Ollie B., a gray-and-white striped creature with long ears and floppy legs, tells readers just how he and his mom spend time together. “We look / and talk, / we giggle / and walk. // We see a duck and a dragonfly. // We see orange fish swimming by.” The utter simplicity of the text suits this small celebration to the youngest listeners, but there is some sweet sophistication in the illustrations. The aforementioned duck is a topiary waterfowl; the orange of the fish swimming by is echoed in Mom’s polka-dot bag and the curves of their smiles. It’s an undemanding little gift book that speaks simply. A companion, I Love My Dad (ISBN: 978-1-4169-8319-4; April 2010), treats Ollie’s relationship with his dad with a similarly light touch. (Picture book. 2-5)
