Princess Lulu Goes to Camp

December 1, 1997
Gr 1-3-Lulu is everyone's idea of a horrible little princess, but she turns from a "royal pain" into a happy camper in this easy reader. At the beginning, she definitely has an attitude problem. "She did not have a friend. Who needs them!' she would say to a spot on her wall." A wise man suggests that the king and queen send her to Camp Ruff 'n' Tuff. On the bus ride there she meets Tuna (named for the tuna fish sandwiches she eats), and finally makes a friend. Even though the pretty princess eventually dresses in T-shirts and shorts, she can't give up her Mary Janes or ruffled socks and she always wears her crown, of course. Maione's cartoon watercolors add charm to the story and help readers identify the predictable characters.-Suzanne Hawley, Laurel Oak Elementary School, Naples, FL

August 1, 1997
Gr. 1^-2. Lulu is a princess who's a royal pain. Since she has no friends, her parents decide to send her to camp. Lulu is not a happy camper: no servants, no phone, and no fun. But when her crown falls in the lake, and she makes another camper giggle, Lulu gets the first inkling of what it's like to have a friend. A happy summer ensues in this story, which has a fresh premise and is funny enough to keep new readers going. The watercolor-and-pen illustrations are well executed, capturing the humor of Lulu's transformation. ((Reviewed Aug. 1997))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1997, American Library Association.)