Ladybug Girl and the Best Ever Playdate

June 22, 2015
The value of imaginative, free-form play has always been a key element of the Ladybug Girl books, and Soman and Davis emphasize it even more in this outing, which centers around a play date between Lulu and her friend Finny, a brown-skinned girl with dreadlocks. Readers will quickly recognize (along with Finny) that Lulu is more focused on Finny’s large, equine pull-toy, Rolly-Roo, than she is on her friend. But before long the two have put the toy aside in favor of romping through fields, building fairy houses, and throwing tea parties. The friends’ reconciliation comes a bit too easily, but Ladybug Girl’s world is still a charming place to spend time. Ages 3–5.

June 15, 2015
Ladybug Girl-aka Lulu-is so excited about her best friend's new toy that she temporarily forgets the joys of friendship. At the end of a double-page spread in which Lulu enthuses to her mother about the amazing things a child can do with Finny's "Rolly-Roo" toy, this passage ensues: " 'I can't wait to play with it!' 'You mean play with Finny, right?' says Mama. 'Yes, of course that's what I mean, ' Lulu mumbles." Here, Mama's expression is deflated, while Lulu has a wary sideways glance. Similar challenges to the text from the illustrations occur throughout and provide the youngest readers a chance to give a giggle and a knowing nod. As expected, Lulu pays much more attention to the Rolly-Roo than to her best friend, and then an age-appropriate crisis occurs. The obvious lesson becomes fun when Finny as Grasshopper Girl and Lulu as Ladybug Girl eventually use their expertise to fix the problem, then use their imaginations to have a rollicking good time together. The artwork contains ethnic diversity, active girls, an endearing basset hound, and plenty of eye-catching indoor and outdoor backgrounds. The text is large, bold, and easy to read. The language has been carefully crafted so that most of the conversations provide models for children just beginning to navigate the sticky wicket of socializing. Ladybug Girl fans will find this offering satisfying, and its gentle didacticism goes down easy. (Picture book. 3-6)

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September 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-Lulu the Ladybug Girl is back, and this time she's thrilled to play with her friend Finny (aka Grasshopper Girl)-but only because Finny has brought her Rolly-Roo, a large wheeled toy horse that Lulu calls "the most amazing toy in the world." Lulu's reluctance to play any game that doesn't center around the toy does not escape her friend's notice, and when the wheel breaks off, hurt feelings come to a head. Lulu works to repair the broken toy and her friend's hurt feelings in a believable, childlike way, and she soon realizes that friends are way more fun than toys. The story also shows an interracial friendship. VERDICT With conflict and dialogue squarely centered in a child's world and expressive watercolor-and-ink illustrations, this is a welcome addition to a beloved series.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

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