cover image Hello, Lulu

Hello, Lulu

Caroline Uff. Walker & Company, $14.95 (24pp) ISBN 978-0-8027-8712-5

British artist Uff's attractive debut children's book presents a charming chubby-cheeked girl and the people and things she cares about. The appealing art features bright backgrounds behind Lulu and her family, who appear in full-frontal views. The text is similarly direct: ""This is Lulu. Hello, Lulu."" ""Look at Lulu's new shoes! Red is Lulu's favorite color."" On this spread, the pictures segue from Lulu opening a shoe box holding red buckle shoes to a fully attired Lulu in a smart red dress, proudly sporting her new footwear. Children will readily recognize her: she has a teddy bear with a ""wobbly"" ear and three pets, and she blows ""beautiful bubbles"" with her best friend. Her dog likes biscuits; her grandma gives her cupcakes; and in a closing spread, her family loves her. Just right for youngsters ready to graduate from board books, this pleasing introduction to Lulu will have them wondering what she is going to do next. Ages 2-5. (Sept.)