Lauren Child, creator of the beloved Clarice Bean, That's Me cooks up a delectable new picture book treat. In this quirky, clever, fantastically funny story, Charlie uses his imagination to convince his little sister Lola -- who is a very fussy eater -- to eat. She won't eat her carrots -- until Charlie reveals that they are really "orange twiglets from Jupiter." She won't eat her mashed potatoes -- until Charlie explains they are "cloud fluff from the pointiest peak of Mount Fuji." And Lola will never -- not ever -- eat a tomato. Or will she? Children (and parents!) will recognize determined young Lola and cheer for inventive Charlie in this fabulous smorgasbord of fun!
This first classic Charlie and Lola picture book tackles fussy eaters in a fun way.
Accolades
Kate Greenaway Medal Winner 2000.
Review
Poster child for Picky Eaters of the World, Lola declares that she won't touch carrots, peas, potatoes, fish sticks, or, most especially, tomatoes, until her brother Charlie sets her straight. Those aren't carrots, they're orange twiglets from Jupiter; not peas, but green drops that fell from the sky in Greenland; not mashed potatoes, but cloud fluff. Intrigued, Lola tries a nibble or two, and by the end she's even asking for some round, red "moonsquirters." Child (Clarice Bean, That's Me!, 1999) lays clipped, handtinted photos of food, and drawn, cutout cartoon children over backgrounds of fabric, patterned paper, and brightly colored monochrome in various combinations. The effect is cleverly postmodern but not busy, with plenty of open space and bitesized blocks or wriggles of text. Funny bits of design will provoke a giggle: a smiling pea in the middle of a bowl of them or a Martian sharing the carrots. Would the subterfuge work in real life? Perhaps not, but even younger readers who find Lola's stance perfectly reasonable will join her in this engagingly playful head game. Kirkus Reviews
Author Biography
Lauren Child is the creator of bestselling book and TV characters: Charlie and Lola, and the creator of Clarice Bean. Lauren's work has earned creative and commercial acclaim the world over, and she is the recipient of many awards including the Smarties Gold Award and the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Author Biography:
Lauren Child is the creator of bestselling book and TV characters: Charlie and Lola, and the creator of Clarice Bean. Lauren's work has earned creative and commercial acclaim the world over, and she is the recipient of many awards including the Smarties Gold Award and the Kate Greenaway Medal.