Saturday 24 September 2011

Lazy Lou Lou


Lazy Lou Lou by Susannah McFarlane, illustrated by Lachlan Creagh (Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $4.99 
ISBN 9781741698367
recommended for children 3 yrs+, readers 9 years+
Reviewed by Dawn Meredith

This terrific series, Little Mates is quality. McFarlane’s text is alliteration heaven and Lachlan Creagh’s illustrations are whimsical and imaginative.

Late one day, Lou Lou was languishing on her li-lo at the lake. Little Lenny was leaning over a ledge to look at larvae…
Lo and behold! Lou Lou learned it was lovely to be lively and loyal.

 Lou Lou is a lizard with attitude. At first her attitude is frowned upon – laziness was her thing. Various animal friends tried to interest her in exciting activities to no avail. But when little Lenny falls into the lake, Lou Lou dashes in and saves him, discovering to her own surprise a talent for lifesaving. Now she wears the red cap and everyone dotes on her. What a gal!

In soft back, full gloss wrap-around covers, these little sized books are cute and highly collectible. Although touted as ‘helping children learn to read,’ the actual reading age is a little higher due to the phonemic complexity of some words, ie: lethargically, laconically, laborious, languishing, which is why I have put the independent reading age at 9 years+. The meanings of some words would need explaining. However, the content could easily please a younger child when an adult reads aloud.

Dawn Meredith writes from the Blue Mountains and is a May Gibbs Fellow 2011. Her new book, The Anything Shop will be launched October 15th. See here for details: www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogspot.com  

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