Lola
loves nothing more than to dance and prance across the fields, much to her mother’s
dismay. But Lola cannot help who she is and has dreams of attending the Black
& White Ball.
This
delightful rhyming story by Tracey Hawkins champions anyone who does not
conform or who is different but just does not care and is willing to chase
their dreams.
Anil Tortop’s gleeful illustrations will have you laughing out
loud from dancing cows, to pigs that knit and theatrical scenes that warm the
heart.
Lola
is well known to dance and the farm animals think nothing of it as she
practises clip clopping her hooves and showing off her fabulous moves if she
can just go to the ball.
However,
Clarissa, Lola’s mother says no, for starters one major problem is Lola is a
jersey cow, a milk cow and therefore not built to dance. Besides that, it is a
black & white ball, and jersey cows are brown so Lola would not be allowed
to attend as she would not belong.
Disheartened,
Lola visits her best friend Pearl the pig and confesses her dreams and disappointments
about why she is not allowed to attend the ball.
Never
fear, Pearl has the perfect plan to get Lola to the ball – which she does. Lola
has the most amazing time, she is totally in her element. Lola leads the
dancing, wowing the crowd, swirling and twirling and kicking up her heels.
Then
disaster strikes and Lola’s disguise is unveiled for all to see. Will Lola be
laughed out of the ball or will her differences be celebrated?
After
reading this story, if there is one message the reader can take away from
Lola’s
adventures it’s if you have the courage to try then anything becomes possible.
Title:
Leaping Lola
Author:
Tracey Hawkins
Illustrator:
Anil Tortop
Publisher:
New Frontier Publishing, $24.99
Publication
Date: 1 May 2019
Format:
Hardback
ISBN:
9781925594591
For
ages: 2 - 6
Type:
Picture Book