REVIEW: IT’S NATIONAL PHOTO MONTH!

​School picture day is a day a lot of children are familiar with. Some kids get all dressed up, some have their hair specially styled or cut, but some would rather not have their photo taken at all. That’s the case for Lola in:  

​TITLE: A PICTURE DAY TO REMEMBER
AUTHOR: Natalia Paruzel-Gibson
ILLUSTRATOR: Nynke Boelens
PUBLISHER: Clavis Publishing/2023
OPENING LINES: 
 Splish, splash. Splish, splash. On her way to school, Lola jumped into the middle of every puddle to avoid seeing her reflection. Lola’s route to her classroom could easily be tracked by the pools of water she left behind in the school hallway. Dripping like a frog that just leaped out of a pond, Lola showed up to class in her favorite red hat.

Every day, Lola wears a huge red hat to school. It’s so big, she even has trouble fitting through doors and bumps into things, but it’s worth all the trouble because it helps her hide from her classmates to “avoid any embarrassment.” When Lola realizes it’s picture day, she does everything she can to avoid showing her face. This sweet story about an insecure child who, with the help of a friend, comes up with a solution to ease her worries, is eloquently told by Natalia Paruzel-Gibson. Readers will feel every one of Lola’s emotions as she struggles with her self-confidence, puts her trust in a helpful friend, and then overcomes her struggle. The heartfelt text, accompanied by Nynke Boelens’ expressive illustrations, will also keep readers in suspense about why Lola is so insecure about the way she looks, and about Lola and her friend’s creative picture day plan. If you’re looking for a picture book with lovely language and illustrations, a diverse cast of characters, a little mystery, and a story about how a child finds a way to overcome her insecurity, this is a great one to add to your bookshelf!
 
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