Lulu and the Cat in the Bag

February 1, 2014

Gr 2-4-In this third book of the series, Lulu and her best friend/cousin Mellie are being cared for by their grandmother, who dislikes animals. Lulu discovers a tied-up sack on her doorstep containing a loudly snoring object. The girls are eager to open it, but Grandma Nan is afraid of adding to their overgrown menagerie of dogs, fish, parrot, and guinea pigs. One large and frightened orange cat emerges, and the adventure begins. Sadly, this story has none of the charm of Lulu and the Duck in the Park (2012) or Lulu and the Dog from the Sea (2013, both Albert Whitman). In this story, the only purpose the animals have is to react negatively to the unwelcome cat. Grandma Nan spends her time thinking of ways to get rid of Lulu's pets yet inexplicably takes the cat home. The mystery of the cat's appearance is never explained, but the reason for its size brings a satisfying and simple resolution. Fans of the previous books will miss the playful interactions between the characters and the animals. The black, gray, and white illustrations are bright and cheery, but the story doesn't match the quality of the first two books. For avid readers of the series only.-Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
This installment in the continuing story of Lulu, her cousin and best friend, Mellie, and her growing collection of pets delights. Their grandmother, Nan, who is "little and snappy and quick and kind," is staying with the girls while their parents are away on a grown-up holiday. She is not fond of animals, so this is quite brave: Lulu's menagerie is ever-growing. When a bag full (as it turns out) of a marigold-colored cat is left on the doorstep, Nan tries mightily to keep Lulu from opening something that could be dangerous, but she does not succeed. What follows is a rollicking tale of a cat that loves flowers (and is wary of humans), terrorizes Lulu's old dog Sam and young dog Rocko, and allows the girls to understand that not all animals can cohabit with the same family and that not all adults look upon creatures with the affection and care that Lulu does. Their neighbor Charlie, who loves making people "shriek and giggle," makes a cameo appearance. Why the marigold cat was so large (and so wary) is explained in the end, and a satisfactory home for the marigolds three (!) is found. The story allows for increasing complexity of situation and emotion in a way that's utterly accepting of 7-year-old thought--and it's very funny. (Fiction. 7-9)

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July 1, 2013
Grades 2-4 When an enormous orange cat is left in a bag on Lulu's doorstep, she and her cousin Mellie are awestruck, while their grandmother Nan is alarmed and irritated. But just as Lulu knows how to reassure the wary newcomer, she also understands that Nan needs time to warm up to the cat. From Lulu's independent (not to say disobedient) streak to Nan's ability to change her mind, McKay brings the characters to life in scenes full of warmth, wit, and perception. Lamont's lively drawings with gray washes illustrate the story. An appealing beginning chapter book from the excellent Lulu series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)