HOP LOLA HOP

In Urban’s third children’s book in a series, a toy bunny worries that her human best friend’s new Christmas gift will replace her.

Very young children often use their imaginations to imbue their toys with life. In this tender tale, a cuddly toy bunny named Lola has a rich life of her own, while also being a close friend to her beloved human companion, Ella. It’s almost Christmas, and Lola is helping Ella decorate the house and is looking forward to the fun the two will have during the holidays: that is, until Ella sees a doll with “the loveliest smile...dazzling in its velvety blue dress.” After that, Ella seems to be so eager to welcome the new doll—which she hopes to receive from Father Christmas—that she won’t have any time to play with Lola. This is the latest book in Urban’s delightful series about Lola and Ella, following Hop Lola Hop (2022) and Hop Lola Hop: A Yummy Market Day Adventure (2023), and it’s the first with a holiday theme. In this book, the protagonist, convinced that the new toy will take her place in Ella’s affections, relatably looks for somewhere to belong. After an adventure that includes a rehearsal of a children’s Christmas play and an encounter with a certain jolly fellow and his flying reindeer, Lola realizes that “there [will] always be room for her by Ella’s side” and in her heart—a message that will reassure children who may be in a similar situation with the arrival of a new sibling. Watercolorist Kalla’s soft-hued full-page and vignette images, all in full color, reflect the gentle warmth of the narrative.

Lovely illustrations enliven a sweet-spirited, holiday-oriented tale about limitless love for young children.