Review by Booklist Review
Girly girls who have outgrown the Fancy Nancy beginning readers will flock to this illustrated early chapter book about fashion-obsessed Kiki. Writing and drawing in an OTT (over the top) diary her mother gave her, Kiki discusses her BFFs in the LLGC (Lotus Lane Girls Club). Our girl loves an acronym; her sweater-wearing dog, Maxi; selecting outfits for Funky Fashion Friday; and stating facts (FACT: I am 100% inspired by Mom's kimonos! ). Throughout, there are hip line illustrations that reinforce the text, like a map of Kiki's neighborhood, with each of her friends' houses labeled, as well as IM messages and doodles. The plot moves quickly and includes your basics: friendship drama, a missing dog, pajama parties. This offers more of a reading challenge than early readers (particularly given the hand-lettered type on ruled notebook paper), and it is a nice stepping stone to more advanced chapter books. Looks like each of the LLGC girls will get their moment in the sun; next up is Coco: My Delicious Life, due out this summer.--Kelley, Ann Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
Fashion-loving Kiki and her friends form the Lotus Lane Girls Club. Kiki's school project means she can pursue her passion, fashion design. But will her new neighbor ruin everything? Told in a diary format with lined pages and lots of illustrations, this series starter will engage budding fashionistas even if they don't buy the unconvincing voice. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
"I am Kiki, World-Famous Style Star!" Meet Kiki, budding fashionista, expert shopper, enthusiastic dog lover, devoted chicken caregiver and excellent friend. Since her mom is going away for a week for her work as a fashion stylist, Kiki is keeping a journal to apprise her of everything that goes on, particularly the adventures of the Lotus Lane Girls Club (Kiki and her friends Lulu and Coco). In an accessible diary format that includes texts, drawings of Kiki's various outfits and side commentary, Kiki relates--in preteenspeak --some of the highs (pajama parties, cupcake baking, outfit planning) and lows (stressing over a school project, failing to befriend new classmate Mika) of being an elementary school girl. When it turns out that both Kiki and Mika have chosen to create fashions for the school art fair, the competition gets a little fierce; add to it various misunderstandings and a missing dog, and a huge mess ensues. What's a girl to do? While admittedly very light fare with a thin plot, minimal character development and an excess of exclamation points, girly girls and fans of May's earlier books will eat this up. Though part of the publisher's new Branches series of chapter books, the busy format may initially stump children just graduating from early readers. A good choice for girls who love sparkles. (Fiction. 6-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
