cover image Ladybug Girl and the Rescue Dogs

Ladybug Girl and the Rescue Dogs

Jacky Davis, illus. by David Soman. Dial, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-399-18640-0

In her latest outing, Lulu, clothed as always in her Ladybug Girl attire, “flies around the farmer’s market, pointing to the colorful fruits and vegetables. “All the colors make a rainbow!” she says. Another sight at the market that interests Lulu—and Bingo, her steadfast basset hound—is that of dogs waiting under a sign that says “Adopt a Dog.” Lulu wants to adopt all of the dogs, which range from a small dachshund to a big, shaggy sheepdog, and in an especially gleeful scene, Soman shows what it might look like if eight additional dogs lived in her house. Lulu decides it is a bit much, and her mother tells her that “one dog is the right amount for our family.” When the rest of the “Bug Squad” (Grasshopper Girl and Bumblebee Boy) shows up, the three are determined to help in other ways: they play with the dogs, fill their bowls, and introduce them to prospective adopters. Soman and Davis deliver another Ladybug Girl adventure with heartwarming authenticity. Ages 3–5. (Mar.)