Oliver's Vegetables

by Vivian French, Alison Bartlett

While visiting his grandfather, who has a wonderful garden, Oliver learns to eat vegetables other than potatoes

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Childrens, Fiction, Gardening, Juvenile, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

About the author

Vivian June Isoult French MBE was born in 1945 and educated at Exeter University.
Vivian French was best known in school for being extremely skinny and for talking a lot. At school she developed an attachment to words and later became an actor, then a storyteller, and finally a writer of children's books. She is the author of more than two hundred books. Ms. French lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has four grown daughters.

Reviews

[Sally Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver’s Vegetable is an enjoyable story which tells the story of a young boy called Oliver who only eats chips. One day Oliver goes to his grandparents’ house – where they grow their own vegetables -to the disgust of Oliver, who insists ‘I don’t eat vegetables!’ Throughout the story you see the growth in Oliver’s eating habits, when eventually you see Oliver eating carrots, spinach, rhubarb, cabbage and beetroot. This story is an ideal way to discuss with young children about healthy eating. I recommend this book to young children as it is a new, funny alternative to approach the subject of healthy eating, and the pictures will allow children to be inspired as a result of it.

[Justine Ridder · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have given it a better rating except I'm not the biggest fan of the pictures.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to read this book to my children. They enjoyed the story. We all loved the beautiful illustrations, they have a certain impressionistic feel to them - you really have to look to find out what's going on. Grandma is suprisingly wacky and alternative when you study her clothes!

Slightly on the minus side - speaking only as an adult here - I used to feel slightly riled by the suggestion that a child could be so easily conned into eating vegetables. Neither my children nor any others I know would have been fooled by Grandad's ploys - they would probably have enjoyed looking for them, but their mouths would still have remained firmly clamped shut in the face of spinach, peas, etc. I remember them picking gooseberries in my in-laws' garden; it didn't persuade them to eat the gooseberry crumble!

But this is the hardened cynic speaking. This is fiction, it's a story. My children liked, and still remember, this book, and as I said, the art work really is stunning.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently read [Oliver’s Fruit Salad:], a very clear attempt to get kids to find fruits appealing foods. So, I decided to give this book a try, knowing that it would be lobbying for kids to eat their vegetables.

First, I have to say that I love Oliver’s dog. Cute!

I think I liked this book better than the fruit one. There was a bit more of a story to it. It won’t fool most kids about what it’s trying to show: vegetables taste good.

However, it might work. Whether it does or not, I enjoyed the humor in it, and enjoy Oliver and his grandfather, and also his grandmother and his parents, and definitely the dog.

[Abi Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked to read this book by children aged 3 - 4, who found the story very funny due to Oliver only liking chips to eat. The discovery process he goes through, trying new vegetables with his grandfather makes for a gentle read with children. During each discovery, the children I was with enjoyed a discussion about their favourite foods and whether they liked or disliked the vegetable Oliver was trying.

Good links to healthy eating, trying new foods and the fun of growing your own food.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase Oliver's Vegetables here for just $3!

This book is perfect in encouraging kids that are having difficulty with trying new foods and for kids that are interested in gardening. A really lovely story.

Alicia - The Book Grocer

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book doesn't try to hide it's purpose, but it is beautiful and clever and so worth reading with a picky eater in your family. We borrowed it from the library and will be picking up a copy of our own soon as we can't bear to part with it! The illustrations are beautiful.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I only eat French fries." Join Oliver on a scavenger hunt through his grandpa's garden as he searches for potatoes to make French fries. Along the way he discovers many other types of vegetables and learns that he likes more than just French fries.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oliver is going to visit his grandparents for the week and they grow vegetables. Will he eat any? Cute way to introduce vegetables, how they grow, and different use for them. Preschool and up for length.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book, even though I found some of the pictures a little hard to decipher.
Really good to encourage children to try new foods because, guess what, they might enjoy them!
Also awareness of where food comes from, e.g. dig it out of the ground, not just go to the shop :-)

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third Oliver book apparently, although the first one I have read, not that it matters with these books.
A short illustrated story, promoting vegetables, and helping Oliver overcome only wanting chips.
A good healthy book.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutly amazing book to read with children. Especially if you're struggling to get them to eat vegetables. Can't recommend it enough. Small taste sessions after each new vegetable are a must and it really encourage children to become curious about new and exciting vegetables.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, teaching 4-6 year olds about where our vegetables comes from! Oliver is a fussy eater, so will he eat any? Really good way to introduce vegetables, and how they grow.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oliver is a picky kid who only wants to eat chips. Granola uses some reverse psychology --and an impressive garden -- to get Oliver to try some new foods, which he turns out to love.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the story, the way the days of the week are worked in, the way Oliver opens up to trying new things to eat, and even the little inside joke at the end between him and his grandparents. It's cute all around, but I think the illustrations could have added more to the story. At no point do we see Oliver actually eat the vegetables the story says he eats. It would have been nice to see the various ways they were made into dinner.

[Jessica Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver despises vegetables. When Oliver is invited to his grandpas, he learns he can have chips if he finds potatoes in his grandpa’s garden. His grandpa lets him know if he finds something else, he must eat that instead. On his quest, Oliver discovers a variety of foods that he initially did not like were actually really tasty. Oliver changes his mind by the end of his visit about vegetables from his grandpa’s garden.

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

We enjoyed this. Shame the vegetable illustrations aren't more detailed/accurate though. My child would have liked to use the book to match the vegetables in real life but it's not clear enough for that sadly.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for encouraging veg

[Melanie MYD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful for teaching English - use of speech in text.

[jade]

(for work - inspo)

[Rose]

E Fre

[Doran good · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant book with a good lesson in it!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A standby book to read about vegetables and how Oliver doesn't eat vegetables until he discovers likes a particular kind of vegetable:)

[Laneika Cason · Rating 3 out of 5]

PB39. As a mother of a picky eater, I like this book. What better way to encourage a child to try new veggies than to see know exactly where it comes from and/or pick the veggies him or herself.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would have given it more stars but I just really disliked the illustrations.