David Soman

A bulldog tries to help his labradoodle friend learn how to catch a tennis ball.

It's not bad, but the story and prose just don't have the charm of the first picture book I read about this duo, probably because this is a reader focused on simple words and concepts. Or maybe these two just don't have the chemistry or energy to really carry a franchise.

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

Oh, how marvelous! Love the art, love the story, especially love the asides - the three boats from other books (I was convinced that the "confused" boat was from Jerome K Jerome, but a blogger on SLJ (?) set me straight), the "salty" Skipper who helped them...and I'm now wondering if the "lumpy hat" island is an homage to Paddington! Oh, and the name of the boat. What else will be hidden in re-readings? Like the image of the not-so-fun island - is that a reference? Anyway, the story is show more great, too - "who, after all, was a bear" - that made me laugh. And the squinty mad bear eyes...too funny. Yes, I could go on for a very long time about this, what, 40 page book? Loved it. show less

How to play when there's just one person...then two...all the way up to ten, as children form a bigger and bigger group at a playground. Then it's time to go home - count down from ten to one - and then two again, as one child reads at home on his mother's lap. A wonderful, inclusive concept, beautifully executed.

See also: Want to Play Trucks?