Hello, friends! Today, we’re reviewing one of our absolute favorite books, Olivia by Ian Falconer. For those who are not familiar with this modern classic, it’s a hilariously charming ode to toddlerhood featuring a very special little girl named Olivia.

Olivia is a little girl who also happens to be a pig, and lives with her mommy, daddy, little brother, her dog and her cat. The story follows Olivia’s average days: each morning, she wakes up, moves the cat, washes up, moves the cat, then gets dressed (after trying on each and every piece of her clothing, of course). On sunny days, she goes to the beach, where she builds logic-defying sand-skyscrapers. On rainy days, she goes to the art museum, critiquing the works of Degas (whom she loves) and Pollock (whom she is unimpressed by). And while this precocious piglet wears her parents out, everyone still gets love and kisses at bedtime, when Olivia falls asleep to dream… of being an opera singer.

This is one of those books that simply has a timeless charm all its own. Anyone who has spent time with a toddler will recognize Olivia’s headstrong and (sometimes disastrously) creative nature, something that Falconer captures perfectly with deadpan text and adorable illustrations (Olivia is based on his real-life niece). There is also the emphasis on classic art, which is a cool way to encourage children to appreciate and analyze media that is often considered “too old” for them (I always chuckle at Olivia’s insistence that she could paint something like Pollock “in about five minutes,” which seems like a wonderfully specific criticism a toddler would give). The length is perfect for a bedtime story, and JJ always loves it. A must-read for little ones and their toddler-afflicted-and-blessed parents, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!