I was asked once about the lack of female protagonists in children’s literature so I am doing my best to find fantastic picture books starring fearless and wonderful little girls. I think these three are great examples of girls with great imaginations and strong personalities. I hope you like them!
I follow Sarah Jane Studios on Instagram and was very excited about the release of Lola Dutch. Sarah Jane is a wonderfully talented illustrator and this book does not disappoint.
Lola Dutch spends her days with Gator, Pig, Crane and, the sensible one, Bear. Lola Dutch can be a bit much and makes the simplest things into great big adventures. Like making everything for breakfast from shrimp and grits to crepes with all the whipped cream, taking almost every book out of the library, and painting the ceiling of her home like the Sistine Chapel. She’s full of imagination and creative ideas but needs a bit of reining into reality by the ever steady Bear.
Why I like it:
I love the illustrations so so so so much.
And Lola Dutch with her big ideas and crazy dreams to make the most out of everyday. It reminds me a bit of me a few years ago. Now I’m more like the sensible Bear.
When a little cub spots a tea party complete with cookies and another little bear – he just has to have one! When he asks the bear for a cookie he quickly realizes that this bear is of the stuffed variety. When he hears the hostess of the party, a little girl, approach, he takes the places of the fake bear in hopes of a cookie.
Unfortunately for him, the girl has strict rules when it comes to a tea party. The bear is grubby and messy and must be clean and fancy. Little cub goes along with it until he can’t handle it anymore. He needs the cookies!
What will the girl do now that she knows her guest is a real bear?
Why I like it:
I love Ame Dyckman who always has fun female characters with quirky bears (I honestly think almost all her books have a bear!). This is a funny book about tea parties, cookies and rules that must be followed.
I think I say this every time I write about a Kevin Henkes book – but, I’ll say it again – I LOVE Kevin Henkes.
I love this book – in fact I think I had an idea to write a book similar to this one. Too bad for me my book wasn’t as good as this one!
A girl helps her mother in her garden, which is hard work and very nice, but if she had her own garden it might be a bit different. In her garden, the flowers would always bloom and never die. Her flowers could change colour by her just thinking about it. And the rabbits wouldn’t eat her lettuce because the rabbits would be chocolate and she would eat them.
Why I like it
It’s whimsical and lovely – with creative ideas for what a perfect garden would be through a child’s eyes. Although it also works for an adult. Who wouldn’t love to have chocolate bunnies in their garden?
Hope you enjoy these picks! And as always,
Happy Reading,
Curious in Wonderland
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