Olivia is back, and her vivid imagination is on the loose. When it’s her turn to tell the class about her vacation, Olivia embarks on a wild and wonderful story about the day her mother took her to the circus and all the performers were out sick (with ear infections). “Luckily, I knew how to do everything,” says this irrepressible little pig, who relates each of the magnificent circus feats she performed. As in the original Olivia (Atheneum, 2000), this droll, witty story is illustrated in charcoal on gouache. The black-and-white artwork is enhanced with lively, judicious touches of red and pink — for Olivia’s long johns, hair bows, the circus ring, stripes in her tights. The story begins and ends in Olivia’s bedroom, where a beautiful photograph of the aging Eleanor Roosevelt, arms raised gracefully over her head, hangs on the wall: kindred spirit, indeed. (Ages 4–7)

Everyone's favorite piglet makes an encore appearance that finds her back at school after vacation. When called upon to tell the class what she did while she was off, Olivia first says she took a simple trip to the circus. But since all the performers were out sick with ear infections, Olivia had to ride the elephants, eat fire, and swing on the trapeze--and basically save the show. Full-color illustrations.