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Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year!
Meet Olga, the amazing child scientist who LOVES animals (because they are super-cute)! Brightly put this heavily illustrated don't-miss book on their "Ultimate Summer Reading List for 9- to 12-Year-Olds."
Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere is jam-packed with vibrant illustrations, word bubbles, quirky humor, olgamus facts, and plenty of excitement for readers who love making discoveries and meeting new friends. Olga is a charming combination of independent, curious, and smart—making her the coolest girl scientist around—perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Captain Underpants.
When Olga crosses paths with a weird creature and becomes the first kid to discover the species olgamus ridiculus, she is ecstatic! What does an olgamus eat? How does it poop? Why does its burp sound like the word rubber? With her trusty observation notebook and the help of a librarian, a shopkeeper, and some friends, Olga sets out to do science—learning the facts about her smelly, almost-furry pal and searching for him when he goes missing. The scientific method is the best way to discover anything!
Meet Olga, the amazing child scientist who LOVES animals (because they are super-cute)! Brightly put this heavily illustrated don't-miss book on their "Ultimate Summer Reading List for 9- to 12-Year-Olds."
Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere is jam-packed with vibrant illustrations, word bubbles, quirky humor, olgamus facts, and plenty of excitement for readers who love making discoveries and meeting new friends. Olga is a charming combination of independent, curious, and smart—making her the coolest girl scientist around—perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Captain Underpants.
When Olga crosses paths with a weird creature and becomes the first kid to discover the species olgamus ridiculus, she is ecstatic! What does an olgamus eat? How does it poop? Why does its burp sound like the word rubber? With her trusty observation notebook and the help of a librarian, a shopkeeper, and some friends, Olga sets out to do science—learning the facts about her smelly, almost-furry pal and searching for him when he goes missing. The scientific method is the best way to discover anything!
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2017
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May 15, 2025
اُلگا از اون دخترهای عجیبوغریبه. کوچکه، اونقدر که توی دماغِ همه رو میبینه. لباسِ آستینبلند میپوشه و تقریباً همیشه پابرهنهست. عاشقِ مکاندچیز و خیارشوره و دیوانهی حیواناته
اُلگا یک تئوری داره: حیوانات از اکثرِ آدمها کیوتترن و این رو با مثالهای واضح اثبات میکنه
همهچیز از روزی شروع میشه که اُلگا یک حیوانِ جدید پیدا میکنه که مالِ هیچگونهٔ شناختهشدهای نیست و تلاش میکنه که مثلِ یک جانورشناسِ واقعی، «اُلگاموس» رو مطالعه کنه و مواظبش باشه
دنبالِ کتابِ دیگری از این نویسنده/تصویرساز بودم که اتفاقی به این کتاب رسیدم. تصویرهای بامزهای داشت و از اینکه داستانش سعی کرده بود روی یکسری از استریوتایپها پا بگذاره، واقعاً خوشم اومد. اُلگا و مِه بوگَندو موقعی به دادم رسیدن که وسطِ یک جمع نشسته بودم و میخواستم تنها باشم، برای همین چند دقیقهای رو به این دنیای کوچک و ساده فرار کردم
کتاب رو میتونید از اینجا دانلود کنید
Maede's Books
۱۴۰۰/۱/۱۰
اُلگا یک تئوری داره: حیوانات از اکثرِ آدمها کیوتترن و این رو با مثالهای واضح اثبات میکنه
همهچیز از روزی شروع میشه که اُلگا یک حیوانِ جدید پیدا میکنه که مالِ هیچگونهٔ شناختهشدهای نیست و تلاش میکنه که مثلِ یک جانورشناسِ واقعی، «اُلگاموس» رو مطالعه کنه و مواظبش باشه
دنبالِ کتابِ دیگری از این نویسنده/تصویرساز بودم که اتفاقی به این کتاب رسیدم. تصویرهای بامزهای داشت و از اینکه داستانش سعی کرده بود روی یکسری از استریوتایپها پا بگذاره، واقعاً خوشم اومد. اُلگا و مِه بوگَندو موقعی به دادم رسیدن که وسطِ یک جمع نشسته بودم و میخواستم تنها باشم، برای همین چند دقیقهای رو به این دنیای کوچک و ساده فرار کردم
کتاب رو میتونید از اینجا دانلود کنید
Maede's Books
۱۴۰۰/۱/۱۰
May 25, 2025
کتاب #کودک
Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere
رو الان خوندم. مائده توی کانالش برای این کتاب نوشته بود که وقتی خوندتش که توی یه جمعی بوده و میخواسته چند دقیقه ای توی خودش باشه. اتفاقا منم کتاب رو توی موقعیت مشابهی خوندم و احتیاج داشتم از فضایی که توش م جدا بشم، و خب جالبه که همیشه آخرین سنگر کتاب کودکه.
....
این کتاب خیلی جذابه، مناسب بچه های ۸ تا ۱۲ ساله اس (طبق روانشناسی رشد و فلان و درک رابطه علی ووو) با تصویرگری های خیلی بانمک، ولی دقیق؛ و روایت بسسسیار خفن فکر شده که اونو از سطح داستان سرایی و سرگرم کنندگی چند لِول بالا میاره.
داستانش فانه و تصویرهایی که با دستکشیده شدن، هم بچهها رو میخندونه، هم کلی چیز یادشون میده. شخصیت اولگا، یه دختر باهوش، کنجکاو و خاصه که عاشق علم و حیواناته. وقتی با یه موجود عجیب و بدبو روبهرو میشه، بهجای اینکه بترسه یا فرار کنه، شروع میکنه به تحقیق و کشف کردنش. همین باعث میشه بچهها هم یاد بگیرن که به دنیای دور و برشون با دقت نگاه کنن، سؤال بپرسن و از کشف چیزهای جدید نترسن.
اولگا توی دفترچهش یادداشت مینویسه، آزمایش میکنه، نقاشی میکشه و خلاصه حسابی وارد دنیای علم میشه؛ اینجوری بچهها رو هم با خودش همراه میکنه و باعث میشه ذهن تحلیلگر و خلاقشون تقویت بشه. توی همین مسیر، خیالپردازی هم کنارش هست و بچهها میفهمن که علم و تخیل میتونن مکمل هم باشن.
از نظر احساسی هم این کتاب کلی چیز به بچهها یاد میده. اولگا یه دختر خاصه؛ با همه فرق داره، ولی از این موضوع ناراحت نیست. اتفاقاً باهاش کنار اومده و باهاش حال میکنه. این باعث میشه بچهها هم یاد بگیرن خودشون رو همونجوری که هستن دوست داشته باشن و از فرق داشتن نترسن. رابطهی اولگا با اون موجود بامزه بدبو که اسمش رو میذاره Meh، نشون میده که دوستی یعنی قبول تفاوتها، پذیرش بدون قضاوت، یعنی مراقبت کردن، دلسوز بودن و همراهی.
خلاصه من خیلی داستان رو دوست داشتم. پیشنهادش میکنم
Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere
رو الان خوندم. مائده توی کانالش برای این کتاب نوشته بود که وقتی خوندتش که توی یه جمعی بوده و میخواسته چند دقیقه ای توی خودش باشه. اتفاقا منم کتاب رو توی موقعیت مشابهی خوندم و احتیاج داشتم از فضایی که توش م جدا بشم، و خب جالبه که همیشه آخرین سنگر کتاب کودکه.
....
این کتاب خیلی جذابه، مناسب بچه های ۸ تا ۱۲ ساله اس (طبق روانشناسی رشد و فلان و درک رابطه علی ووو) با تصویرگری های خیلی بانمک، ولی دقیق؛ و روایت بسسسیار خفن فکر شده که اونو از سطح داستان سرایی و سرگرم کنندگی چند لِول بالا میاره.
داستانش فانه و تصویرهایی که با دستکشیده شدن، هم بچهها رو میخندونه، هم کلی چیز یادشون میده. شخصیت اولگا، یه دختر باهوش، کنجکاو و خاصه که عاشق علم و حیواناته. وقتی با یه موجود عجیب و بدبو روبهرو میشه، بهجای اینکه بترسه یا فرار کنه، شروع میکنه به تحقیق و کشف کردنش. همین باعث میشه بچهها هم یاد بگیرن که به دنیای دور و برشون با دقت نگاه کنن، سؤال بپرسن و از کشف چیزهای جدید نترسن.
اولگا توی دفترچهش یادداشت مینویسه، آزمایش میکنه، نقاشی میکشه و خلاصه حسابی وارد دنیای علم میشه؛ اینجوری بچهها رو هم با خودش همراه میکنه و باعث میشه ذهن تحلیلگر و خلاقشون تقویت بشه. توی همین مسیر، خیالپردازی هم کنارش هست و بچهها میفهمن که علم و تخیل میتونن مکمل هم باشن.
از نظر احساسی هم این کتاب کلی چیز به بچهها یاد میده. اولگا یه دختر خاصه؛ با همه فرق داره، ولی از این موضوع ناراحت نیست. اتفاقاً باهاش کنار اومده و باهاش حال میکنه. این باعث میشه بچهها هم یاد بگیرن خودشون رو همونجوری که هستن دوست داشته باشن و از فرق داشتن نترسن. رابطهی اولگا با اون موجود بامزه بدبو که اسمش رو میذاره Meh، نشون میده که دوستی یعنی قبول تفاوتها، پذیرش بدون قضاوت، یعنی مراقبت کردن، دلسوز بودن و همراهی.
خلاصه من خیلی داستان رو دوست داشتم. پیشنهادش میکنم
November 13, 2016
Smarter and Edgier Than You Might Expect
This book is being blurbed as a funsy-sciencey book about a dorky science girl. That's generally true, but it seems to me that there's a lot more, (and more interesting), stuff going on than just that. Olga is more prickly, the adults are more slyly needled, and throwaway lines are edgier than I expected. All of that is fine by me because I think kid readers are a lot quicker on the uptake than some purely poop/fart books give them credit for.
Here, we open with Olga going on at length about how annoying humans are compared to animals. It becomes clear that Olga doesn't have any friends and has minimal social skills. She isn't all adorable charm and spunk. She's sort of grumpy and judgmental. When you consider that the mystery creature's only comment on things is "meh" you can see what I mean about an odd and quirky vibe. If the book had stayed on this grumpy key I might have tired of it. But, once the olgamus shows up Olga has to go out into the world, and with that both she and the book open up.
Olga's research leads her to the library and then a neighborhood store, (for Olgamus food). Both the librarian and the shopkeeper are unusual adults for a kids book. The tattooed librarian is sort of a whack job and the pink-shirted cowboy-booted free spirit shopkeeper is pretty unique and quirky himself; there are a number of sly little observations about both that might be lost on younger readers but add a little zip to the story.
Throughout we get a lot of sight gags and funny little bits drawn around the margins. (Things like a list of the weird products in the shop, or drawings of real weird creatures, and so on.) We also get a mean girl revelation. Olga doesn't like the sisters who live next door, who feel like mean self-obsessed cliches. But they take on a larger role as the book progresses, and offer up a few good surprises by the end. Indeed, by the end of the book everyone seems to have moved up a bit on the charm and appeal scale, and Olga seems to have grown more than any of them. We end up with a much more appealing, interesting and flexible Olga than we started with.
So, it's funny, it's sciencey, it is as advertised. But there's also some larger message being teased out in the background, which adds a level of interest and appeal beyond just a cute-goofy animal tale. That made this overall an especially interesting and satisfying find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This book is being blurbed as a funsy-sciencey book about a dorky science girl. That's generally true, but it seems to me that there's a lot more, (and more interesting), stuff going on than just that. Olga is more prickly, the adults are more slyly needled, and throwaway lines are edgier than I expected. All of that is fine by me because I think kid readers are a lot quicker on the uptake than some purely poop/fart books give them credit for.
Here, we open with Olga going on at length about how annoying humans are compared to animals. It becomes clear that Olga doesn't have any friends and has minimal social skills. She isn't all adorable charm and spunk. She's sort of grumpy and judgmental. When you consider that the mystery creature's only comment on things is "meh" you can see what I mean about an odd and quirky vibe. If the book had stayed on this grumpy key I might have tired of it. But, once the olgamus shows up Olga has to go out into the world, and with that both she and the book open up.
Olga's research leads her to the library and then a neighborhood store, (for Olgamus food). Both the librarian and the shopkeeper are unusual adults for a kids book. The tattooed librarian is sort of a whack job and the pink-shirted cowboy-booted free spirit shopkeeper is pretty unique and quirky himself; there are a number of sly little observations about both that might be lost on younger readers but add a little zip to the story.
Throughout we get a lot of sight gags and funny little bits drawn around the margins. (Things like a list of the weird products in the shop, or drawings of real weird creatures, and so on.) We also get a mean girl revelation. Olga doesn't like the sisters who live next door, who feel like mean self-obsessed cliches. But they take on a larger role as the book progresses, and offer up a few good surprises by the end. Indeed, by the end of the book everyone seems to have moved up a bit on the charm and appeal scale, and Olga seems to have grown more than any of them. We end up with a much more appealing, interesting and flexible Olga than we started with.
So, it's funny, it's sciencey, it is as advertised. But there's also some larger message being teased out in the background, which adds a level of interest and appeal beyond just a cute-goofy animal tale. That made this overall an especially interesting and satisfying find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
November 14, 2016
So many great things in here - a female protagonist with a science hobby and an obsession with the scientific method, a odd adorable animal creature that she discovers, great messaging about being yourself and not giving into peer pressure, charming and delightful text and illustrations with tons of visual humour. I'm such a huge fan of anything that Gravel does.
February 22, 2019
Eihän näistä olgista kauheasti kirjallisesti käteen jää, mutta tykkään silti genren laajentamisesta toiseenkin sukupuoleen, sillä molemmat kalsareita ja neropatteja lukevat, kaipaavat ja arvostavat.
Eroja em. kirjoihin on ehkä se, että tässä tykätään eläimistä. Onneksi kuitenkin eläimetkin pierevät, kakkivat jne., joten ero on lopulta minimaalinen :p.
Eroja em. kirjoihin on ehkä se, että tässä tykätään eläimistä. Onneksi kuitenkin eläimetkin pierevät, kakkivat jne., joten ero on lopulta minimaalinen :p.
May 25, 2025
از روی بیکاری و بی حوصلگی نشستم کتاب کودک Olga and the smelly thing from nowhere رو خوندم.
این کتاب درمورد دختر کوچولوی ده سالهست که از آدمها خوشش نمیاد و بهجاش عاشق حیواناته. این وسطهم یه موجود شبیه سیبزمینی در خونهش سبز میشه. حالا این موجود چی میتونه باشه؟
یه نکتهی منفی داشت که دوست دارم ازش بگم.
اول: کتاب کودک چرا نباید رنگ داشته باشه؟ کودک با رنگها خیلی خوب ارتباط برقرار میکنه و اینطوری از خوندن کتاب خسته نمیشه.
یه نکتهی دیگه هم بود که میخواستم بگم، اما دیدم کتابِ کودکه دیگه =) چرا باید منطقی باشه آخه؟ پس ولش کردم.
اما جالب بود و شماهم اگر میخواید حواستون از اطرف کمی پرت بشه، پیشنهاد میکنم بخونیدش. برای زبانتونهم خوبه :»
در کل، من فکر میکنم لازم نیست ماها متفاوت باشیم همیشه، اما دورمونهم آدم متفاوت کم نیست! شایدهم خودمون اون آدم متفاوت باشیم. خوبه که بدونیم همه قرار نیست شبیه هم باشن و همه قرار نیست یه راه رو داشته باشن.
این کتاب درمورد دختر کوچولوی ده سالهست که از آدمها خوشش نمیاد و بهجاش عاشق حیواناته. این وسطهم یه موجود شبیه سیبزمینی در خونهش سبز میشه. حالا این موجود چی میتونه باشه؟
یه نکتهی منفی داشت که دوست دارم ازش بگم.
اول: کتاب کودک چرا نباید رنگ داشته باشه؟ کودک با رنگها خیلی خوب ارتباط برقرار میکنه و اینطوری از خوندن کتاب خسته نمیشه.
یه نکتهی دیگه هم بود که میخواستم بگم، اما دیدم کتابِ کودکه دیگه =) چرا باید منطقی باشه آخه؟ پس ولش کردم.
اما جالب بود و شماهم اگر میخواید حواستون از اطرف کمی پرت بشه، پیشنهاد میکنم بخونیدش. برای زبانتونهم خوبه :»
در کل، من فکر میکنم لازم نیست ماها متفاوت باشیم همیشه، اما دورمونهم آدم متفاوت کم نیست! شایدهم خودمون اون آدم متفاوت باشیم. خوبه که بدونیم همه قرار نیست شبیه هم باشن و همه قرار نیست یه راه رو داشته باشن.
March 14, 2019
Työkirja, luettu etäpäivänä.
Olen menossa pitämään kirjaesittelyä hauskoista kirjoista 3.-4. luokkalaisille ja siksi täytyy nyt tutustua hauskoihin kirjoihin. Olga ja haiseva olio ulkoavaruudesta on tämän vuoden puolella julkaistu, joten otin sen lukuun ajatuksella, ettei lapset ehkä ole vielä tätä lukeneet.
Kirjan päähenkilö Olga kokee olevansa hieman erilainen ja hyljeksitty. Hän ei pidä ihmisistä, mutta rakastaa eläimiä. Hän haluaa isona olla eläintieteilijä. Sitten hän löytää sateenkaarikakkaa ja oudon olion, jota hän ei tunnista. Hän yrittää selvittää mikä olio on ja pitää siitä havaintoäiväkirjaa. Päiväkirjaan hän havannoi elämää ympärillään muutenkin. Kirja sisältää siis hauskahkoja huomioita maailmasta.
Kirja pelaa aika paljon pissa-, kakka-, ja pieruhuumorilla. Tiedän, että joihinkin lapsiin se uppoaa, mutta itse olisin varmaan pyöritellyt silmiäni, ellen olisi nyt lukenut niin paljon vastaavia, että olen turtunut. Ei siis mitään laatuhuumoria, mutta lapsiin uppoavaa.
Minua häiritsi kirjassa se, miten osa tieteellisistä kokeista tarkoitti esim. eläinten pukemista ihmisten vaatteisiin ja miten otuksen kynnet lakattiin. Toivottavasti kirja ei inspiroi lapsia kokeilemaan samaa... Lisäksi en ikinä tule tajuamaan tätä ristiriitaa, että eläimiä rakastavassakin kirjassa silti voidaan pitää eläimiä ruokana (joojoo, vegaanilukijan ongelmat). Lisäksi yksi kirjan vitseistä perustuu otuksen sukupuoleen, huoh.
Kirja ei omaan makuuni ollut mitenkään erityisen hauska ja siinä tosiaan on ongelmansa. En tätä aio vinkata, mutta otan mukaan yhdeksi humorististen kirjojen esittelyyn.
Seuraavaksi toivon löytäväni jonkun laadukkaan, hauskan lastenkirjan. Saa suositella!
Olen menossa pitämään kirjaesittelyä hauskoista kirjoista 3.-4. luokkalaisille ja siksi täytyy nyt tutustua hauskoihin kirjoihin. Olga ja haiseva olio ulkoavaruudesta on tämän vuoden puolella julkaistu, joten otin sen lukuun ajatuksella, ettei lapset ehkä ole vielä tätä lukeneet.
Kirjan päähenkilö Olga kokee olevansa hieman erilainen ja hyljeksitty. Hän ei pidä ihmisistä, mutta rakastaa eläimiä. Hän haluaa isona olla eläintieteilijä. Sitten hän löytää sateenkaarikakkaa ja oudon olion, jota hän ei tunnista. Hän yrittää selvittää mikä olio on ja pitää siitä havaintoäiväkirjaa. Päiväkirjaan hän havannoi elämää ympärillään muutenkin. Kirja sisältää siis hauskahkoja huomioita maailmasta.
Kirja pelaa aika paljon pissa-, kakka-, ja pieruhuumorilla. Tiedän, että joihinkin lapsiin se uppoaa, mutta itse olisin varmaan pyöritellyt silmiäni, ellen olisi nyt lukenut niin paljon vastaavia, että olen turtunut. Ei siis mitään laatuhuumoria, mutta lapsiin uppoavaa.
Minua häiritsi kirjassa se, miten osa tieteellisistä kokeista tarkoitti esim. eläinten pukemista ihmisten vaatteisiin ja miten otuksen kynnet lakattiin. Toivottavasti kirja ei inspiroi lapsia kokeilemaan samaa... Lisäksi en ikinä tule tajuamaan tätä ristiriitaa, että eläimiä rakastavassakin kirjassa silti voidaan pitää eläimiä ruokana (joojoo, vegaanilukijan ongelmat). Lisäksi yksi kirjan vitseistä perustuu otuksen sukupuoleen, huoh.
Kirja ei omaan makuuni ollut mitenkään erityisen hauska ja siinä tosiaan on ongelmansa. En tätä aio vinkata, mutta otan mukaan yhdeksi humorististen kirjojen esittelyyn.
Seuraavaksi toivon löytäväni jonkun laadukkaan, hauskan lastenkirjan. Saa suositella!
November 3, 2024
I was read this book and had a lot of fun! It’s not quite a graphic novel, but there are many illustrations that make this a quick and easy read! However, the text is fun, interesting and educational.
Olga (undisclosed age, no mention to parents), an animal lover and a hopeful zoologist, finds an animal inside her shed which is like nothing she’s seen before. As the animal keeps saying Meh, that’s how she names it. She does some research, observations and experiments to learn more about this species.
This is a lovely (and fun) introduction to the scientific method and science topics for kids!
Olga (undisclosed age, no mention to parents), an animal lover and a hopeful zoologist, finds an animal inside her shed which is like nothing she’s seen before. As the animal keeps saying Meh, that’s how she names it. She does some research, observations and experiments to learn more about this species.
This is a lovely (and fun) introduction to the scientific method and science topics for kids!
February 21, 2019
Kerrassaan hilpeä pieni kirja. Paljon kuvia ja höpsöä huumoria, kuten jatkuvasti joka paikkaan pissaava pikkukoira ja haiseva avaruusolio, joka sanoo kaikkeen ”njää” (paitsi silloin kun se sanoo ”dau-dau-dau”).
Päähenkilö Olga on outo tyttö, joka rakastaa tieteellistä metodia ja eläimiä, mutta inhoaa ihmisiä. Avaruusolio pakottaa kuitenkin Olgan suuntaamaan ulkomaailmaan ja kohtaamaan ihmisiä hyvin seurauksin.
Leppoisa, hauska ja helppolukuinen.
Päähenkilö Olga on outo tyttö, joka rakastaa tieteellistä metodia ja eläimiä, mutta inhoaa ihmisiä. Avaruusolio pakottaa kuitenkin Olgan suuntaamaan ulkomaailmaan ja kohtaamaan ihmisiä hyvin seurauksin.
Leppoisa, hauska ja helppolukuinen.
March 15, 2017
March 15, 2017. A cute little book about a curious girl who finds an unknown animal and has adventures with it. I thought the art was simple, but sweet, the characters were memorable, and the story - engaging. There were all sorts of quirky tidbits here and there and made me laugh out loud. Bonus points for a brief mention of Chris Hatfield! I have no doubt that actual kids will find Olga and Meh impossible to resist.
My only gripe is not even about the book itself, but where these types of stories are taking their messages in general. You know you want to cheer for the underdog, that awkward girl, who might not be popular, but has an amazing personality, right? Empowering kids that do not belong to the clique elite is important, but why do these types of books have to always divide kids into "us" and "them". The quiet smart girl is a hero, but the pretty ones are evil bitches - always! Why is it not okay to be both smart and care for how you look? I found that Olga dismissed and downright judged the Lalas just because they liked to read fashion magazines and idolized a Korean pretty boy. Shouldn't smart girls be above that? Shouldn't we all accept who we are, and that not everyone is into the same things? In the end it was even revealed that the Lalas had some knack for scientific observation too, which Olga grudgingly accepted. Hopefully there is a lesson to be learned there for the young readers - judging is never smart. I dream of the day when children's books will not lean on old stereotypes of nerds vs. jocks, and just accept that all walks of life are allowed to exist. This rant turned out needlessly long, but I needed to put it out there. Don't let it stop you from checking Elise Gravel's latest book out - it's a great treat.
Oh, and thank you, author, for making me aware that olive and feta cheese muffins are a thing! I'm definitely making those soon. Yum!
My only gripe is not even about the book itself, but where these types of stories are taking their messages in general. You know you want to cheer for the underdog, that awkward girl, who might not be popular, but has an amazing personality, right? Empowering kids that do not belong to the clique elite is important, but why do these types of books have to always divide kids into "us" and "them". The quiet smart girl is a hero, but the pretty ones are evil bitches - always! Why is it not okay to be both smart and care for how you look? I found that Olga dismissed and downright judged the Lalas just because they liked to read fashion magazines and idolized a Korean pretty boy. Shouldn't smart girls be above that? Shouldn't we all accept who we are, and that not everyone is into the same things? In the end it was even revealed that the Lalas had some knack for scientific observation too, which Olga grudgingly accepted. Hopefully there is a lesson to be learned there for the young readers - judging is never smart. I dream of the day when children's books will not lean on old stereotypes of nerds vs. jocks, and just accept that all walks of life are allowed to exist. This rant turned out needlessly long, but I needed to put it out there. Don't let it stop you from checking Elise Gravel's latest book out - it's a great treat.
Oh, and thank you, author, for making me aware that olive and feta cheese muffins are a thing! I'm definitely making those soon. Yum!
May 1, 2019
This book is a bit crazy, but it's good crazy. I can think of a gaggle of kids who are going to LOVE this book for its illustrations and witty writing. It's not technically a graphic novel, but I'd put it in that category and kids love those.
July 30, 2025
j’ai ris out loud plusieurs fois
July 26, 2017
Maybe not everyone will find this one funny, but I found the quirky characters enjoyable, and the toilet humour worked for me. Silly, enjoyable fun for kids that like Diary of a Wimpy Kid (aren't teachers, librarians, and Jeff Kinney tired of reading that! Can't believed I just tapped the words). Second reading was with, mostly by my seven year old. It was a great book to read with her.
February 6, 2019
Njää. Tähän kirjan sisällön voi oikeastaan helposti tiivistää. Olga haluaa isona eläintieteilijäksi, sillä eläimet nyt vain ovat söpömpiä sekä kivempia kuin ihmiset, erityisesti naapurin tytöt, jotka vain fanittavat korealaista poptähteä ja lukevat Pis sis -lehteä. Kun Olga löytää pihaltaan erikoisen otuksen, joka muistuttaa perunan ja hamsterin risteytystä sekä haisee pahalle, hän päättää ottaa sen hoitoonsa ja ristiä sen Njääksi. Njään alkuperä on kuitenkin mysteeri. Voisikohan se olla kokonaan uusi eläinlaji vai kenties peräisin peräti avaruudesta? Eläintieteilijä Olga aloittaa mysteerin selvittämisen!
Kirja on nopea luettava, sillä kuvitusta siinä on runsaasti ja fontti on kohtalaisen suurta. Tarina ei loista erityisemmin, se on enemmän kohellusta paikasta toiseen kaasu pohjassa. Kirjassa on kyllä joitain teemoja, kuten ystävyys ja sen sellaista, mutta kaikki tämä hukkuu kuvituksen, tarinan vauhdin ja koheltamisen sekamelskaan. Kohderyhmä (ehkä sujuvasti lukevista 2-luokkalaisista noin 4-5 -luokkiin) saattaa tykätä, mutta itse sain tarinasta ja kuvituksesta vain ohimenevän päänsäryn. 2 tähteä.
Kirja on nopea luettava, sillä kuvitusta siinä on runsaasti ja fontti on kohtalaisen suurta. Tarina ei loista erityisemmin, se on enemmän kohellusta paikasta toiseen kaasu pohjassa. Kirjassa on kyllä joitain teemoja, kuten ystävyys ja sen sellaista, mutta kaikki tämä hukkuu kuvituksen, tarinan vauhdin ja koheltamisen sekamelskaan. Kohderyhmä (ehkä sujuvasti lukevista 2-luokkalaisista noin 4-5 -luokkiin) saattaa tykätä, mutta itse sain tarinasta ja kuvituksesta vain ohimenevän päänsäryn. 2 tähteä.
July 19, 2018
This is a delightfully strange book about a little girl who wants to be a zoologist when she grows up. She finds a mysterious animal who has been eating from her garbage can, and this leads to a very funny, very weird story. Her version of the scientific method was worth the time spent reading the book, all by itself, but her observations and the creature itself were a real treat. Also, I want there to be an outlet of "Stuff 'n' Things 'n' More" in my neighborhood. It's a cross between Archie McPhee's and one of those import shops where you can buy sour-cream-and-onion crickets. The store owner and the librarian character are both delightful.
My only problem with the book was the lack of an actual ending. I mean, yes, there were a finite number of pages, and I've finished reading them, but the only satisfying thing about the ending was the recipe for olive and feta cheese muffins. At least, I'd be satisfied if I liked olives with feta cheese, but that's another story. There are just SOOOOO many things left unanswered by the end of this book, including the question of whether there will be a second book to answer the many things left over from this book.
If there is a second book, and if it contains those answers, I will find myself handing both books to everyone I know and saying "Here, read this!"
If there is no second book, I may not be able to forgive the author, because you can't just end a story at that point. It's really not at all fair.
The book is still a lot of fun, though, in a wildly chaotic way.
My only problem with the book was the lack of an actual ending. I mean, yes, there were a finite number of pages, and I've finished reading them, but the only satisfying thing about the ending was the recipe for olive and feta cheese muffins. At least, I'd be satisfied if I liked olives with feta cheese, but that's another story. There are just SOOOOO many things left unanswered by the end of this book, including the question of whether there will be a second book to answer the many things left over from this book.
If there is a second book, and if it contains those answers, I will find myself handing both books to everyone I know and saying "Here, read this!"
If there is no second book, I may not be able to forgive the author, because you can't just end a story at that point. It's really not at all fair.
The book is still a lot of fun, though, in a wildly chaotic way.
April 12, 2017
Olga is lonely and feels that people pick on her, so she doesn't like people. She likes animals. Her best friend is a spider that lives in the bathroom. One day Olga hears odd noises outside and hopes to find a raccoon or even a giant maggot. Instead she finds Meh, and unidentified creature. What is it? What does it eat? Through her investigation, Olga makes a new human friend, learns more about creatures, and finds that she has misjudged some people. I'm sure there will be young readers who will like this book. The unfortunate part is that there is such a negative feel to the book. Olga hates humans, yet there are many kind people in her life. Animals are interesting but the story focuses heavily on poop, pee, farts and gross details (perhaps for stereotypical humor). It was okay but could have been so much more.
July 22, 2021
After hearing a strange noise coming from her garbage can, Olga follows a trail of rainbow colored poop and discovers an animal unlike any she’s ever seen before. She names him Meh and sets out to learn what type of animal he might be and how to take care of such an exotic creature.
This book has a little bit of text and a LOT of illustrations. It’s perfect for my seven-year-old who has had a difficult time learning to love reading. She liked all the pictures and the funny adventure Olga goes on with her new pet. The book relies heavily on the artwork to tell some of the story. The vocabulary isn’t too difficult, so it’s perfect for advanced younger readers or older kids looking for something easy and silly to read.
I love seeing so many books like this on the market. So many kids in this age group aren’t interested books and this is a great way to get them reading.
This book has a little bit of text and a LOT of illustrations. It’s perfect for my seven-year-old who has had a difficult time learning to love reading. She liked all the pictures and the funny adventure Olga goes on with her new pet. The book relies heavily on the artwork to tell some of the story. The vocabulary isn’t too difficult, so it’s perfect for advanced younger readers or older kids looking for something easy and silly to read.
I love seeing so many books like this on the market. So many kids in this age group aren’t interested books and this is a great way to get them reading.
April 22, 2017
Olga LOVES animals. She prefers them much more than people and then proves her point quickly to the reader with funny pictures and diagrams. Olga considers herself an animal scientist and would much rather make observations about animals than go to school and talk with girls like her annoying neighbours Shalala and Farla (lalas) who only care about clothes, and hair and a Korean popstar they both think is adorable. But according to Olga, he's got nothing on animals!
When Olga finds a small, strange creature who says nothing but ‘Meh!’ - that is what she names it. But where is it from? What does it eat? After a trip to the library and the local store, her friends try to help. Even the Lalas begin to help, with very pink consequences….
When Olga finds a small, strange creature who says nothing but ‘Meh!’ - that is what she names it. But where is it from? What does it eat? After a trip to the library and the local store, her friends try to help. Even the Lalas begin to help, with very pink consequences….
March 11, 2017
For a book featuring a curmudgeonly outcast and an unidentified furry mammal this was extremely enjoyable.This book also has a nice goth librarian, a spider who probably does not speak French, a child-friendly retailer, a realistic small dog, and a boy with scribbled hair. I agree with her (the author/the protagonist)'s sentiment that animals who are non-human ARE way nicer than animals who happen to be human. Speaking from the happy experience of a tenant who's house is invaded by landlords fat furry little pet, the plot of the book was relatable. My little loan pet wombeast and I give it 4 1/2 out of 5. Half a point off for ending too soon.
October 14, 2016
Olga wants to be a animal scientist, who finds an animal who she can't identify. The book has funny illustrations that go through her observation lab. It was such a fun book for young children especially if they love science and animals. Olga is hilarious and very smart. Author did a great job to bring a book that will teach kids about science and the love of animals. If you need a laugh you will want to read this quirky book.
September 2, 2016
Funny and weird. Some scatological humor to appeal to those youngins, but it's not excessive. Gravel's art is amusing and expressive, and I like the fact that this is a book about a young girl who's obsessed with SCIENCE!
March 29, 2017
Pretty fun book for fans of Wimpy Kid, Captain Underpants, etc. It is nice to have a humorous hybrid book with a female main character took.
June 5, 2017
Olga is a budding scientist. She loves animals and likes to record things in her journal. One day she finds a new species of animal, a smelly, oval, hairy thing that she calls Meh. Using her journal she writes down all of her observations and Meh facts. One day though, Meh disappears and Olga goes out of her mind trying to get him back. Could he have been taken back to his alien planet or be hanging out in the grocery store eating olives?
My Thoughts-
This is a truly weird story and my eight year old LOVED it. Olga is kooky and loves to categorize things like animal poop and fart sounds. I can not even tell you how weird this book is. Meh is a smelly creature that eats olives and burps. Olga and he/she go on crazy trips around town and meet interesting people.There are images of her journal pages with fun animal facts and also illustrations, all done in black, white and red.
You can't help but laugh at the story and the zany drawings and insights. I kept reading with the hope of finding out what Meh was, but spoiler, turns out you never find out, which would have bugged me, except the whole book had been so strange, that by the end I just shook my head.
Middle graders will love this book. It reminds me of Captain Underpants and other illustrated/story combos. It is a simple read, but all the potty humor and strange scientific revelations keep it fun. It is really hard to give this a score, because the story is short, but I'm just going to give it a 5 for being weirdly odd.
My Thoughts-
This is a truly weird story and my eight year old LOVED it. Olga is kooky and loves to categorize things like animal poop and fart sounds. I can not even tell you how weird this book is. Meh is a smelly creature that eats olives and burps. Olga and he/she go on crazy trips around town and meet interesting people.There are images of her journal pages with fun animal facts and also illustrations, all done in black, white and red.
You can't help but laugh at the story and the zany drawings and insights. I kept reading with the hope of finding out what Meh was, but spoiler, turns out you never find out, which would have bugged me, except the whole book had been so strange, that by the end I just shook my head.
Middle graders will love this book. It reminds me of Captain Underpants and other illustrated/story combos. It is a simple read, but all the potty humor and strange scientific revelations keep it fun. It is really hard to give this a score, because the story is short, but I'm just going to give it a 5 for being weirdly odd.
September 11, 2017
Olga, an animal lover, finds an unidentifiable strange and smelly pink creature and sets out to figure out what it is using the scientific method. She chronicles her adventures in her notebook as often-gross hilarity ensues. A diverse cast of characters including wackily portrayed helpful adults, teenybopper mean girls from the neighborhood, and a new friend (plus his endlessly peeing dog) are all giggle-worthy, as is Olga herself.
This was SO WEIRD! And I absolutely loved it! AND, kids will too! I think this has true appeal from 4th grade all the way through 7th, definitely works as a high interest for reluctant readers, or those who won't consider reading anything except Diary of a Wimpy Kid and/or Origami Yoda. Especially perfect for those (ugh, I hate to even type it, but yes) girls who loved Dork Diaries or Amelia's Notebooks but with a fun science angle. Those "can't get enough animal books" kids will love this, too.
Also, it's gross enough and funny enough and weird enough that I'm pretty sure the spunky female protagonist won't be a turnoff to MG guy readers, especially if they're Captain Underpants fans. (And really, who isn't.)
August 8, 2019
Kirja alkoi hyvin, kiinnostavasti ja hauskasti. Outo otus oli kakannut sateenkaarikakkaa pihalle, ja Olga löytää Njään, josta tulee hänen lemmikki. Kuvituksissa ja kuvateksteissä oli sisällytettynä paljon huumoria. Kirja säilyi kiinnostavana aika pitkälle, mutta jossain kohtaa alkoi jo käydä vähän puuduttavammaksi seurata mihin tämä päättyy. Salaperäisestä Njää-otuksesta selvisi vähitellen lisää ominaisuuksia. Erittäin humoristinen kirja, jossa todella pelkistettyjä, mutta vitsikkäitä tapahtumia. Kuvitus oli ainakin selkeää; kirja muistutti sarjakuvaa monissa kohdin ruutuineen kaikkineen. Kirjassa oli paljon sivuja, mutta monilla niistä vain pari lausetta, joten sen luki aika äkkiä. Tämä voisi olla puluboista tykkääville astetta rauhallisempi kirja. Ja erityisesti ehkä tytöille, koska tyttöhahmoja oli paljon (?). Kirjan suurin ansio on ehkä siinä, että se voi onnistua saamaan normaaleista tylsistä ja harmaista kirjoista piittaamattoman lapsen pysymään kirjan ääressä hieman pitempään. Ja kirjan alkupuoli oli mielestäni aika koukuttava. Tarina oli ehkä kuitenkin hieman yksiulotteinen kokonaisuutena. Ei huono kirja ollenkaan kuitenkaan. Suosittelisin tätä 1-3-luokkalaisille.
November 23, 2020
Read this one with Joy (10). She loved it as much as I did. Took us maybe 4 days of bedtime stories - a quick one!
It's just so much fun. It's kooky, sweet, filled with random animal facts - mostly about animal poop and dog types - and even lowkey teaches kids about the scientific method. How awesome is that? I read it twice in a span of 2 weeks and loved it more each time.
I have to acknowledge that there is some internalized misogyny (that does get addressed, mostly) and calling a fake Korean popstar Bip-Bibop seems questionable. Those are the only flaws, though, and we did talk about how it's not ok to make fun of someone just because they like magazines about beauty. You can be annoyed with girls who love pink and ribbons and popstars and talk like a valley girl, but that doesn't make them any less worthy as a human. But like I said, that does get addressed towards the end, and I hope to see more of this growth in the next 2 books.
Big fan!
It's just so much fun. It's kooky, sweet, filled with random animal facts - mostly about animal poop and dog types - and even lowkey teaches kids about the scientific method. How awesome is that? I read it twice in a span of 2 weeks and loved it more each time.
I have to acknowledge that there is some internalized misogyny (that does get addressed, mostly) and calling a fake Korean popstar Bip-Bibop seems questionable. Those are the only flaws, though, and we did talk about how it's not ok to make fun of someone just because they like magazines about beauty. You can be annoyed with girls who love pink and ribbons and popstars and talk like a valley girl, but that doesn't make them any less worthy as a human. But like I said, that does get addressed towards the end, and I hope to see more of this growth in the next 2 books.
Big fan!
March 2, 2025
Olga is not your typical girl—she’s more interested in science than pop stars and couldn’t care less about the popular crowd that mocks her. But who needs them when she’s discovered a bizarre, potato-shaped creature that’s equal parts alien, farting balloon, and possibly chubby chihuahua in her trash can? Naming it Meh, she embarks on a scientific study of this new best friend, which, surprisingly, leads her to meaningful connections with her community.
The book’s art is both charming and encouraging—aspirational for doodlers who dream of turning their creativity into a profitable side hustle. And, of course, there’s plenty of poop, fart, and pimple humor, making it a guaranteed hit for fourth graders (or anyone with the sense of humor of one—myself included). It’s a genuinely cute read, and I could see it becoming a beloved series in the vein of Nate the Great or Diary of a Wimpy Kid—but with a fun, girl-centered twist.
The book’s art is both charming and encouraging—aspirational for doodlers who dream of turning their creativity into a profitable side hustle. And, of course, there’s plenty of poop, fart, and pimple humor, making it a guaranteed hit for fourth graders (or anyone with the sense of humor of one—myself included). It’s a genuinely cute read, and I could see it becoming a beloved series in the vein of Nate the Great or Diary of a Wimpy Kid—but with a fun, girl-centered twist.
May 1, 2018
If you discovered an animal of unknown origin, what would you call it? Perhaps you would name the species after yourself? That's what young animal scientist Olga did when she found an odd-smelling animal that had rainbow-colored poop. She declared the animal "Olgamus Ridiculus" and called it "Meh" after the sound it made. Great for kids who like graphic novels, because there are lots of silly looking pictures. I'm off to read book #2!
Reviewed by Lisa Coleman, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Reviewed by Lisa Coleman, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
March 31, 2017
From Willa:
"It's really funny and it has poop things in it. I like when the animals do farts."
From Lily:
"It is really funny, I agree with Willa. I like the illustrations. My favourite part is when Olga calls a random guy 'Walter' and his shirt says 'I love potatoes.'"
Form Jordan:
"This is one of the most enjoyable books to read and laugh with any age. The three of us had a hoot. FIVE STARS!"
"It's really funny and it has poop things in it. I like when the animals do farts."
From Lily:
"It is really funny, I agree with Willa. I like the illustrations. My favourite part is when Olga calls a random guy 'Walter' and his shirt says 'I love potatoes.'"
Form Jordan:
"This is one of the most enjoyable books to read and laugh with any age. The three of us had a hoot. FIVE STARS!"
December 29, 2017
A fun and different way to explain the scientific method. Appealing combination of cuteness and potty-humor, that I think would be appealing to lots of kids. A lot of pictures and expressive text, without seeming like a picture book (something older kids avoid). But, more text than I would consider a graphic novel.
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