I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Help! I really mean it!
by
Anna Starkey, Lauren Child
It is part of the Charlie & Lola series and is a picture book in Hardcover edition that was published by Turtleback Books on March 5, 2009 and has 24 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Illustrator: Tiger Aspect
Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include I really, REALLY need actual ice skates
A standalone in the Charlie and Lola series created by Lauren Child revolving around a pair of siblings.
My Take
Starkey plays off the allegory about the boy who cried wolf. It’s a cute reprisal of the ramifications of “crying wolf”, but it was too simple for me. And, yes, I can definitely see kids pranking this.
I like the funky use of fonts to emphasize word usage.
The graphics are simplistic and sweet. I like the colored pages used behind the text.
The Story
While babysitting Granny and Grandpa’s kitty, Lola puts poor Caspar through the wringer. One that no self-respecting kitty would stomach.
So Caspar does the only thing that self-respecting cat could do…
The Characters
Charlie is the straight “man” to his younger sister’s, Lola‘s, actions. Caspar is Granny and Grandpa’s orange striped cat.
Lotta and Marv are Lola’s and Charlie’s friends, respectively.
The Cover and Title
The cover is banded in a light colonial blue with the title in black and poor Caspar skulking off. The series information is in a white oval on the left. The angled middle band is the main graphic with a deep pink thistle-figure against a white background acting as wallpaper. Charlie is in an orange shirt, his arms crossed, looking quite doubtful as Lola, in a red and green plaid dress, pleads her case. The bottom band is a strip of light wood flooring with credit to the creator of the series.
The title is what happens when Lola cries: Help! I really mean it! and doesn’t get the result she wanted.
