Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Lola and her daddy visit the library on Saturday, where Lola finds some "excellent" books. Each day, after she and one of her parents read another book, Lola's playtime reflects the characters and stories. For example, after reading a book about a fairy princess, Lola wears a fancy dress and becomes a "fabulous fairy princess." After reading about fierce tigers, Lola chases her friend around the jungle, and so on. Each day unfolds as a reflection of the last book read, and each page of Anna McQuinn's book (2010) is a delightful adventure. Music by Peter Calo provides a joyous background to Nikki James's enthusiastic and expressive narration. In most instances, descriptions include an interesting vocabulary word such as "amazing," or "fantastic," or "cappuccino"; unfortunately, when Lola is a farmer like Old MacDonald, her cow has a "boo-boo." Rosalind Beardshaw's bright and colorful illustrations lend much to the story, aptly depicting the African-American family sharing happy reading times and Lola' creative playtimes. It is helpful to have the book handy when, in the end, Lola becomes a "wild and wicked monster"-in the style of Maurice Sendak. Book lovers and anyone with an imagination will love this sequel to Lola at the Library (2006, both Charlesbridge).-MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools, Binghamton, NY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In this companion to Lola at the Library, Lola checks out books on Saturdays. Each day thereafter her parents read to her, and the stories inspire Lola as she plays: she becomes a princess, an adventurer, a tiger, etc. McQuinn's straightforward text is ideal for group sharing. Beardshaw's round-edged acrylic illustrations effectively depict a child's real world--and her imaginary ones. Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
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 onewhich is about a wild monsterposing 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 leadnot such a bad thing. (Picture book. 3-5)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
