Charlie, the patient older brother, struggles to get his imaginative, stubborn sister Lola to bed. Child brings back these siblings from I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (2000) with the wacky charm of her inviting cut-paper and photographic collages. Ordinary bedtime rituals are stalled as Lola throws up imaginary roadblocks. Three tigers join her for that last glass of strawberry milk. She can’t brush her teeth because a lion is using her toothbrush. She can’t take her bath because there are whales hogging the tub and she’s not sure if the dancing dogs will let her use their pajamas. The rooms are strewn with the favorite things of childhood. Cutout photographs of real objects—building blocks and games—mingle with cartoon drawings of chairs and slippers. Colors shock: hot-pink bubble bath against a yellow sponge, for instance. Details delight, as with a photograph of the pajama set, which is decorated with clowns and seals and sports pearl buttons. A variety of typeface dances across the page with the text at one point even set on top of the pink, daisy pattern of a glass of milk. Charlie’s and Lulu’s expressive body language and facial features will be easily recognized by all. An inventive, entertaining bedtime tale. (Picture book. 5-8)
