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