I Am Too Absolutely Small for School (Charlie and Lola) [Hardcover]

Lauren Child (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Charlie and Lola

Lauren Child's inimitable brother-sister pair takes on another childhood
bugaboo — the first day of school — with the help of Charlie's
resourcefulness and Lola's imaginary friend.

Lola is not so sure about school. After all, why would she need to count
higher than ten when she never eats more than ten cookies at a time? And why write letters when you have a telephone? Once again, it's up to ever-patient big brother Charlie to persuade Lola that school is worthwhile — and that her invisible friend, Soren Lorensen, will be welcome, too. Lauren Child's delightful sibling duo returns to tackle first-day-of-school jitters with their own special brand of energy and humor.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–The endearing siblings who first appeared in I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Candlewick, 2000) return with equally satisfying results. This time, little sister Lola has decided that while her parents think she is "nearly almost big enough to go to school," she is "absolutely not BIG." Charlie, the narrator, puts forth numerous sound reasons for going to school that Lola counters with her own unique logic: "I say… 'If you know how to write, you can send cards to people you like.' Lola says, 'I like to talk on the telephone. It's more friendly and straightaway.'" Charlie eventually comes up with a reason Lola cannot refute–her invisible friend is starting school and will be lonely without her–and she embarks on her educational career. The children's relationship is refreshingly noncombative, with Charlie as the protective and affectionate big brother who is appreciative of, rather than annoyed by, his sister's quirkiness. Incorporating photos, fabric, and appealingly childlike cartoon renderings of the siblings, the mixed-media illustrations are a visual treat of color and texture. This is a winner either as a read-aloud or for independent perusal.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Readers familiar with Child's I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (2000) and I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed (2001) will know that Lola has some fiercely held opinions, and that older brother Charlie has a way of coaxing her around to his point of view. In this case, the controversial topic is whether Lola will give formal education a try. The tousled youngster states her case with her usual Eloise-like panache: "I probably do not have time to go to school. I am too extremely busy doing important things at home." Charlie counters by pointing out the equally important things to be done at school, but in the end, his most successful ploy is an indirect one: Soren Lorenson, Lola's imaginary friend, may need moral support. The brother-sister dynamic here may be atypically sunny, but parents will certainly appreciate the siblings' tender, supportive relationship, and children will respond to the wild typography, colors, and patterns of Child's distinctive mixed-media artwork. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (June 17, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763624039
• ISBN-13: 978-0763624033
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 0.4 x 11.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lauren Child is the multi-talented prize-winning creator of the characters Charlie and Lola, Clarice Bean and Hubert Horatio Bobton-Trent. She has won the Smarties Gold Award, Smarties Bronze Award, Kate Greenaway Medal and been shortlisted for the Children's Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. Lauren lives in London.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun book for all, August 8, 2004

By 

Tenessee "jthunter24" (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Am Too Absolutely Small for School (Charlie and Lola) (Hardcover)

This is one of the best childrens books I have read in ages! The illustrations are amazingly inventive and the dialog between the brother and sister is really witty and memorable. I read this to my 3 year old son and he wanted to read it over and over. This is definitely a must have for the house!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ENTER THE WHIMSICAL WORLD OF LAUREN CHILD, June 7, 2005

By 

Heather Ivester (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Am Too Absolutely Small for School (Charlie and Lola) (Hardcover)

Lauren Child strikes again with another witty and wonderful read-aloud. In the same way Charlie and his little sister Lola endeared themselves to fans of I WILL NEVER NOT EVER EAT A TOMATO, parents and kids alike will delight in this comical plot.

Drama arises when Lola is not convinced she needs to go to school. "I probably do not have time to go to school," she says. "I am too extremely busy doing important things at home." Instead of ridiculing her, big brother Charlie takes the time to tackle her fanciful excuses with his own inventive scenarios.

When Lola says she doesn't care to learn to count above ten, Charlie replies, "What if eleven eager elephants all wanted a treat. How would you count up how many treats that would be?" Lola's still not quite sure.

She doesn't need to learn to read, she says, because "I've got all my books in my head." Again, Charlie counters with the possibility that she may HAVE to read a bedtime story sometime to an ever-so-angry ogre who won't go away unless she does.

Page after page, the textured illustrations and vibrant narrative technique are pure delight. I imagine teachers, parents, and librarians breathe a sigh of relief when Lauren Child's books are chosen for storytime. Each phrase reads like a poem, not a word out of place.

Unlike many works where brothers and sisters don't get along, the relationship between Charlie and Lola is precious. I'd recommend this book to anyone needing to help a child overcome apprehension of visiting someplace new: the dentist, church, relative's house, etc. Having a little friend like Soren Lorenson to tag along is a gentle way to dissuade those imaginary fears of childhood.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing but love for Charlie and Lola!, June 11, 2006

By 

Shonna Gariepy "Shonna" (Las Vegas, Nevada USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Am Too Absolutely Small for School (Charlie and Lola) (Paperback)

My kids both love Charlie and Lola! I have only recently discovered them, but found this book just before my daughter started kindergarten. This book looks at some of the things that kids will worry about when they start school (especially for the first time, but also as it turns out for starting a new grade!) and helps ease many of those worries in a way that is gentle and humorous. I love how gentle and easy-going Charlie is with his little sister, and how refreshing it is to see a sister and brother pair who genuinely love each other and even when they're frustrated with each other, they manage to work it out. My daughter and her little brother will have richer lives for this series of books. I can't recommend them highly enough!!!