Fawcett and Schwartzman’s charming picture book for children introduces a young ladybug named Lulu, who is convinced that the two black dots on her bright red wings are simply not enough. As all of her siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins wake from their winter slumber, Lulu notices they have more spots than she does—and soon “Lulu couldn’t get spots off her mind.” To remedy her situation, she sets off on a journey to acquire more spots and meets other speckled creatures: a hungry fawn, a sweaty salamander, and a sneaky snake who nearly has Lulu for a snack. When she finally heads back home, her “Gran-Dottie” who has “oodles of spots” delivers a startling revelation: “I used to worry I wasn’t red enough. Too many spots!” This is when Lulu’s initial surprise at her grandmother’s statement turns to acceptance, and she realizes she already has everything she needs. This lesson will resonate with children as they begin to work through complicated feelings such as jealousy toward friends or siblings. Lulu’s dilemma also presents many opportunities for children and adults to talk about what it means to have “enough,” as prompted by the open-ended discussion questions at the end. In a culture that promotes excess and glorifies having the most, the concept of Lulu simply being satisfied with having what she needs to fly feels refreshing.
On each page, Luciana Navarro Powell’s colorful, imaginative illustrations help bring this story to life. The playfully cartoonish, anthropomorphic ladybugs have wide, expressive eyes and full heads of hair, and they wear bowties, necklaces, and shoes. The pictures follow Lulu on her adventures, with each scene clearly showing her feelings of surprise, confusion, or frustration. This will help young people identify the ladybug’s feelings and link them to their own experiences, making this a relatable story that kids and adults will want to read more than once.
Takeaway: In this charming picture book, a ladybug learns her scant spots are enough.
Great for fans of: David Shannon’s A Bad Case of Stripes, Marion Deuchars’s Bob the Artist.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
