Resembling in spirit and content such books as Sam McBratney's Guess How Much I Love You? (1995, not reviewed), this book stars Lola, a nut-brown hamster who could be an adopted cousin of Nutbrown Hare.
Lola feels words puffing out her cheeks, bursting inside her, but when she tries to express her special words, her father is leaving for work and her mother is too busy. The school bus, cafeteria, and playground are too noisy for the words to be heard, and the teacher is preoccupied. Lola returns home and sulks until the words unwittingly "came flying out of her mouth and worked their magic.'' It's no surprise that Lola's special words are "I love you, I love you! I love you so much!''
Hugs abound among the puffy-cheeked rodents in this mushy, overstated tale and its greeting-card message. (Book-of-the- Month-Club selection) (Picture book. 2-5)
