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Ogilvy
The clothes don't make the bunny in this new picture book from
New York Times
-bestselling author Deborah Underwood, illustrated by T. L. McBeth.
When Ogilvy moves to a new town, the possibilities feel endless. There are so many new bunny friends and fun things to do together! But in this town, bunnies in dresses play ball and knit socks, and bunnies in sweaters make art and climb rocks. Ogilvy wants to do everything—and won't let a sweater or a dress get in the way.
When Ogilvy moves to a new town, the possibilities feel endless. There are so many new bunny friends and fun things to do together! But in this town, bunnies in dresses play ball and knit socks, and bunnies in sweaters make art and climb rocks. Ogilvy wants to do everything—and won't let a sweater or a dress get in the way.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published May 21, 2019
6 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
September 11, 2025
Excellent book for small children about just being yourself - loved the art! I think that often we expect small children to be like we are; we assume they have a 'focus' that it has taken us years to acquire. I have found that most small children really like to explore and express their feelings, but they often get a very different message from us (adults). This is a fun book about being yourself!
June 5, 2019
This is a wonderful book that emphasizes breaking gender roles and accepting yourself and others as they are. I couldn't love this book more!
July 24, 2019
Delightful rhyming, sneetch-esce story reminding us to be kind and accepting.
May 21, 2019
Ogilvy is yet another character from Underwood that you can add into the canon of great recent picture books. He's funny, he's charming, and he is very much his own person/bunny/whatever. Everyone criticizes Ogilvy for his style, but still....he persisted. This is a great read-aloud and gives parents a lot to talk about when the story is done. What more could you ask for?
May 26, 2019
What if how you look affects what you can and can't do? Well, Ogilvy is not having it. And that doesn't make others happy. Will they get him to conform or will Ogilvy change their point of views?
June 13, 2019
A wonderful rhyming book about acceptance. Loved it
July 25, 2019
Reminiscent of the Butter Battle Book. Excellent message.
October 14, 2019
What is Ogilvy wearing? Is it a sweater? Or is it a dress? What Ogilvy is wearing makes a difference in what his new community allows him to do. How can Ogilvy change things?
A fun look at defining roles and assigning tasks and changing the way these are doled out, with some gender-bending rabbit-y twists.
A fun look at defining roles and assigning tasks and changing the way these are doled out, with some gender-bending rabbit-y twists.
March 26, 2021
Ogilvy is such a trip. Everything about it is a delight, and the theme of inclusion is as lighthearted as it is meaningful. The rhyme scheme reminds me a bit of Dr. Seuss, but with modern messages and a nifty use of illustration.
July 9, 2019
Loved it! A new classic by this popular author !
June 21, 2019
With bouncy, rhyming text and wonderful illustrations that incorporate knit sweaters into the artwork, this awesome picture book will encourage young readers to consider the expectations they have for their friends based on the way they dress. More specifically, this book addresses gender stereotypes as Ogilvy, who is new to the neighborhood, meets friends at the park who play at separate activities based on their clothing. The bunnies who are wearing sweaters make art and climb rocks, while the bunnies who wear dresses play ball and knit socks. Ogilvy likes all of the activities and so on days Ogilvy wants to play ball or knit, Ogilvy's outfit is a dress. And on days Ogilvy wants to make art or climb rocks, the outfit is a dress. This becomes a problem when the other bunnies insist that Ogilvy choose one or the other. This could generate some great discussions about how friends treat each other in community and how tolerance and inclusiveness are the keys to building great relationships.
May 29, 2019
Ogilvy the bunny moves to a new town and is excited to make new friends. Ogilvy sees bunnies doing all of sorts of fun things- knitting, playing ball, climbing rocks and drawing, and wants to do all of them. But another bunny informs Ogilvy that depending on whether a bunny is wearing a sweater or a dress, they are allowed to do certain things. Bunnies in sweaters can make art and climb rocks, while bunnies in dresses can play ball and knit socks. Ogilvy wants to do all the activities, so Ogilvy changes whether they are wearing a dress or a sweater depending on what activity they want to do.
This is a fun story about the ridiculous restrictions of gender roles, and might encourage kids (and adult) to rethink who is allowed to do what activities.
This is a fun story about the ridiculous restrictions of gender roles, and might encourage kids (and adult) to rethink who is allowed to do what activities.
December 29, 2018
In Ogilvy's new town, a bunny's hobbies reflect their outfit-- a sweater or a dress. What is Ogilvy wearing? It looks like both and neither! It's an Ogilvy! Ogilvy shows their new bunny friends that what you wear does not dictate what you like to do. This can be a metaphor for a myriad of concepts-- all of them important to understand. A wonderful rhyme and story for any child.
June 27, 2019
A wonderful picture book about breaking gender roles.
Ogilvy the bunny is new in town. When Ogilvy goes to the park where all the bunnies play, the other bunnies say that bunnies in dresses do a certain set of activities and bunnies in sweaters do another. But, Ogilvy wants to do it all!
A great lesson with fun rhyming text and engaging illustrations. My 5 year old enjoyed this one.
Ogilvy the bunny is new in town. When Ogilvy goes to the park where all the bunnies play, the other bunnies say that bunnies in dresses do a certain set of activities and bunnies in sweaters do another. But, Ogilvy wants to do it all!
A great lesson with fun rhyming text and engaging illustrations. My 5 year old enjoyed this one.
June 17, 2019
A great way to introduce being who you are despite gender norms for young ones.
Good for preschool or toddler storytimes.
Good for preschool or toddler storytimes.
September 18, 2019
Theme driven--accept who you are, and accept others as they are. You are not defined by your sweater.
June 3, 2021
Excited to be in a new town, Ogilvy heads to the park to make some friends, only to find out that what you wear here really matters. You see bunnies in dresses can play ball and knit socks but bunnies in sweaters can only make art and climb rocks. That’s just how it’s done. Since Ogilvy wants to play ball, the first day the outfit is definitely a dress. But the next day the very same outfit is a sweater so Ogilvy can draw in the park. Then it’s a dress and again it’s a sweater. But what happens when the bunnies make Ogilvy decide what the outfit is once and for all?
This delightful rhyming tale is a great way to start a conversation with kiddos about if the clothes you wear really matter. Should wearing a sweater mean that you can’t be crafty? Or does a skirt mean that you shouldn’t climb rocks? Another fun touch is that the bunnies are just divided by clothes in this story and not gender. Actually there are no gender pronouns in this book at all.
Celebrate Pride Month by sharing this sweet book about being your true self no matter what the other bunnies say with a special kiddo.
This delightful rhyming tale is a great way to start a conversation with kiddos about if the clothes you wear really matter. Should wearing a sweater mean that you can’t be crafty? Or does a skirt mean that you shouldn’t climb rocks? Another fun touch is that the bunnies are just divided by clothes in this story and not gender. Actually there are no gender pronouns in this book at all.
Celebrate Pride Month by sharing this sweet book about being your true self no matter what the other bunnies say with a special kiddo.
March 4, 2020
Oh goodness, I love this book!!!!!!
March 7, 2021
A great book for kids figuring out who they are and breaking gender stereotypes!
October 26, 2023
Monarch 2024
March 5, 2025
My 8 year-old and I thought this book was delightful and anyone who wants to ban it should kick rocks.
August 3, 2019
Love, love, love ALL of Deborah Underwood’s books! And she gets the best illustrators, T. L. Mcbeth is GREAT! I love it when the cover makes me laugh out loud. I will always grab those over a “pretty” cover. Don’t get me wrong, I get books with pretty, beautiful illustrations, too. The funny ones are just a MUST for me. What a great book for discussion about peer pressure, standing up for yourself, being confident, acceptance, and for the older kids, “uniforms in schools”, to name just a few.
August 1, 2019
Ogilvy is a celebration of being who you are and disrupting gender stereotypes. This will generate all kinds of conversation with students. I can't wait to share it!
July 8, 2019
Ogilvy wants to find friends and activities he enjoys when he moves to a new place. However, he discovers that there are two divisions - those who wear sweaters and those who wear dresses. Each group can only do certain activities. Ogilvy changes what he calls his outfit depending on what he wants to do. Others confront him on this and he stands up for himself. Others discover they want to let go of the rules too. Lovely ending when a new creature arrives wearing a hair bow and it's not a problem - everyone is welcoming.
Clever illustrations and simple to follow text.
Clever illustrations and simple to follow text.
February 2, 2020
Ogilvy by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by T. L. McBeth. PICTURE BOOK. Goodwin Books (Macmillan), 2019. $18. 9781250151766
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
A bunny, Ogilvy, shows up to a playground in a sweater and others want to know if it is a dress or a shirt. Depending on what one wears, one can play certain games. Ogilvy says one day that it is a shirt and the next day he says it is a dress, eventually teaching the others that what you wear should not dictate what activities you can do.
There is a clear commentary here on gender roles and how that can limit us, but should not. I thought it was a clever book with a fun story, but ultimately unmemorable.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
A bunny, Ogilvy, shows up to a playground in a sweater and others want to know if it is a dress or a shirt. Depending on what one wears, one can play certain games. Ogilvy says one day that it is a shirt and the next day he says it is a dress, eventually teaching the others that what you wear should not dictate what activities you can do.
There is a clear commentary here on gender roles and how that can limit us, but should not. I thought it was a clever book with a fun story, but ultimately unmemorable.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
June 20, 2019
Yessss! I had heard so much good about this book and I finally got around to reading it! Yes! You need to read it! And you need to read it! AND YOU NEED TO READ IT!
This book is important, this book is real, this book is relevant, this book must be read, and this book takes all the stars!
And it rhymes, I mean come on!
This book is important, this book is real, this book is relevant, this book must be read, and this book takes all the stars!
And it rhymes, I mean come on!
December 2, 2018
A sweet, if heavy-handed, story about being yourself. In the vein of Red and Neither, the metaphor can stand for a lot of things, but lends itself well to discussing trans and gender identities.
June 11, 2019
Shatter all the stereotypes, Ogilvy. At once both sly and very obvious, Ogilvy pokes fun at the gender roles we’ve constructed for ourselves and then locked ourselves into. Short and snappy, this cuts through a lot of nonsense.
Plus all the bunnies wear delightful knitted garments.
Plus all the bunnies wear delightful knitted garments.
June 18, 2019
The new bunny in town doesn't want to have to pick his activities based on whether he is wearing a sweater or a dress. So he calls it whatever will get him entrance into the activity he wants to play that day. That is until he speaks up and the clothes rule changes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2023
Ogilvy enters on the title page, head still not fully released from the neck of an actual striped sweater. It's Ogilvy's happy, hoppy first day in a new town. At the park our character finds plenty of bunnies busily drawing, knitting, climbing, and playing ball.
ALL of the bunnies wear knit clothing, some about knee-length (they call them dresses), while others wear hip-length knits they call sweaters. They demand to know exactly what it is that Ogilvy's wearing, a dress or a sweater. After all, it's mid-thigh, risking the dire consequences of ambiguity.
Why? Because the dress-wearing bunnies always play ball and knit socks, but bunnies in sweaters make art and climb rocks. Why? Indeed. Ogilvy asks just that, and gets a not-so-surprising answer:
"That's just how it is."
Ogilvy, being a very clever bunny, decides what to enjoy each day and names the clothing chosen for the day to suit the "rules" and play as they wish. Those daily choices always look the same. Lest a reader imagine that Ogilvy had no choice, a display of knitwear hangs on Ogilvy's wall, each an identical knit garment.
Of course, that clever bunny helps everyone realize how silly their "just because" rules were, right? Not that easily. This is where those bunnies take on an obviously MORE human-style behavior than wearing sweaters and dresses. They become ANGRY. They insist, DEMAND, that Ogilvy name clothing one thing or the other and stick with it.
Ogilvy, not one for confrontation or fuss, made the hardest choice of all. Ogilvy speaks up with a question that was not "WHY?" Ogilvy asks if the bunnies wearing dresses wouldn't want to make art and climb walls? Wouldn't the sweater wearing bunnies enjoy playing ball and knitting? What difference does it actually make if you wear a sweater or a dress? Then Ogilvy NAMES that favorite garment- it is an OGILVY!
Because this is a well-written and story-structured picture book, we know that bunnies realize the foolishness of their rules, but a tense page turn near the end shows a new bunny wearing some interesting headgear! Will that be a step too far, or will they welcome this new difference/change?
Here is a picture book that can be read as a simple story for the very youngest, or launch for discussion about peer pressure and how rules emerge and remain among elementary readers, and even launch complex debates and supporting arguments among adolescent groups as an analogy for current political and cultural wars.
The text is delightful rhymed couplets that are as seamless and natural as bunny (kid) conversation can be, while the illustrations will charm the yarn off readers of every age. Settings with white or pastel backgrounds and the characters themselves are cartoon-like drawings with oversized expressive eyes and heavy-lined black edges. The bunnies are made delightfully human by sporting knitwear that is actually knitted. Fans of Jon Klassen's EXTRA YARN will especially adore the technique used, which is not explained within this book. I studied the images endlessly, trying to determine if what are clearly actual knitted garments were overlaid/photographed on the bunnies, or if these little items were made, then photographed and Photoshopped onto the drawings. A check on McBeth's website shared this from a HORN BOOK review:
The Horn Book Magazine - “Illustrations “made with graphite pencils, Adobe Photoshop, and sweaters,” whose bold lines and loose shadows give a classic feel to this fable with a modern message.”
I couldn't have said that better, and HBM managed it in far fewer words than I would! Oh, how those subtle shadows provide dimension and grounding for this story! I also noted that OGILVY is a multiple award winner with many starred reviews. That was no surprise to me. What does surprise me, in fact appalls me, is that such a wonderfully crafted, entertaining, eye-catching picture book that celebrates acceptance, self-respect, speaking up, and so much more could well be among titles of books for children for which bans are sought. Why wouldn't it? Read my story summary above. There is even a single rear-view of Ogilvy choosing an item to wear from the wardrobe which reveals not a bunny tail but a bit of a bunny butt-crack. In fact, whether labeled as a dress or a sweater, not a single bunny throughout is wearing PANTS!
ALL of the bunnies wear knit clothing, some about knee-length (they call them dresses), while others wear hip-length knits they call sweaters. They demand to know exactly what it is that Ogilvy's wearing, a dress or a sweater. After all, it's mid-thigh, risking the dire consequences of ambiguity.
Why? Because the dress-wearing bunnies always play ball and knit socks, but bunnies in sweaters make art and climb rocks. Why? Indeed. Ogilvy asks just that, and gets a not-so-surprising answer:
"That's just how it is."
Ogilvy, being a very clever bunny, decides what to enjoy each day and names the clothing chosen for the day to suit the "rules" and play as they wish. Those daily choices always look the same. Lest a reader imagine that Ogilvy had no choice, a display of knitwear hangs on Ogilvy's wall, each an identical knit garment.
Of course, that clever bunny helps everyone realize how silly their "just because" rules were, right? Not that easily. This is where those bunnies take on an obviously MORE human-style behavior than wearing sweaters and dresses. They become ANGRY. They insist, DEMAND, that Ogilvy name clothing one thing or the other and stick with it.
Ogilvy, not one for confrontation or fuss, made the hardest choice of all. Ogilvy speaks up with a question that was not "WHY?" Ogilvy asks if the bunnies wearing dresses wouldn't want to make art and climb walls? Wouldn't the sweater wearing bunnies enjoy playing ball and knitting? What difference does it actually make if you wear a sweater or a dress? Then Ogilvy NAMES that favorite garment- it is an OGILVY!
Because this is a well-written and story-structured picture book, we know that bunnies realize the foolishness of their rules, but a tense page turn near the end shows a new bunny wearing some interesting headgear! Will that be a step too far, or will they welcome this new difference/change?
Here is a picture book that can be read as a simple story for the very youngest, or launch for discussion about peer pressure and how rules emerge and remain among elementary readers, and even launch complex debates and supporting arguments among adolescent groups as an analogy for current political and cultural wars.
The text is delightful rhymed couplets that are as seamless and natural as bunny (kid) conversation can be, while the illustrations will charm the yarn off readers of every age. Settings with white or pastel backgrounds and the characters themselves are cartoon-like drawings with oversized expressive eyes and heavy-lined black edges. The bunnies are made delightfully human by sporting knitwear that is actually knitted. Fans of Jon Klassen's EXTRA YARN will especially adore the technique used, which is not explained within this book. I studied the images endlessly, trying to determine if what are clearly actual knitted garments were overlaid/photographed on the bunnies, or if these little items were made, then photographed and Photoshopped onto the drawings. A check on McBeth's website shared this from a HORN BOOK review:
The Horn Book Magazine - “Illustrations “made with graphite pencils, Adobe Photoshop, and sweaters,” whose bold lines and loose shadows give a classic feel to this fable with a modern message.”
I couldn't have said that better, and HBM managed it in far fewer words than I would! Oh, how those subtle shadows provide dimension and grounding for this story! I also noted that OGILVY is a multiple award winner with many starred reviews. That was no surprise to me. What does surprise me, in fact appalls me, is that such a wonderfully crafted, entertaining, eye-catching picture book that celebrates acceptance, self-respect, speaking up, and so much more could well be among titles of books for children for which bans are sought. Why wouldn't it? Read my story summary above. There is even a single rear-view of Ogilvy choosing an item to wear from the wardrobe which reveals not a bunny tail but a bit of a bunny butt-crack. In fact, whether labeled as a dress or a sweater, not a single bunny throughout is wearing PANTS!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews