Ollie and Augustus

Ollie and his dog Augustus are best friends—they do “most things together,” and while they sometimes get on each others nerves, “they usually made up by lunchtime.” When Ollie is faced with the prospect of going to school, however, he worries about Augustus and attempts to find him a friend so he won’t be lonely. When none of the dog playdates he arranges results in a good friend for Augustus, Ollie can’t stop worrying while at school, though it ultimately proves unnecessary, as Augustus is perfectly content enjoying his daily activities and welcomes Ollie home with a hug at the end of the day. Unique inclusions in both the text—“Ollie was small—like a pickling jar”—and illustrations—the tops of Ollie’s and Augustus’ head peek just over the top of a brick wall as they people watch—give the book a distinctive, appealing flare. The sketched, almost monochrome illustrations have a classic quality, adding layers of meaning and emotion to the pithy text. Presented with Ollie standing alone in the center of the schoolyard (holding a stick that reminds him of August) as schoolmates joyfully play in pairs and trios around him, observant readers will realize that Ollie’s concern for Augustus reflected his own worries about starting school and making friends, and some readers will wish that someone helped Ollie with his worries in the same tender and loving way he tried to care for Augustus.