OLLIE FEELS FINE

Ollie the octopus has an emotional day.

Ollie and Stella the starfish are hanging out and feeling fine. But moods can be changeable, and Ollie’s emotions are concretely labelled as the octopod deals with a series of familiar scenarios that will resonate with toddler listeners. After a run-in with a big wave, “Ollie feels grumpy,” then “afraid” after sighting a (fairly innocuous) shark. Simplicity and clarity are paramount, with concise dialogue pairing with collaged representations of Ollie’s emotions. Expressive eyes provide excellent visual cues as they widen in fear, narrow pointedly with anger, or close into curved, joyful lines. Octopus tentacles are equally evocative, whether jaggedly outlined to denote “surprise,” spread lackadaisically when Ollie is comforted, or dangling limply in fear. Color does heavy lifting too, with a “mad” Ollie turning blood-red or tearful Ollie becoming blue, although Ollie’s distinctively colored rainbow stocking cap keeps the octopus recognizable throughout. One particularly helpful spread shows a tie-dyed Ollie grappling with overlapping and contradictory emotions, reminding Ollie (and small readers!) that it’s possible to feel “a lot of feelings” all at once. After Ollie experiences all these big emotions, it’s Stella to the rescue, offering the overwrought Ollie a hug to “feel better now.” Their comforting embrace under a cheery rainbow is a perfect summary and model of empathy for toddlers.

Toddler readers will feel just fine after this funky intro to emotions.