Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere by Elise Gravel

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

What's that?  Long time, no read...or rather post?  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Sorry about that.  Work has been killing me recently with the uber long days, lack of breaks, and late nights, but not to worry...I've managed to still sneak in some reading time.  SO while yes, the blog was silent for a day or two, I've not run out of bookish fun to share!  Ready to get back into things?  GOOD!  Here we go...

Today's book of choice was a strange little arrival that showed up on my doorstep out of the blue...but there was no way with a title like that I could let it simply sit! Just look at it in all its red, white, and black (okay, a hint of blue) glory.  It practically begs to be picked up, held, wondered at, and explored...and that's just what I did.  (Hey, no judging.)  So, if you're ready to meet Olgamus, please join me front and center, for today's title is on deck...

Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere

Olga, Book 1

by

Elisa Gravel

9780062351265

HarperCollins

Told through illustrations and observations, it reminds me of a cross between Wimpy and MacKenzie. It's smart and clever with a definite flair for creative delivery, offering legions of up and coming readers the opportunity to explore the world with Olga through her sometimes left of center observations.  She's a great gal, and the fact that she tries to help the unusual creature (dubbed Olgamus) she's stumbled upon despite knowing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about what it needs, where it came from, or even, frankly, WHAT it is, shows she has a heart of gold.  True, her inquisitive nature goes hand in hand with aspirations of becoming a renowned scientist, but discovering a new species and helping in its recovery from sickly, smelly, critter to...okay, slightly less stinky, and healthy Olgamus?  Pure gold!

In the end, it's a story that reminds us of a few fundamental life lessons you never thought you  might glean from a Children's Fiction book as curious as this...

...not everything is what it seems...

...beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

...even the wicked have a better side...

...and perhaps most importantly, always stay true to ourselves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the author (& illustrator!)...

Elise Gravel always liked bugs and cats and lizards and other bizarre creatures. Oh, and she also loves baby humans, who she finds very weird and adorable. The author-illustrator of Adopt a Glurb! and the Disgusting Critters series, Elise lives in Montreal, Canada, with her husband, two daughters, and two cranky cats, so she would be extremely happy if she could have a pet monster as well. Can she have one, please, please, pretty please?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to the HarperCollins team for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or their current catalog of wonders, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title celebrated its book birthday March 2017, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!