Ladybug Girl

Lulu zips into the kitchen and proudly announces, "I'm Ladybug Girl!" She's all decked out in ladybug rain boots, a red tutu and leotard, ladybug wings, and some red antennae. After her mother tells her that she has to figure out her own fun today, and her brother leaves to play baseball with his friends, Lulu is a bit upset. She stands in the center of the chaos of her room with nothing to do.

Lulu starts to wander the house. She counts some letters on the spines of the books in the living room. She measures her avocado plant. And then her hound Bingo gives her the look that lets her know it's time to go outside.

Lulu and Bingo are soon saving ants, braving shark infested puddles, building walls, and balancing along toppled trees. Lulu doesn't even let a chance run in with her big brother ruin her fun.

Ladybug Girl, by David Soman and Jacky Davis is simply magical. From the movement in the illustrations to the authenticity of Lulu's day, this book is pitch perfect. My 5 year old saw herself over and over again in the story (from the avocado measuring to the wandering in the yard), and sat silently staring at the pictures. With just enough story, readers get a glimpse into a day in the life of a girl on her own. The endpapers show Lulu in a series of different outfits, and I can imagine some stories coming along about deep sea divers and witches!

Delightful.