LADYBUG GIRL AND THE DRESS-UP DILEMMA

Ladybug Girl Lulu is sure what she’ll wear for Halloween until a comment from her brother makes her question her decision.

Once her brother has planted the seed of doubt, Lulu’s usual confidence is shaken. Should she change her mind and try something different from Ladybug Girl? With trusty dog Bingo at her side, Lulu gets to work. Conversational text and deftly created illustrations in ink and watercolor convey Lulu’s determination to find the right costume. As a robot she cannot fit through the door, and as a silent-movie star she will not be able to ask for candy. No one seems to appreciate her hybrid vampire/panda get-up. Lulu still is undecided as her family leaves to go apple picking. She imagines several other dress-up possibilities, but none seems right. A chance encounter with a younger girl who is lost in a corn maze spurs Lulu into action as Ladybug Girl. Whipping off her coat to reveal her costume, Lulu (with some help from Bingo) soon spots a popcorn trail Maya has unwittingly left behind. The three follow it. Soon, Maya and her mother are reunited, and it is clear what costume Lulu will choose. Was there any real doubt?

Readers and their parents will appreciate how Lulu works through her dilemma on her own. Not only is this an entertaining story, but it’s also a good conversation starter about being true to oneself.