Book excerpt: A Children's Book for Ages Two to Twelve Years Old Betty Oliver is a veteran teacher and world traveler who shares her passion for learning with children of all ages. She has taken her love of painting, writing, and storytelling and created another great adventure for the Ollie and Mollie series. In this book, readers will learn many interesting animal facts about elephants, zebras, horses, and even kangaroos. She'll describe the fierceness of sharks, eagles, lions, cheetahs, and bears. There will be curiosities that will make you wonder about owls, peacocks, and puffins. She'll entice you to want to hug cute and cuddly dogs, cats, and sweet rabbits. Readers will be taken on adventures that bring new ways of seeing our beautiful animal kingdom. The illustrations will bring delight and smiles through colorful watercolor paintings. This book is another precious gem in the Ollie and Mollie series. --Cathy Peyton, retired school system administrator, Virginia Beach, Virginia As a successful and beloved elementary school teacher of forty years, Betty Oliver understands what children need to learn and, more importantly, how to make them love what they are learning. During my career as a high school English teacher, I had the privilege of teaching many students who had been taught by Mrs. Oliver in fourth or fifth grade. They spoke of her enthusiasm and her love for teaching them writing and how it inspired them throughout their years in school. Turning the pages of this delightful and informative book is like viewing through a kaleidoscope a diverse array of animals in their natural habitats spanning the globe. Mrs. Oliver creatively merges her firsthand experiences, encounters, and knowledge that she gained from her travels throughout the world with her own charming paintings of these magnificent creatures. --Wendy M. Lewis, MA English instructor at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia What a pleasure it is to read about the latest adventures of our penguin friends, Ollie and Mollie! Mrs. Oliver was one of the wonderful teachers I was blessed to have when I was in elementary school, and I have to smile when I think about how after all these years, she is still teaching me new things! Mrs. Oliver was an amazing teacher then, and she continues to be one to this day! I can't wait to share this story with my own pre-K students. Not only will they learn fun facts about animals from all parts of this amazing world in which we live but also their little eyes will get a treat when looking at Mrs. Oliver's beautiful animal paintings. --Rebecca Matney Uenking, pre-kindergarten teacher, Virginia Beach City Public School System 34