'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Friday 15 February 2019

Review: Lola Dutch When I Grow Up

Lola Dutch wants to be so much.

There are just too many opportunities, so many things she could grow up to be.

How is she supposed to choose?

With the help of her good friend, Bear, Lola explores some of the options: an inventor, a botanist, a performer and many, many more. 

Her faithful friends (Bear, Gator, Pig and Crane) provide support along the way, but at the end of the day, Lola Dutch is still confused and she just can’t decide which career is best for her. What will she do?

Lola Dutch When I Grow Up is a delightful picture book about imagination, discovery and friendship. 

It explores a conundrum so relevant to kids and encourages them to reach for the stars. But it also sends a message about time: that there is plenty of it, and you don’t need to decide what to be when you grow up when you’re still a kid. You can just enjoy being a kid. 

Really, it’s a message to everyone to seize the moment.

With truly stunning illustrations in lovely soft colours, each turn of the page is a delight. I also love the animal characters. There’s just something extra special about Bear, Gator, Pig and Crane in this story. They are animals and they talk and act like humans, but it just feels so right, so real. The story is simply magical. 

The book also comes with an extra special and engaging surprise for kids. The inside of the dust jacket has been illustrated as a beautiful theatre, and there are paper cut outs of Lola and Pig, so kids can play with parts of the book. It adds an extra pizzazz and is sure to delight kids everywhere. 

Lola Dutch is a smart, bold and creative character, and I want more, more, more of her! Luckily for me (and you), this isn’t the first Lola Dutch story. It is, in fact, the second, which hopefully means there’s a third and many more after that on their way.

Title: Lola Dutch When I Grow Up
Author: Kenneth Wright
Illustrator: Sarah Jane Wright
Publisher: Bloomsbury, $24.99
Publication Date: 4 February 2019
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781681195544
For ages: 3 - 8 
Type: Picture Book