Oliver’s Must-Do List – A Review

Title: Oliver’s Must-Do List
Author: Susan Taylor Brown
Illustrator: Mary Sullivan
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (October 9, 2005)
ISBN-10: 1590781988
ISBN-13: 978-1590781982

In the morning, Oliver asked his mother, “Will you play with me today?” She answers “Let me check today’s Must-Do List.”

Oliver the rhino wants to play with his mother, but she is very busy working on her long list of chores. Oliver is lonely and bored even though he has loads of toys and a dog to play with. He tries to play with his stuffed animals and his little dog and soon discovers it is no fun without a real life playmate.

Oliver tries to build a fort by himself, but the couch pillows fall down. However, Oliver did not stop asking his mother if she would play with him. He continues asking all day right up to bedtime. The next morning Oliver had a great idea. He got up early and made his own Must-Do list and placed it on the refrigerator right over his mother’s list.

This kind of persistence worked and soon Oliver and his mother are telling jokes and playing all his favorite games right up until bed time. Children will readily identify with Oliver because they will feel Oliver’s loneliness because what parent has not sometimes been too busy to play with their child. It seems there is always too much work and no time for play.

Oliver has a wonderful personality. He is sweet and imaginative. Young readers will want to imitate him.

The illustrations are quite busy and detailed. There are many things to discover on the pages for the careful viewer. Parent and child will have a close bonding time identifying animals, toys, and other characters in all the rich and energetic pictures.

This story also presents a perfect time for mother and child to discuss responsibilities and chores and things that everyone can do around the house to make room for more play time.

About the Author: Susan Taylor Brown is the author of the picture book “Can I pray with My Eyes Open? She is also the author of the young adult novels Flirtation Waltz and Listen to the Gypsies, as well as a number of easy-readers.

About the Illustrator: Mary Sullivan has been drawing since she was able to hold a pencil. She has been illustrating professionally for many years.

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