Odd Velvet

by Mary Burg Whitcomb, Tara Calahan King (Illustrator)

Velvet is odd. Instead of dolls that talk and cry, Velvet brings a milkweed pod for show and tell. She wins the class art contest using only an eight-pack of crayons. She likes to collect rocks. Even her name is strange-Velvet! But as the school year unfolds, the things Velvet does and the things that Velvet says slowly begin to make sense. And, in the end, Velvet's classmates discover that being different is what makes Velvet so much fun.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Realistic Fiction, School, Fiction, Self Esteem

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1998

Reviews

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was absolutely lovely. I loved how "odd" influenced typical. There is a beauty that comes with our uniqueness.

[Lily Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Struggling to make friends and feeling generally "odd" as a kid, my mom got this book for our library. I am glad I had this book growing up because it showed me that sometimes being "odd" just means owning your interests, even if they aren't the same as your peers. The illustrations are beautiful and creamy and as a kid, I used to try to get my colored pencil drawings to look as layered as Whitcomb's.

I remember feeling so validated by Odd Velvet as a kid. Every kid who feels "odd" needs this book.

[Lauren Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odd Velvet is a realistic fiction book written by Mary E. Whitcomb about a girl who acts a little bit different than the rest of her class. The book starts off introducing Velvet by showing the weird present she gives her teacher on the first day of school. We see that Velvet’s classmates bring presents like,” cinnamon tea, lace handkerchiefs, and heart-shaped boxes of potpourri” but Velvet brings in an egg carton filled with rocks and shoelaces. Right off the bat we can tell than our main character may been seen as an outsider in comparison to her peers. Velvet is seen as “odd” no matter the situation. At lunch time Velvet eats carrots, and butter sandwiches out of a used brown paper bag. And the other girls in class notice that unlike them, Velvet isn’t wearing a new dress. It seems that everything she does makes her seem like more and more of an odd girl and the class wondered where she came from. No one ever wanted to pick Velvet as a partner or play with her after school. Later, Velvet tells her class about how she was named and explains the story her father told her about how the world has been covered with a velvet blanket on the day she was born. This is the first time the class acknowledges and finds Velvet to be something more than just “odd”. The big school drawing contest comes around and everyone thinks Sarah will be the one to win, but to their surprise Velvet wins the contest by drawing a beautiful lifelike apple with only using her 8 crayons. Velvet’s birthday came around and all of the students were hesitant and curious about going to Velvets house and seeing what it would be like. Did they have a good time? Do they end up liking Velvet or just thinking she is even more odd?

I think this is a great book with a great message. This is a great realistic fiction to read to young children to allow for the to feel like they aren’t alone. I think this book hold the very important message that being different isn’t bad and that you shouldn’t judge people just because they are different. This message can be seen in many children’s books because at a young age it can be very easy to judge people because they are different. This book is full of color fun and big illustrations that draw in young readers. I think this book would be a good addition to any elementary school classrooms. As long as a teacher is able to explain the importance and meaning to their class, than I think it a great way to teach acceptance in classrooms.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this children's picture book! It shows a little girl who though she doesn't fit in, doesn't change herself. The kids around her start to change their opinion of her and what makes her odd becomes what makes her so interesting. It makes being different not just acceptable but special (in a good way). And Violet never thinks about changing herself to fit in. The message is clear and simple. It is one of my favorite children's books. I discovered it while volunteering in the elementary school library. I don't think I've ever heard anyone talk about it or read it. Glad to see it reviewed here.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story about being yourself and being tolerant of those who are different. It's also a cautionary tale about excess materialism.

It's a good book to read to children. Our girls enjoyed watching the story on the Tumblebooks website. (http://www.tumblebooks.com)

[Cosette]

This book sounds so much like We Have Always Lived in the Castle - I think it’s the same author - without arsenic... or maybe that’s the glitter...

[Olivia Prinz · Rating 5 out of 5]

1.None
2. Prek-college (this book is great for everyone)
3. The book introduces a character named Velvet who is unlike anyone else. Velvet is odd and doesn't fit in as she does everything differently. The book discusses Velvet and how her differences help others to accept their differences and love themselves and others.
4. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVED this book with every ounce of me. I think that this book is one that every person of any age should read. I loved how the author introduced the differences and made this on a level that any age could understand as self-love and accepting differences is an ongoing issue in our world.
5. This book would be great to use on a lesson about character traits, self-love, and acceptance. The teacher could perhaps do a lesson at the beginning of the year about differences and learning to accept and love everyone and this would be a great book to read to the class upon them entering.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Velvet is different from the other kids. She dresses different and she acts different. They all think she is odd. They are polite but keep their distance. But slowly, Velvet begins to win them over.

A great book for talking about differences and accepting others. I don't particularly like the illustrations with their too big heads.

[Alexandria Mizell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book would be good for all sorts of kids. Everyone feels weird or odd about something that they do and I think that this book can show them that by showing everyone their strengths, the part of them that’s odd or weird won’t matter so much. I think the illustrations are very child-like and I like the text and how it changes when words are supposed to have more enthusiasm.

[Lauren Morse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Velvet’s classmates thought she was different and weird until they really got to know her and see who she was. Velvet didn’t let her classmates get to her she just continued to be herself. I think this book would be good for students to show them that being different is okay.

[Hope Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great lesson for kids and adults to always be kind to others no matter how odd they might be and that it is okay to be different. It is our differences that make us special. Loved reading this to my 4th graders at the beginning of the school year.

[Brianna Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a good and inspiring read. I just didn’t like how it ended so abruptly and without an explanation about why the kids shouldn’t think Velvet is odd.

[Kary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good SEL book.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty typical “girl gets bullied but then everyone realizes that what makes her weird is actually cool” story. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Velvet · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could I not love this one?! All kidding aside though, it’s a very cute book with a good message.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable story of being different, and how others can learn about differences to grow empathy and kindness.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Rating: 5
2. A book review from Kirkus Reviews says, "Two newcomers celebrate oddity and making do with less in this story of a girl named Velvet. Unlike her peers, she wears hand-me-downs, carries her lunch in a brown paper bag, owns only eight crayons, and brings a milkweed pod instead of a doll for Show-and-Tell. Gradually her differences are seen as advantages when she wins a class drawing contest and successfully entertains her classmates at an innovative birthday party. It's unfortunate that all of Velvet's "odd" qualities seem to stem from having less than her classmates, who give the teacher nicer gifts, wear new clothes, and carry store-bought lunch pails—-the point is as strong without emphasizing economic differences. Crayola-bright illustrations rely on the exaggeration of facial features for effect—-eyeglasses as large as Velvet's face, a boy whose piano-sized smile sports braces. The story lands where it was headed; different is not odd when it's understood."
3. This book had phenomenal illustrations and a great story to tell about a young girl that "odd." She ends up showing her peers that it's ok to be odd and that she likes to have fun just like they do! It's an inspiring story for young children that may feel "different" from others and teaches them it's ok to be unique and express yourself in your own ways. I would recommend this book as a read-aloud for kindergarten and first grade teachers and also independent and fluent readers in first and second grade.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odd Velvet is another favorite children’s book of mine. The book asks readers to embrace Odd Velvet and explores how being “you” is the most important thing one can do. Odd Velvet likes eating butter sandwiches and carrots and wears second-hand clothes. She doesn't laugh at the same things other children laugh at and she has bright orange hair and freckles. Odd velvet is a marvelous character because she tells children it is grand to be different, and that individuality is a gift. There are so many ways this book can be used in a text-to-self manner. Most importantly, this book should be read to students to encourage them to be themselves, even if it is considered "odd." This book could be read in conjecture with the Molly Lou Melon books to discuss similarities and differences of the characters.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Velvet is different than the rest of the girls in her class- she doesn't have a new dress for the beginning of school or dolls to show for show and tell. However, when she wins the drawing contest using only her 8 crayons- the class takes notice! Many of the girls go to her birthday party and realizes Velvet is just like them; she likes to dress like a Princess and wear crowns too! Velvet is "odd" but that's okay and her classmates realize this. This is a great book for any little girl that may be struggling to fit in- it teaches that not everyone has to be the same to be accepted. I also LOVE the illustrations, becaues the characters look so goofy and no one is "prettier" than the rest.

[Cayla Lile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! Odd Velvet is about a little girl named Velvet who is not exactly like the other children in her class. Velvet doesn't have all the "normal" things the other students have. No one wants to be her partner. No one wants to be different the way Velvet is different. But as the year goes on, Velvet's classmates get to really know her and they find out that Velvet isn't so odd after all. I think this would be a great book to read aloud to students, so that they can learn that every one is different in their own way and that it is okay to be unique!

[Cat Blount · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mom: I really liked this book. It spoke to me as I have always been one to dance to the beat of my own drum and, it has been much appreciated by my family and friends. I loved the illustrations and one of the best moments for me is when she was swinging on her swing from the tree in her backyard.

11 year old review: "I really enjoyed it. The illustrations were nice. I like the plot."

6 year old review: "I loved it! When the book was finished I wanted to have it read, over and over and over again!"

[Melissa Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the begginning of the year, velvets classmates think she is odd and noone wants to be her friend. As the year goes on, they realize that being unique is what makes Velvet so awesome. I liked this book because it is very likely that there will always be an odd-ball in the class that noone likes. But, as the year goes on, feelings will change and everyone will realize that student is actually the opposite. It is so true.

[Emily Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Velvet is very odd. She does not like to play with dolls like every other girl. Velvet brings a milkweed pod for show and tell at school. She likes to collect rocks. No ever chooses Velvet for partner play. No one walks home with her after school. No one wants to be different the way Velvet is different. Velvet is a good story for kids to show that everyone is not the same. People can be different.

[JustOneMoreBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wide-eyed grins and peppy, skewed perspectives bring to life an upbeat school yard story that provides a reassuring example of independent thought, acceptance and unwavering self-worth.

Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:

http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/1...

[H Wells Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

different can be (and) usually is special. A fun story about being true to yourself; not worrying about being
like everyone else. Velvet taught the kids it is the person who makes something great, not things. Velvet
exposed her classmates to cool and unusual things for which they realized, in the end, were cool as well.

[Bethann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it is a way of showing children that it is okay to be who you are. While people may call Velvet odd throughout the whole book, by the end they understand being who you are is okay. Children need to learn at a young age that it is okay to be who you are, even if your friends don't accept it.

[Lindsey]

Velvet is unlike any of her classmates. They make fun of all the ways that she is different until the classmates start to realize that maybe Velvet has a lot more to offer than just her 'weirdness.'

This is a great book to teach children to value everyone for what they are able to bring to the table and to not judge.

[Hillary Troutman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story to show students how everyone is different and odd in their own way. However, you need to be brave and be yourself to show other people how your uniqueness is a huge asset to their life. This is a great book to read at the beginning of a school year to build community amongst children.

[Phylicia Bohannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odd Velvet is extremely odd. She does many things most kids her age doesn't do and she really doesn't get accepted by her classmates. But once Odd Velvet's birthday comes around and her classmates learn that she is actually just interestingly peculiar, they fall in love with just who Velvet is. All while she stayed her odd self.