Jacky Davis (1)

I really adore this book. Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy is a story I had not read before, and I am so glad that I had the chance to read it. It is one of the most delightful contemporary realistic fiction children’s books I have read this semester. In my opinion, the author’s offer a very simple, lighthearted story about something all young people experience: playtime disagreements. The first aspect of this text that made it so likeable is the characters. The main characters, Sam and show more Lulu are two very well-defined characters in that their personalities are bold and representative of the qualities of most children their age. This fact makes these characters, and therefore this story very relatable. I also enjoyed the way the authors incorporated some interactive material in their writing because this encourages readers to participate in the story and think critically about the problem. For example, Soman and Davis write, “Lulu’s cheeks are getting hot. She is very frustrated. Why doesn’t Sam want to play?” This leads into yet another aspect of this book that I like very much: the plot. The plot itself is actually quite powerful in terms of addressing a younger audience, but the authors have turned the important concept into a cute, fresh, and humorous story. “’If we’re going to play together,’ says Ladybug Girl, ‘we don’t fight each other.’” The big idea of this book is that even though you may not want to compromise, but often times, fighting will make matters worse, whereas simply working together can produce a more favorable outcome. show less

6. The “Ladybug Girl” is a book about staying true to yourself. The story unfolds a young girl who doesn’t know if she should dress up as her original costume, a ladybug, or to wear a different costume. I like this book for a few reasons. The book’s overall setting takes place during fall in which each part of the story illustrates fall leaves, Halloween costumes, bundling up, crisp autumn days, pumpkins, scarecrows, and cornstalks. The warm colors gives a cool fall touch as you read show more through the pages. I like how the author uses the tall dark corn stalks to portray the main character, Lulu, as the heroic symbol of the story. For instance, three quarters into the story, after not finding the perfect costume to wear, Lulu helps a lost young girl find her way to her parents through the cornstalks. Lulu had her ladybug costume on underneath which in the end of the story connected her to being her true self as a heroic character. Also, I enjoyed how the writing all through the story teaches readers something about the season fall. This chapter book is extremely educational. When Lulu had to go to the orchard with her family, the book presents an illustration of Lulu bundling up and reads, “Everyone has to bundle up to keep warm against the crisp autumn day.” In addition, the language is authentic and descriptive. There are sentences with detailed words, such as “dried leaves and hay crunch under her feet.” The language and writing ties the book together to create the event as believable and realistic. This helps with showing how the big idea of staying true to yourself is important. show less

Ladybug Girl Lulu, whose many imaginative adventures have been chronicled in ten previous picture-books by author Jacky Davis and David Soman, returns in this latest tale. Visiting the Farmer's Market with her mother, Ladybug Girl is drawn to the Adopt-A-Dog event going on, getting involved, together with her friends Bumblebee Boy and Grasshopper Girl, in caring for the canines. Together, the friends brainstorm ways they can help find "forever homes" for these rescue dogs...

I enjoyed Ladybug show more Girl and the Rescue Dogs, which is only the second book about this character that I have read, although it is the tenth in the series (eleventh, if you count The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy). Lulu is an engaging character, full of energy and goodwill, and I appreciated the way she was both eager to help, and amenable to listening to instructions, when it came to the proper way to help. The artwork by David Soman is cute, capturing the charm of both the eponymous heroine and her new canine friends quite well. Recommended to fans of the Ladybug Girl books, and to anyone looking for children's stories about adopting rescue animals. show less

Oh I'm just swooning over the art. I had three sons, no daughters, and would have loved a little girl just like Lulu. At first, when we see her messy room just full of toys, and hear her fuss that there's nothing to do, I was concerned that this was going to be an 'issues' book and that she will be learning not to whine. Heck, I wanted to tell her that what she can do is tidy her room!

But no, she's a very lucky little girl who lives in an area big enough to safely go exploring all morning show more long. And her costume doubles as inspiration - it's not at all contrived or surprising that we discover, with her, that girls can be superheroes!

I'm not sure I want to read the other books in the series. This was perfect just the way it was. show less