Sleepy Time Olie

Rolie Polie Olie

by William Joyce

When grandpa Pappy bumps his head before bedtime, Rolie Polie Olie cheers him up by inventing a super silly ray, and then they both become happy, sleepy robots. 125,000 first printing.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Robots, Fiction, Science Fiction, Family

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

William Joyce does a lot of stuff—films, apps, Olympic curling—but children’s books are his true bailiwick (The Numberlys, The Man in the Moon, Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, Toothiana, and the #1 New York Times bestselling The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, which is also an Academy Award–winning short film, to name a few). He lives with his family in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love William Joyce and I’m working through his catalog, but I’m not so keen on these Olie books. The artwork is digital and it doesn’t feel like the rest of his stuff. It doesn’t feel like William Joyce. The story isn’t all that interesting either.

A family of robots is getting ready for bed when grandpappy robot falls and can’t feel young and happy anymore. Olie makes a machine to help him smile and feel young again and then they go to bed.

The draw is anyone who loves robots like my nephew used to. I’m not sure he read this, but not with me. He did love the Olie series, but it’s not my favorite. William Joyce is amazing, but I don’t connect with these Olie books. Hey, if they pay the bills, great, but I’m not sure I’m going to read more.

I gave it 3 stars because young kids will love them if they love robots and it's still a good book, even if not written for me.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rolie Polie Olie is unwinding and getting ready for bed in this third picture-book devoted to his adventures, but finds that he needs Pappy, his grandfather, to get to sleep. When Pappy finally does show up, his rundown state is cause for alarm in the robot Rolie Polie family, until Olie concocts a marvelous ray that repairs and rejuvenates him...

Like its predecessors, Sleepy Time Olie pairs a bouncy tale told in rhyme with bright, colorful artwork. Children who enjoy stories about robots will undoubtedly take to this entire series, which incorporates picture-books, board-books, and a television show adaptation. These aren't my favorites, of author/artist William Joyce's books - that honor goes to The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore and the Guardians of Childhood series - but they are engaging, and will certainly keep young science-fiction lovers entertained.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*]

Sleepy Time Olie byWilliam Joyce. (Rolie Polie Olie Series) PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2018. $18. 9781481489638

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K, EL (K-3)- ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When Rolie Polie Olie's day is over, he waits for the nightly routine of Pappy coming in to read him a bedtime story. But tonight something is different. Pappy is nowhere to be found. Pappy suddenly appears and exclaims. "I bonked my head./I just fell down./I broke my smile. I can't unfrown." Pappy heads off to bed where he stays. Olie goes right to work creating something to make Pappy better. He uses silly items like a hat, a book of jokes, and bubbles until slowly Pappy begins to feel better. "I've never felt so 'swonderful, so 'smarvelous, so 'swirlish!" As their day ends, everything is sleeping- the moon, the house, the rocking chair…and especially Olie!

Another wonderful book by William Joyce featuring the loveable Rolie Polie Olie. The pictures are breathtaking and adorable. We didn’t love some of the rhyming because it sometimes made it difficult to read. I would have preferred the story to be in simple text. But as far as rhyming books go, Joyce does a good job. This is a tender bedtime story that will be loved by all Rolie Polie Olie fans- kids and adults alike!

Reviewer: SL
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Olie's grandfather gets sad, Olie invents a silly ray to cheer him. Did I mention they are all robots, and the whole thing is told in annoying rhyme?

My daughter at least liked it when she was three, but it didn't get a lot of re-reads, and we never sought out any other Rolie Polie Olie or William Joyce books.

I should note, it was not actually a book we chose for her. Scholastic gave it to us free when a book we ordered through their monthly classroom catalog was delayed.

[Sheri Gunderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Elena's favorite books lately; we read it every night before bed. I like it because the rhyming verses are fun to read out loud to her, and she's fascinated by the bold, colorful illustrations. (I gave it four stars because there are only a couple spots where I think the rhymes are a little contrived.)

[Tina Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite children's books to read to my boys. The words are a bit odd, but once you learn them, they flow very well. I could probably read it with my eyes closed - actually I have when I am so tired but the kids really want it read to them. The art work is great too. HBO made a movie based on the characters.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's bedtime on the moon, but not all is well, because Pappy is feeling old and run down. Good thing for robots, Olie can engineer and repair! Here's a good STEAM book for younger readers, with a jaunty rhyme and a cute family of robots.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pappy is sad and feeling broken, but Ollie saves the day with a ray of silliness.

[Jane Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Rolie Polie Olie books are really cute.

[Elke Ursin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted this one to be great, and it had some moments, but the rhymes often just didn't flow for me and were a bit awkward.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rhymes in this book made for difficult reading. The pictures were confusing to me as well. My daughter still requested it many times.

[Jennessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC! I really enjoyed reading this to my kids.

[Katie Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before he can sleep, Olie has to find a way to fix Pappy's frown. Micah really related to this one and was extremely excited that "Pappy" was in it. ;-) Very cute story and rhymes.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little bed time story.

[Rachel Deboer · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Joyce is one of my favorite authors, but this book just didn't stand out to me.

[Jaime Grande · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is okay. Nothing I would probably read twice.

[Meredith Estes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet Rolie. The addition of the grandpa was so nice. I do like the way families are portrayed in this series. This one was a good nighttime read for preschoolers.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's time for bed, but Pappy is not there to read the bedtime story. Pappy finally shows up, but he's not himself, so it's up to Olie to make Pappy his old self again.

[Re • · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so good and adorable!!

[Hannah Parks · Rating 2 out of 5]

In "Sleepy Time Olie," Pappy, Olie's grandfather, feels as though he has lost all of his energy and youth. But Olie has a wonderful idea to bring old happy Pappy back- he will make a silly ray that shoots bubbles! Then Pappy can read bedtime stories like he always does.

I found the rhymes in this book awkward and clumsy sounding. They didn't roll off the tongue, and were occasionally difficult for me to decipher. If I had to use this book in a classroom, I would include it in a unit on simply machines, as the Olie family is made up of machines. This book also incorporates a lot of geometrical shapes, and would be perfect to use with a worksheet on shape identification- just theme it to the Olies. The teacher could also have a poetry day called Rollie Pollie Rhymes, where students learn about how rhymes work using examples from the Olie universe.

[Abby Peskin · Rating 1 out of 5]

What is happening in this book? The story line is so confusing I couldn’t figure out whether it was actually talking about bedtime or whether we had started a whole new story line suddenly without really a transition or explanation.

[Little Champs]

2840

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cute illustrations, but the story is awful. Neither of my kids (6,4) liked it

[skcocnaH · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only thing I thought was interesting was the typography.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rolie Polie Olie helps Pappy be able to sleep. A nice story for bedtime.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story for nap time. I have forgotten all about that old TV show so it is nice to have found the book at the library and had the chance to read it to my daughter.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids really enjoy this book - duh, it has good rhymes and it has a robot who saves the day with silliness. But it also has a good rhythm and repetition, particularly at the end, where it winds down in a way that doesn't rile them up right before it's time to sleep. I knew they'd like it. It's not the best kids book I've ever read but they it's bound to be a favorite for them.

[Breanna sandoval]

great!

[Zayniah Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

great

[Kayla Whitlock · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought there were two words that were too much for children. Even I stumbled over them. The book did not have an even flow. Some line rhymed and others did not which threw me off