LIVY LOU LOVELY LOVES TO SPEAK

A young girl discovers her inner voice in an unusual way in Loveman’s picture book.

Livy Lou Lovely “used to / be timid and meek.” A few years ago, she was so shy that she clung to her mother’s leg in public and choked up while trying to present her favorite stuffed animal at show and tell. Now, Livy Lou and her mother attend a live taping of a television show, where the girl spots a young woman on set wearing a headset and carrying a clipboard. This important-looking job captures Livy Lou’s attention and gives her the courage to envision herself in a similar role. From then on, Livy Lou acts as her own “best hype girl,” telling herself that her voice could have the power to change people’s lives—including her own. Bassani’s energetic cartoon illustrations encapsulate Livy Lou’s ever-growing ambitions in images that employ thin lines and bold colors. The story is told in verse, but the rhythm is uneven and occasionally jolting due to varying rhyme schemes. Still, Loveman has crafted an inspirational story that shines with enthusiasm. The girl’s earnest visions of her future may cause readers to optimistically imagine their own possibilities by following three rules: “Use your heart, be / yourself, and make / people’s day.”

A short, sweet tale that may inspire other children to imagine achieving their goals.