gossie and Gertie do! A My First I Can Read about the joys and frustrations of sharing, from the world of Olivier Dunrea's beloved Gossie & Friends.

Gossie wears red boots, Gertie wears blue boots, but Ollie has no boots. Stomping bootless after Gossie and Gertie as they tromp in the straw, romp in the rain, and jump over puddles in their colorful boots leaves Ollie frustrated. Little Ollie decides he really wants his own pair of boots . . . but what will he do if he gets them?

Any child who has had to keep up with an older sibling, cousin, or friend will relate to Ollie as he finds his own way in the barnyard.

Olivier Dunrea's Gossie & Friends books have long been preschool favorites; the earnest characters are at once both deeply relatable and inspirational for young readers.

This My First I Can Read book is carefully crafted using basic language, word repetition, sight words, and sweet illustrations—which means it's perfect for shared reading with emergent readers. The active, engaging My First I Can Read stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063343733
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/23/2024
Series:	My First I Can Read Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Olivier Dunrea is the creator of beautiful and well-loved children’s books. A painter and a sculptor, his work centers around farms, animals, architecture, and folklore. He lives in the tiny village of Narrowsburg, New York, in the Catskill Mountains.

Olivier Dunrea is the creator of beautiful and well-loved children’s books. A painter and a sculptor, his work centers around farms, animals, architecture, and folklore. He lives in the tiny village of Narrowsburg, New York, in the Catskill Mountains.

Editorial Reviews

In this pair of winsome, small-format follow-ups to Gossie and Gossie & Gertie, Dunrea introduces yet another endearing gosling-but the introduction takes some pleasantly paced time. Or rather, Ollie, whom Dunrea introduces in the first tale as an egg, takes his time hatching, much to the chagrin of the impatient Gossie and Gertie. "This is Ollie./ Ollie is waiting." As the egg rolls to the left and rolls to the right, Ollie's stubborn voice from within the shell repeatedly and humorously insists, "I won't come out!"-a refrain that youngsters will eagerly echo. After chasing the rolling egg and even perching atop it, Gossie and Gertie offer some sage advice to Ollie ("Don't come out"), which of course triggers the much-anticipated hatching; Ollie, wearing a piece of the cracked eggshell on his head, pops up and announces "I'm out!" Fans of the books that introduced Gossie and Gertie will recognize the newcomer's behavior in the second story: he follows in his pals' tracks as they tromp, stomp, romp and jump, wearing their brightly colored rubber boots. When he shouts, "I want boots!" Gossie gives him one of her red boots and Gertie hands over a blue boot. But Dunrea establishes Ollie as his own man when he adds a twist to the proceedings. With their simple watercolors and narrative, along with diminutive heroes who assert a budding independence, these tales demonstrate once again how well their creator knows his audience. Ages 2-5. (Aug.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 1-Dunrea successfully adds to the "Gossie and Gertie" cast with these endearing tales. Sized for small hands, the books prove a perfect match of simple sentences and spare but precious ink-and-watercolor illustrations. In the first book, Ollie refuses to hatch, repeating again and again, "I won't come out" as Gossie and Gertie run after the egg, sit on it, and wait. Finally, on the last page, he emerges. "`I'm out!' he says." In Ollie the Stomper, the gosling envies the boots worn by his pals, who each lend him one to include him in their play. Preschoolers and beginning readers will appreciate the repetition as well as the upbeat endings.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

With their simple watercolors and narrative, along with diminutive heroes who assert a budding independence, these tales demonstrate once again how well their creator knows his audience.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Dunrea successfully adds to the ‘Gossie and Gertie’ cast with these endearing tales.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“Dunrea’s keen awareness of young children’s concerns and quirks translates into charmingly simple illustrations and text.” — Kirkus Reviews

"Pre-schoolers will relate to Ollie's point of view and delight in his humorous reactions to the new world he's discovering." Booklist, ALA — Booklist

"Dunrea's text...is packed with toddler-sized drama, and Gossie and Gertie easily assume the roles of older sisters dealing with a pesky but beloved younger brother." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher