Lola Loves Stories

June 28, 2010
In Lola at the Library (2006), readers learned that bibliophilic Lola and her mother travel to the library every Tuesday. Turns out one trip a week isn't enough: every Saturday, Lola and her father pick out library books, which then become the inspiration for pretend play the rest of the week. "Tuesday night Lola's mommy reads a story about fierce tigers. The next day Lola chases her friend Orla all over the jungle" (actually a backyard that the two girls have stocked with stuffed animals). McQuinn and Beardshaw keep their young African-American heroine firmly rooted in the real world, and while the sturdy characterizations and cheery, saturated acrylic colors are never less than genial, the literalness starts to feel a bit ho-hum—it's almost like reading a recipe book for "Let's Pretend." A nod to Where the Wild Things Are in the final pages (it's the last book Lola and her father read) may remind readers all too well of what a real flight of fancy looks like. Ages 2–5.

June 1, 2010

Lola's daddy takes her to the library every Saturday, where she finds "excellent books," and every night her mommy or daddy reads them to her. The next day Lola acts out the story. On Sunday she's a fairy princess; on Monday she takes her toy animals "on fantastic trips to places like Paris"; on Wednesday she's a tiger, etc. Each new book and day provides Lola with a variety of tales to play out, with the last one—which is about a wild monster—posing the question, "What will Lola be tomorrow?" The final page shows her in a wolf suit just like Max's. The library books, the pretending and the incorporation of the days of the week work together as a simple and pleasing premise. Beardshaw's acrylic illustrations depict the multicultural kids and Lola's black family with childlike charm, while the title will have librarians, parents and booksellers smiling. Alert: The book will be an invitation for lap kids to follow Lola's lead—not such a bad thing. (Picture book. 3-5)

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Starred review from July 1, 2010
PreS-Gr 1—-he lovable African-American preschooler from "Lola at the Library"(Charlesbridge, 2006) returns in this whimsical picture book. Lola and her daddy go to the library every Saturday to pick out books. The stories she reads with her family throughout the week lend inspiration to her playtime, stretching her imagination and physical limits. Lola becomes a fairy princess, a pilot flying to exotic places, a farmer, and even a "wild and wicked" monster. The simple and straightforward text is easy to read, and the bright acrylic illustrations are eye-catching close-ups of Lola absorbed in books and in play. This engaging depiction of a child's enthusiasm for being read to is an excellent choice for libraries.—"Sara Figueroa, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA"

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