Ollie’s Easter Eggs: An Easter And Springtime Book For Kids

Gossie and Friends

by Olivier Dunrea

In this exciting Level 1 Green Light Reader Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, and Peedie are all dyeing Easter eggs. Ollie wants Easter eggs too and he has a plan for how to get them! Dunrea again gets the preschooler emotions exactly right, capturing a range of holiday-inspired feelings, from Ollie's wiggly impatience to be included to the pure joy of the older goslings discovering that Ollie has arranged the best Easter egg hunt of all.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Animals, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2008

About the author

Since his debut in 1983, author and illustrator Olivier Dunrea has created a steady stream of picture books, including concept books, stories of family life—modern and ancient—and stories about artists. Many of Dunrea's picture books testify to his love of animals and his interest in archaeology and folklore of the British Isles, and several—including Ravena, The Trow-Wife's Treasure, and Bear Noel—take place in a similar land of Dunrea's own creation: the mythic island of Moel Eyris. "I don't write books or make pictures for children," Dunrea once told Something About the Author (SATA). "I make them for myself. It just so happens that children like what I do as much as I do!"

Olivier (Jean-Paul Dominique) Dunrea (1953-) Biography - Personal, Career, Member, Writings, Sidelights

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are cute, but the story is just so uninspired. Yes, it's cute to see the chicks decorate eggs and follow them as they hunt for them, but there's just no real emotion or excitement to the storytelling and characters.

[Lacy | literary_lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for my 9-month old. This book is a cute Easter book that’s perfect for his age, and was also, enjoyed by my 3-year old.

This book was a short, colorful book with colored eggs, and cute ducks, which both just scream “Easter”.

This will definitely be a book I pull out to reread when it gets closer to Easter.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and colorful but kind of pointless.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review: Munchkin received this book for Easter and it was a fun little book to read for the holiday. It is a great level one reader with simple words and a lot of repetition for those young readers. You don't necessarily need to have read the other books in this collection but it would help to be more familiar with the other characters. It did have great references to colors and the traditions around Easter like dyeing the eggs and hiding them and also giving of small gifts and kindnesses.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Dunrea's illustrations. I realize it more with each one I read! They're just so simple and sweet and cute.

This one is a pretty simple story, even as Gossie books go. As an individual reading it, it was a little... bland. Still, it would be a good one for a storytime read on Easter or colors. It would be very easy to make it an interactive book, with the kids naming the colors. This copy was a little bigger than the other Gossie books at our library, so it would be a little easier for the group to see too.

[Charlotte S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, and Peedie were gathering eggs. Ollie, though, wasn't. He was hopping. When the four who were gathering the eggs dyed them bright colors, Ollie came along and saw them. He wanted eggs, too! So when the other four hid their eggs in different spots, Ollie came and UN-hid them! Will Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, and Peedie be able to find them again? I have had this book for so long and I love love love it! *I think I missed a few commas there* This is such a sweet book and one of my favorites for Easter.
Follow @bronteandwilder for more fun book recommendations!

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, Peedie, and Ollie celebrate Easter.

This is a holiday-themed book without any religious overtones, making it appropriate for nearly all audiences. It also teaches the colors red, blue, purple, and yellow.

Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, and Peedie toil collecting and dyeing eggs and then hide them. When Ollie -- wearing Easter bunny ears -- discovers the brightly colored eggs, he re-hides them in his nest.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Olivier Dunrea's specialties is evoking how frustrating life can be for a preschooler. Especially those with one or more brothers and sisters.

Ollie is definitely younger, and not as skilled at dyeing Easter eggs, as BooBoo or Peedie, Gossie or Gertie. Again and again, he's left out of the Easter egg fun.

But a sweet surprise ending awaits him.

FIVE STARS for a simple story with evocative watercolor illustrations, all by Olivier Dunrea.

[Caroline K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a disappointment. I think the illustrations are charming, but the story lacking. It barely resolves and leaves the reader questioning - “Wait… why did he steal all the eggs? Why is this a good thing?” Etc. He just seems kinda selfish throughout and a nuisance, rather than a friend. Maybe I am missing something in this simple book.

[Donna Mork · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 friends search for eggs. 4 find them and dye them, then hide them. The one left out finds all 4 and takes them and hides them elsewhere. Everyone is searching until they finally find the Easter eggs.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the goslings are dyeing and hiding eggs for the Easter egg hunt, all except Ollie, he's just hopping around, and putting another plan into action. Surprises await the other goslings when it's time to search for the eggs.

[Maeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easter is approaching, so Gossie and Gertie and BooBoo and Peedie prepare Easter eggs: collecting, dyeing, and hiding. Ollie, who would rather play, doesn't make an egg...and instead finds the hidden eggs and puts them in a new spot as a surprise to his friends.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this in the Easter holiday section at the library. I was aware of this series, but I don't think our library carries many of these in board books (which is still our go-to area for browsing these days).

Might look up others in the series, as M seemed to enjoy it.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple beginning reader book. I liked the use of color words and the repetition. The actual story is kind of meh but I can see it serves its purpose. Although this is an Easter book, it is not religious.

[Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darling, there's enough going on in the simple illustrations to have fun beyond the text, but not so much as to be confusing. Delightful drawings, just enough tension in the story with smiles for the finish.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Dunrea's illustrations so much! The religion is great for beginning readers. Lots of white space which helps with distractions.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's okay? i haven't read the other gossie and friends books, so i don't even know. shrug

[Olivia S · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute! Ollie gathers up everyone else's Easter eggs and then surprises them with them! Big enough book that it could work for storytime. Funny, adorable pictures. 2+

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for color, good for sharing, a cute little story. Also the protagonist is named Ollie. What's not to like?

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

AR 1.3

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Maybe not the best litmus test for the series. Might try more.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book because Ollie gets all the eggs, even though it's mean.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good addition to the series. This one is a lot of fun.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

2/2/20 Read with Julia

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, and Peedie dye eggs for Easter and hide them. Ollie finds all of the eggs before the big hunt and takes them home to make a big surprise for everyone.

Facebook Live 2020

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ollie stories are always loveable.

[Megan Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This probably amused me more than it should.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elliot enjoys the Gossie & Friends books, so this Easter-themed one was fun. Appropriate for babies to toddlers as the writing is very simple and short

[Andrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly fine journey of making, hiding, and finding Easter eggs.

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

So where did I hide those eggs?