Loula Is Leaving for Africa

PreS-Gr 2—Villeneuve has created a sensitive tale about running away from home. Feeling neglected and ignored, Loula is sitting in a tree with her three favorite possessions and is happy to be away from her "mean, horrible, stinky" brothers. When Gilbert, the family's chauffeur, sees her, he looks up and asks, "What are you doing up in a tree?" She replies, "This is not a tree. This is AFRICA!" What follows is an afternoon of imaginary travel across oceans, jungles, deserts, and restaurants that serve grasshopper sandwiches and ostrich egg soufflé. After Gilbert leads her to a little island in the park that they pretend is Africa, they watch the sunset, and then a sleepy Loula is carried back home. The ink and watercolor illustrations have the classic look of Ludwig Bemelmans's "Madeline" series (Viking). Read this title as a part of travel- or siblings-themed storytimes.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada