Review by Booklist Review
Kirsch takes readers on a heartwarming adventure as protagonist Olivio Kipling tries to share an important piece of news about his life with his friends. Not only is O.K. glad to share that he is gay, but he's even more excited to share that he's found the person he belongs with: George! O.K.'s eagerness to share this celebratory news dips when each well-meaning friend he encounters assumes they know what he's going to say--and it's always an interesting fact about who he is, but it never has to do with his identity or George. Kirsch's jaunty illustration style and vibrant palette make following O.K. on his journey of discovery a joyous experience, one that will have readers rooting for O.K. to share his truth with people who are important to him. Kirsch's sweet coverage of a story about queer joy acknowledges two big ideas: that O.K. deserves to be gay and happy in his truth, and that O.K. is also a wonderful sum of all of the interesting parts his friends love about him.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Olivio Kipling--O.K. for short--wants to tell everyone that he and George, first seen beneath a rainbow-colored umbrella, belong together. But each time the child tries to share his news, others abruptly cut him off with their own knowledge about him. When he begins, "I am gay...," O.K.'s told that he's great at drawing dragons, that he never forgets binoculars at the ballet, or that he collects dinosaur bones. "People know a lot about him," gentle text reads, "But no one knows the best part." Kirsch brings reiterative plotting to this social story, in which simple dialogue and textural watercolor art amount to a pile of information about O.K.--and eventually build to a sweet understanding of why everyone knows so much about him. The protagonists have pale skin; other characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. (May)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young boy celebrates his identity. Olivio Kipling, alias O.K., is on a mission: to tell his friends about his new love, George. Approaching each friend, Olivio starts by coming out. Before he can get further than "I am gay and…," his friend supplies a different fact about him. He built a treetop fort with an elevator, he likes to sit in the front seat of roller coasters, he has a pet tarantula named Hairy, and so on. They're frustrating interactions for O.K., because while it's obvious that his friends love him, "no one knows the best part" about his life. With each conversation, though, O.K. collects a colorful accessory, until he has a rainbow of botanicals and other accoutrements. Suddenly he runs into George, carrying the same items, indicating that their social circle knew more than they were letting on. The story is delightful in its simplicity, with a message of love and affection that avoids treacly cliches. The real star of the show is the art. Kirsch's pages have a timeless quality that readers of all ages will enjoy. His large-headed, skinny-limbed characters have an exaggerated look, while deeply saturated backgrounds grab readers' attention. Youngsters will eagerly pore over the many details during a lap-sit read, while a healthy balance of vibrant colors and white space combine to make this an excellent choice for a large storytime. So much more than O.K.--a spectacularly affirming story.(Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
