LULU'S PIANO LESSON

Lulu’s piano teacher, Mr Sharp, is a pretty sharp guy indeed, dressed all in black and sporting a bowtie, and it turns out he is quite a good teacher, too. On Monday, Lulu swings, and the swings go, “Squeak, squeak,” so that when Mom says it is time for piano practice, Lulu says, “Later.” But “ ‘[l]ater’ came and ‘later’ went.” On Tuesday Lulu rides her bike, ringing the bell, and when Mom calls her for practice, “ ‘[s]oon’ came and ‘soon’ went.” This goes on all week, but then it is Friday and time for her next lesson. Lulu admits to Mr Sharp that she hasn’t practiced, but he asks her what she did do, and she describes and then sings all the sounds she heard. Mr Sharp has her play them on the piano, and she puts the sounds and the music together. Collage and digital art make for flattened surfaces and stylized shapes, enlivened by varying perspectives. Lulu has a beautiful head of bushy, curly hair and bright blue eyes. As lessons go, it’s a mighty nice one. (Picture book. 5-8)