Little Olive

Little Olive spent the afternoon exploring her new neighborhood, discovering a garden in the park filled with daisies. "Love me, love me not," she whispered.

She walked a little farther and found a patch of green clover among three weeping willows. As the breeze nipped her nose, she sprawled in the shade. The weeping willows sang to her in hushed voices while she searched for a four-leaf clover. Maybe if she found a four-leaf clover, she'd have a little luck in finding friends, she thought.

As the sun began to set, Little Olive headed toward home. She lumbered along, head hung low, murmuring her thoughts out loud, "Will anyone in this new place like me? How am I going to find friends?"

Little Olive is a book about discovery and self-acceptance. It is the third published book by Kimberly Hoffman. Other books include Grandpa Paul, the River Pirate and Planting Pickles with Papa Dan.

One of the best parts of storytelling is taking real life and adding a twist of fiction. All of Hoffman's works are based on real people, real events, and now real dogs. Hoffman's love of dogs moved her to feature Little Olive, her eleven-pound Italian greyhound, in this heartwarming story about feeling different. While Little Olive is the key character, the book was inspired by Hoffman's eldest daughter, Katelyn.

All twelve dogs (and a cat) portrayed in the book have been part of Hoffman's extended family. The characteristics portrayed, clear down to Ted E Bear smelling like strawberries, are all true. Quinn is "quanky," and Piper does have a directional tail. And Penny the chihuahua? She's a talker for sure.

Then there's Little Olive. She is especially unique with her blind left eye and toothless grin but oh so adorable in countless ways. Her spirit shines through as she overcomes her fears while simultaneously discovering that everyone (and every dog) is wonderfully different.