Thursday, September 11, 2014

Lulu and the Witch Baby by Jane O'Connor -- OPTIONAL

O'Connor, Jane Lulu and the Witch Baby, illustrated by Bella Sinclair. 48 pgs. HarperCollins I Can Read, 1986. (Reprint 2014.) $16.99. Content: G.

Lulu's had it with her new little sister. While Lulu has to follow the rules, the baby gets to do whatever she wants just because she's too young to follow directions. Plus, she breaks Lulu's toys and does all sorts of gross baby things. To make matters worse, the baby gets so much attention that it's like Lulu doesn't exist anymore. Determined to have her parents to herself again, Lulu puts a disappearing spell on the baby. Only afterward does she realize it was an unkind thing to do; too late, because her baby sister is gone, and Lulu doesn't know how to bring her back. Uh oh.

The Lulu series is popular with both my students, so I am always glad to see another one. In this case, Lulu's plight is sympathetic, especially for students who have dealt with new siblings, and her regret at her actions is a good discussion point. In fact, I liked the story very much up until the ending, when Lulu tells her mother a half-truth about what she did to her sister. Lulu then admits to herself, "That was not really the truth. But it was not really a lie." Then, because she didn't admit the full story, she is rewarded with a slice of her favorite kind of pie. Not exactly the best example for children whose parents and teachers may want them to learn honesty.

EL (K-3) -- OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Caryn

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