LOULOU BROWN LOVES TO READ

A girl faces a classic dilemma—discovering a quiet place to read—in this debut picture book.

For red-haired, pale-skinned Loulou Brown, a rainy day is the perfect time to read. Unfortunately, a house full of siblings means her location options are limited. Jake is building a fort next to the window seat; Dylan is baking in the kitchen; Lilah is planning to play dress-up in the bedroom; and Thomas is practicing drums in the garage. Even the bathroom faucet drips. A trip to the library gives Loulou space, but the silence makes her wonder what’s happening at home, so she checks out the perfect books for each sibling—and for her own inspiration. While there’s no mention of how Loulou gets to and from the library, kids who adore books are sure to find her appealing. Her joy in choosing volumes for her siblings— and building relationships with them after being annoyed by their presence—offers a valuable lesson about sharing not only reading, but family time as well. Short, simple sentences make the story easily accessible to newly independent readers. Bernard’s invented books with clever titles for each sibling—Jake gets Ideas for Little Architects—are right on target and are deftly featured in the humorous, soft-edged illustrations. Brayer (Licky the Lizard, 2018, etc.) uses a bright palette, despite the dreary day, which helps bring the exuberant Loulou to life.

Young book lovers will recognize a kindred spirit in this lively tale.