Hattie + Olaf by Frida Nilsson

Hattie and Olaf by Swedish writer Frida Nilsson has been translated into English by Gecko Press, a small New Zealand-based independent publisher that specialises in publishing books chosen from the best writers and illustrators in the world.  Thus Hattie and Olaf has already been through a rigorous selection process before its distribution in Australia by Walker Books. It is not difficult to see why Hattie and Olaf passed that discerning screen. It is a delightful chapter book for young readers.

The central character is six-year-old Hattie who is navigating her first year in school. Hattie is feisty. Through the third person narrator, the reader has access to Hattie's thoughts and reactions to the goings-on around her, both at school and at home. The action and dialogue in the classroom and playground would be very easy for junior primary children to relate to. There are shifting friendships, rejections, bullying and put-downs. Family strength and togetherness remains stalwart.

Central to the story is Hattie's desire to have a beautiful horse. Hattie's Papa cannot afford a horse but he procures Olaf, an unprepossessing donkey with bad attitude from a neighbour. Hattie is shattered and doesn't know how to let her parents know because she doesn't want to disappoint her father. She creates an unstoppable lie that grows out of control at school. Events proceed from there.

Hattie and Olaf takes readers to a snowy village in Sweden where there is a forest on the edge of town and frozen lakes to skate on. Hattie is a bold and brave heroine, not unlike Pippi Longstocking in her "bull at a gate" approach to life's problems. It is not surprising that Nilsson has been awarded the Astrid Lindgren prize. Stina Wirsen's illustrations complement the book perfectly.

Warm and funny, Hattie and Olaf is a follow-up to Hattie.

Highly recommended, funny, illustrated chaper book.

Themes: Starting school, Telling the truth, Family, Friendship.

Wendy Jeffrey