LADYBUG GIRL'S DAY OUT WITH GRANDPA

Ladybug Girl learns the importance of slowing down on a visit to the natural history museum.

Readers (and their knowing caregivers) will know exactly how Lulu feels when her grandfather takes her to the museum: there is so much to see, and Lulu wants to learn everything about so many things! This leads her to flit through, barely learning the name of one thing before another catches her eye and she’s off! Finally, she must face the realization that she can’t learn it all in one day, comparing this experience to her dog’s in the forest when faced with myriads of smells. Wise Grandpa tells her “Bingo explores one thing at a time, so he can fully appreciate it. If you take your time and are still for a moment, you’ll learn more.” Lulu takes this to heart in the butterfly habitat. Running up to the butterflies scares them into flying, but when she’s still, one butterfly actually lands on her. Gray-haired, jeans-clad Grandpa is the epitome of patience in Soman’s ink-and-watercolor illustrations; hands in his pockets, he patiently follows his excited granddaughter and stoops down to her level. The interior pictures of the museum emphasize just how big the displays are and how little the girl is in her ladybug costume. Both characters are white, though other museumgoers are diverse.

A gentle reminder to stop and smell the roses.