Ollie's Backpack (Carefree Ollie, #1)

by Riya Aarini

[kimbacaffeinate]

Ollie’s backpack starts out light and filled with outstanding things like paper to make airplanes, pencils and a dragon picture. The story talks about what can go in the backpack and what can’t. For example, a Walrus cannot. Thi had the Royals giggling with laughter. Clayton, three, declared the Walrus, “too big!”

Throughout the day, Ollie’s backpack became heavier and heavier. Each thing light or small held weight related to how Ollie felt about them. A broken toy that a bully hit him with, a rejected granola bar and a wonky wheel.

Sophia, five, quickly became attuned to the unpleasant feelings tied to objects going in the backpack. While I am not sure she understood the full message of this story, it opened the door to talk about them and her retelling assured me she understood in the simplest of terms that carrying the weight of worries everywhere isn’t good and that we can control how much we allow ourselves to carry.

Perfect for your bookshelf or classroom through Ollie’s Backpack offers an opportunity for discussion. What worries does your little one carry? The answers might surprise you.

Age Range: 5 – 7 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 2 This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer