Dinner with Olivia

Dinner with Olivia is a book based on the Olivia episode Olivia is Invited to Dinner.

The Story[]

After a busy morning at school, it was finally time for lunch. Olivia joined her friends Julian and Francine in the cafeteria. A cream cheese, pickle, and raisin sandwich! Olivia announced as she opened her lunch box. She took a big bite and smiled.

Julian had a peanut butter calzone for lunch. Want a taste? he asked. I don't think so, said Olivia. No thank you, said Francine, as she took her lunch out of her backpack. It was in a shiny purple box. What kind of lunch is that? asked Olivia. It's called a bento box, said Francine. My parents got it for me in Japan! Each compartment held a different kind of food: chicken satay, baby corn, star fruit... and that wasn't all. Look at this! Francine said proudly as she took her utensil out of the box. Wow, Olivia and Julian said at the same time. Cool spoon, said Julian. Cool fork! said Olivia. It's both - it's a spork! said Francine. Olivia and Julian were amazed.

Francine dug the spork into her bento box and pulled out a Brussels sprout. And this is a Brussels sprout. It's from Belgium... in Europe! You like Brussels sprouts? asked Julian. They're delicious! Francine answered. At my house, everything is perfectly delicious! Then Francine had an idea. Olivia, you simply must come to my house for dinner! Really? Will there be Brussels sprouts? Olivia asked. Of course not! said Francine. We never eat the same food twice in one year. Olivia was happy to hear that. I'd love to come. Thank you. Perfect! said Francine. I'll have my mother call your mother.

At home that night, Olivia decided she needed to practice her manners before going to Francine's house for dinner, so she hosted her own dinner party. She reminded her guests to always say please and thank you and to put their napkins on their laps. She told them never to fall asleep at the table. She made sure they remembered to chew with their mouths closed. At a fancy dinner party, everything needs to be perfect! Olivia told her guests.

Olivia imagines what dinner at Francine's house would be like. She pictures a fancy party at a mansion in the English countryside, with waiters on roller skates serving pink lemonade in tall glasses with curlicue straws and monkeys juggling fruit... 'Olivia! Dinnertime! called her mother, interrupting her daydream.

At the dinner table, Olivia's brother, Ian, slurped his spaghetti, splattering her dress with tomato sauce. One of his meatballs fell to the floor, where Perry, the dog, picked it up in his mouth. Perry, that's my meatball, Ian yelled, chasing him around the table. Perry gobbled it up... with his mouth open... leaving tomato sauce everywhere. I am sure they don't eat like this at Francine's house, Olivia groaned.

The next day, Olivia walked to Francine's house with her mother and brothers. Have fun tonight, Olivia, her mother said, and don't forget to invite Francine to our house for dinner too. OUR HOUSE?! said Olivia, horrified. She looked at her brothers. Ian was blowing bubbles in his juice box and William's face was smeared with jam. She imagined what dinner at her house would look like to Francine...

'Welcome to our humble... cave!'

At Francine's house, Olivia gave Francine's mother a bouquet of flowers. Why thank you, Olivia, but I have a rule about no fresh flowers in the house, said Francine's mother. They make such a mess when their petals drop! Be sure to wipe your feet, Olivia. We mustn't get footprints on the white carpet! Like any good guest, Olivia told funny stories. Just as Francine's father was telling her it wasn't polite to tell jokes at the dinner table, Olivia saw Francine's mom come out of the kitchen with bowls full of...

Brussels sprouts! Olivia looked at the pile of green in her bowl. To be polite, she decided to take a very small bite. Maybe Francine was right. Maybe Brussels sprouts were delicious. Maybe not. Olivia quickly reached for her water glass to wash it down, but... Oops! She knocked one of the Brussels sprouts out of her bowl, and it rolled off the table and onto the white carpet. Francine's mother and father were not pleased. Olivia and Francine were told to sit at the kids' table. Are you mad at me? asked Francine. Why would I be mad? asked Olivia. Because of the Brussels sprouts and the no jokes at the table, replied Francine. And, well, I was afraid you wouldn't be my friend anymore! Of course we're still friends! replied Olivia. And you should come to dinner at my house.

Later that week, it was finally Francine's turn to come to Olivia's house for dinner. It was spaghetti night. Again. I've never seen anyone do that before, said Francine as she watched Ian slurp his spaghetti. Try it! said Ian. I'll race you! said Olivia. Turns out, Francine was a natural!

That night, as Olivia's mother tucked her into bed, Olivia had one thing on her mind. Can we have spaghetti again tomorrow night? she asked. That's a little too soon, don't you think? said Olivia's mother. Okay. Good night, mom. Olivia yawned. Sweet dreams, Olivia, whispered her mother as she turned off the light and closed the door.

Differences Between Book and Episode[]

In the book, Olivia says "A cream cheese, pickle, and raisin sandwich!", but in the episode, she says "Cream cheese, pickles, raisins...".
Olivia takes a big bite of her sandwich in the book, but in the episode, she does not.
In the episode, Julian says "Want a try?" with his mouth full. In the book, he says "Want a taste?"
In the book, Francine says "No, thank you." and takes her lunch out of her backpack, but in the episode, she does not say anything nor did she have a backpack.
In the book, Francine says "It's called a bento box. My parents got it for me in Japan!" In the episode, she says "It's a bento box, from Japan!"
In the book, Francine says "Look at this!". In the episode, he does not say anything.
In the book, Olivia and Julian say "Wow!" at the same time, but in the episode, Julian says. "Whoa!"
In the book, Francine says "It's from Belgium... in Europe!" In the episode, she just says "From Belgium... in Europe!"
In the episode, Julian says "And you like them?". In the book, he says "You like Brussels sprouts?"
In the episode, Francine says "At my house, they're delicious!" In the book, she just says, "They're delicious!"
In the book, Francine says "At my house, everything is perfectly delicious!" In the episode, she says "At my house, everything is just perfect!"
In the episode, Francine says, "Oh no, we never have the same food twice in one year." In the book, she says "Of course not! We never eat the same food twice in one year."
In the book, Francine says "Perfect", but in the episode, she does not say anything.
In the episode, Olivia reminds her guests to always say thank you, put their napkins in their lap, and chew with their mouth closed, but in the book, she tells them to say please AND thank you, put their napkins in their lap, never to fall asleep at the table and chew with their mouths closed.
In the book, Olivia reminds her guests to chew with their mouths closed. In the episode, she reminds Perry to do so.
In the book, Ian chases Perry around the table. In the episode, he chases him in the living room.
In the book, Perry gobbles up Ian's meatball, but in the episode, Mother just takes it.
In the episode, Olivia says "I am quite sure they do not eat like this at Francine's." In the book, she says "I am quite sure they don't eat like this at Francine's house."
In the book, Olivia's mother says "Have fun tonight, Olivia, and don't forget to invite Francine to our house for dinner too." In the episode, she says, "You remember your manners right?" and "And please be sure to invite Francine to our house for dinner too.
In the book, a horrified Olivia says "OUR HOUSE?" but in the episode, she just says "Dinner? At our house?"
In the book, Olivia says "Welcome to our humble... cave!". In the episode, she just says, "Welcome to our cave!"
In the episode, Francine's mother says, "They make a big mess when their petals drop!" In the book, she says "They make such a mess when their petals drop!"
In the book, Francine's mother says, "Be sure to wipe your feet, Olivia. We mustn't get footprints on the white carpet!" but in the episode, she says, "Now, be sure to wipe your feet. Mustn't have footprints on the white carpet."
In the episode, Olivia and Francine tell a funny story about Ian's goldlfish. In the book, they tell jokes.
In the book, Olivia sees Francine's mother come out of the kitchen with bowls full of Brussels sprouts, but in the episode, she sees Francine's parents come out with Brussels sprouts.
In the book, one of the Brussels sprouts rolls off the table and onto the white carpet. In the episode, it rolls off the table and to the floor.
In the episode, Francine says, "Because of the Brussels sprouts and no laughing at the table," but in the book, she says, "Because of the Brussels sprouts and the no jokes at the table".
In the episode, Olivia says, "Come on, let's clean up," but in the book, she says, "And you should come to dinner at my house."
In the book, Olivia says, "Can we have spaghetti again tomorrow night?" In the episode, she says "Can we have spaghetti night tomorrow too?"
In the episode, Mother says, "A little too soon, wouldn't you say?" In the book, she says, "That's a little too soon, don't you think?"
In the book, Olivia yawns, "Okay. Good night, mom." and her mother whispers, "Sweet dreams, Olivia." In the episode, Mother says, "Goodnight, Olivia." and Olivia yawns, "Good night mom."

Dub edits[]

In the UK dub, peanut butter calzone is referred to strawberry jam pasty.
Olivia says "A calzone is pizza crust, tomato sauce, cheese..." and Julian says "And peanut butter". This was changed to "A pasty is some pastry, vegetables, meat, and strawberry jam."