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The giant couldn’t believe it. He had found the perfect Olive. So round, so shiny, so black—he must show all of his friends! So starts the journey of The Giant as he runs to share his happiness with everyone and the sorrow and joy that grows from his jubilation.
Leo Daly, the son of iconic South African illustrator and writer Niki Daly, re-imagines the universal tale of loss, grief, and the joy of new beginnings. A simple but empathetic story borne from the pain and loss of a miscarriage, this big-hearted, humorous story of a tall Giant in love with a little Olive examines our loves, passions, and the destruction of loss. A breath of fresh air that unflinchingly tackles our greatest fear.
Like Where the Wild Things Are or Frog and Toad, A Lost Button, The Giant and the Olive tackles our fears and triumphs with humor and grace. A tale for any age from the kindergartner to the octogenarian.
“Lovely illustrations in saturated colors, revealing cozy cottages, the lush greens of summer, and the fluffy deep snow of winter, are the highlight of this simple tale of loss and love.” – Booklist
“Truly joyful! Despite scaring cows and laughing loud ho ho ho’s, this giantly giant has an enormous capacity for love. The story leaves us with the hope that one day we may spy him lying under a huge olive tree. What a dear friend he would be! Daly’s fresh, clear illustrations do justice to the story and never overwhelm, or scare the reader, but intrigue with quirky details of the giant’s tiny teeth, his squishy nose and the way his eyebrows show how he feels. From the moment he raises his arm in greeting on the first page, we know he is a giant to be loved! And when the story reaches its saddest point, it’s the white blankness of the page that captures the emotion and the sense of loss. Just wonderful!" — Dianne Hofmeyr, author of The Magic Bojabi Tree and Storm Dragon
Leo Daly is the son of iconic South African Illustrator and writer Niki Daly. He lives with his wife Magriet Brink in a tiny house by the sea on the southern tip of Africa. You can follow Leo and Magriet @we_are_creativehouse on Instagram.