Lulu Is Getting a Sister

February 1, 2018

Gr 2-4-Lulu is not thrilled when her parents announce a baby sister will be joining their happy home, which has revolved around their spoiled only daughter's every whim until now. In this fourth book in the "Lulu" series, which can be read independently, Lulu is quickly packed off to Camp Sisterhood where her counselor-in-chief, Call-Me-Debbie, partners Lulu with a temporary sibling so she can experience the joy of being a big sister. With authorial intrusion, the narrator lends just the right touch of humor to the main character who regularly engages in tantrums and lightbulb-bursting screeches, making an unlikable protagonist entertaining. While most SITs (Sisters-in-Training) connect with one sibling, Lulu mows through three different siblings before realizing that maybe having a little sister "isn't as bad as getting a tooth pulled." Lively and comical black-and-white illustrations depict a loudmouthed Lulu and her spirited antics, while short chapters and a generous use of white space will motivate reluctant readers. VERDICT Rich vocabulary and a relatable theme make this an excellent chapter book for children moving beyond beginning readers and an entertaining selection for a classroom read-aloud. Highly recommended.-Rachel Zuffa, Racine Public Library, WIChapter BookGraphic Novels

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2018
Spoiled Lulu is writhing in the throes of a titanic tantrum. Readers familiar with little Lulu and this droll early chapter book series won't be surprised by her wails at all, but the catalyst of this particular fit might stop them in their tracks: a baby sister! Children facing such a seismic family change will immediately understand her fears and frustrations. "Why in the world would they need another child? And why would they want a girl, when they've already GOT a girl, namely Lulu, who totally had this girl-in-the-family thing covered?" While understanding (or even believing) Lulu's extraordinarily rude, smug behavior remains challenging throughout the short, flip chapters of this book, empathizing with her quite-common worries about a new sibling is easy. Her parents' decision to send her to Camp Sisterhood, a sleep-away camp that prepares girls to act as kind, loving older siblings by pairing them with little-kid stand-ins, doesn't seem such a bad idea. As it did in Lulu's Mysterious Mission (2014), Cornell's artwork quite aptly captures Lulu's ugly antics and their effects on her audience. Funny grimaces, saucer eyes, furrowed brows, and frowns abound; Lulu and her family seem to be white, while the campers are a diverse group.The slapstick illustrations and the chatty narrative are sure to appeal to transitioning readers and to children who both love and endure a sibling. (Picture book. 4-6)

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