What's what in the garden? (Oliver's Vegetables - Vivian French)

Member Name: juicy_lucy

Product:	Oliver's Vegetables - Vivian French
Date:	12/02/07 (213 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Positive aspects of eating veg

Disadvantages: none

Oliver's Vegetables

A lovely, simply written book to encourage children to eat their vegetables, and to get across the simple message that vegetables are good for you.

**Story and Illustrations**

The story starts with Oliver's mum hurrying him along, and encouraging him to eat his meal (looks like chips) so that they can go to Grandpa's house.

Oliver thinks that the best thing about Grandpa's house is the garden, and the illustration does indeed show a rather well set out vegetable garden- rows and rows of neatly planted vegetables. It's a good start to ask children what vegetables they think are growing in the garden; I always find it interesting to find out just how many vegetables they actually know.

However, although he loves the garden, Oliver tells Grandpa that he doesn't like vegetables, because he eats only chips, to which Grandpa replies that if Oliver wants to eat chips, he has to find potatoes. It no longer surprises me that many children don't know that chips are made out of potatoes!

So, Grandpa and Oliver strike a deal; oliver has to find the potatoes, and if he finds something else he has to eat it without complaint. The picture shows them shaking on the deal, so the scene is set.

Of course, Oliver finds other vegetables- carrots on Monday, spinach on Tuesday, rhubarb on Wednesday, cabbage on Thursday, beetroot on Friday, peas on Saturday, and finally, when they were the only things left, Oliver found potatoes on Sunday. As he eats the other vegetables, Oliver discovers that they Taste delicious, and when his mum walks in on Sunday evening to find Oliver eating chips, she worries that he has eaten only chips. Of course, Oliver and Grandpa share a look, and they laugh together because they know better!

The illustrations are very simply done; line drawings which look as though they have been quickly painted, with no concern for the edges. I like this, as it all adds to the simplicity of the book. The whole double page spread is taken up with the illustrations, with the text being written in the corner. All of the pictures are appropriately coloured, and the vegetables do look recognisable as the vegetables they are supposed to be.

**Other bits of information**

ISBN: 0-340-63479-0

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books (1995)

**Other books by the same author**

Quite a prolific author, she has written many books which children will potentially come across at home and school. These include:
The Tiara Club series (one for us to get I think)
To Mum With Love
Little Ghost
Once Upon A Time
T. Rex
Brian the Giant

**What I think of this book**

I have read this book on many occasions to children in Key stage 1, so I think it definitely appeals to children between the ages of about 4 - 7.

The illustrations are simply done, and match the text exactly. When we see Oliver at home it is all pink walls and sort of sterile environment, and when we get to Grandpa's house, it becomes altogether more rustic, as Oliver spends his time outside.

Not only do children begin to learn which vegetables grow under the earth, but they learn the days of the week, because the story follows a whole week in the vegetable eating life of Oliver.

Oliver doesn't just eat the vegetables as he finds them, but eats them as prepared by Gran, in soups, pies and salads, so children understand that vegetables can be made to taste delicious. When asked if his vegetables are good, Oliver says "no…delicious!", so we see a little boy who thought he liked only chips enjoying everything which is put in front of him, and also not backing out of a deal.

A lovely story which could help reluctant vegetable eaters at least think about striking a deal to try them.

Thanks for reading.

Daniela xx

Summary: A handy book to try to encourage children to eat their vegetables.