The Giant and the Olive

Written and illustrated by Leo Daly (Catalyst Press)

Age 4-9

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.

A story inspired by loss

Daly was inspired to write the story while on a walk, ruminating on the recent losses he had experienced. His wife suffered a miscarriage, his father was diagnosed with cancer and he had lost a few beloved family pets. The story shares the redemptive arc of finding love, losing it and then finding new life and hope.

I love the bright and expansive illustrations which depict the giant’s life in the country. He is a jolly giant, playfully scaring the cows, chatting to the locals and “laughing slowly through the day: HO HO HO!”

When he finds the olive, it is true love and he shares his joy with everyone. When he loses the olive, he shuts in on himself, ignoring the calls of well-meaning visitors and hiding in his home.

The seasons follow his emotions with evocative illustrations showing a cold, white bare page for winter and loss and then the bright green promise of spring with birds and butterflies flitting about, bringing hope and growth.

This little parable encourges children to think of what they love and how loss can be endured.

Like Where the Wild Things Are, Daly’s book tackles our fears and triumphs with humor and grace.

Meet the author

Leo Daly was born to South Africa’s much-loved writers and illustrators, Jude and Niki Daly. Children’s books were ever-present and formed the foundation for his love of literature.

Daly worked for many years in bookstores locally and overseas, and it was while working at Blackwell’s academic bookstore that he discovered a great appreciation for literary criticism, which revealed a deeper understanding of literature and its importance.

Leo and his wife Magriet returned to South Africa, where Leo has worked as a writer and illustrator of children’s books and educational material for over a decade, often collaborating with his wife. He has worked on projects for Oxford University Press, MacMillan, Pearson, Cambridge University Press, Nal’ibali, Shuter and Shooter Publishers, Marshall Cavendish and more.

Listen to our Book Tree Podcast interview here.