From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2--Simple phrases and dreamy watercolor illustrations convey Ichikawa's fondness for Luxembourg Gardens, seen through the eyes of a pink stuffed rabbit. La La Rose goes everywhere with her little girl, Clementine, and the child's grandmother. Unfortunately, the rabbit gets lost during a visit to Paris's renowned park and finds herself swept up in a series of adventures before finally being reunited with her owner at dusk. The layout includes many charming details, like a clean, neatly dressed La La Rose depicted on the dedication page and a dirty, disheveled one at the back. Blush-colored endpapers feature a simple map of the park. A beautifully illustrated tale of friendship, enlivened by a bit of excitement and lots of affection.--Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC
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*Starred Review* PreS. "I am La La Rose, the pink stuffed rabbit. I am the inseparable friend of Clementine." So begins La La's adventure in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, where Grandma has taken Clementine and her brother to play. The playground, the carousel--everything is fun. But when it's time to see the ponies, La La falls out of Clementine's backpack, and, oh, what tragedies befall her! She is thrown around by a soccer team, falls down some stairs, and lands in a pond before being picked up by a little girl who understands the feelings of the lost--and the found--and determinedly brings doll and owner together in a sweet reunion. The story itself is straightforward, and in the hands of a lesser artist might not have been special. But Ichikawa's ink-and-watercolor paintings are a wonderful mix of action and thoughtfulness, sweetness and subtlety that extend the story and give it life past a first reading. In the opening spreads, which show Clementine playing on the jungle gym and the merry-go-round, La La Rose is barely visible in the midst of all the fun. But once she is lost, she is right in the center of the pictures, her face remarkably emotional for a stuffed animal. A very satisfying story that also captures the magic and excitement of a special place.
Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
