It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday, and not a moment too soon!
Have you looked at the weather forecast for today and tomorrow? There could be no better way to spend the next two days than with a pile of perfect picture books and a cup of cocoa and your favorite little readers (or your favorite little or not-so-little writers. . . yes, you. . . who are reading perfect picture books to learn from the masters 😊)
Today’s Perfect Picture Book is so pretty and so touching I know you’re going to love it!
Title: Red And Lulu
Written & Illustrated By: Matt Tavares
Candlewick, September 2017, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: holidays (Christmas), devotion, perseverance
Opening: “In the front yard of a little house,
on the branches of a mighty evergreen,
there lived a happy pair of cardinals.”
Brief Synopsis: [from the book jacket] “Red and Lulu make their nest in a particularly beautiful evergreen tree. But one day, something unthinkable happens, and Red and Lulu are separated. It will take a miracle for them to find each other again. Luckily, it’s just the season for miracles. . . . “
Links To Resources: the afterword contains a brief history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree tradition; what are some holiday traditions in your family? draw a picture, write a story or poem, or make up a song about a special holiday tradition in your family; in the story, the cardinals’ favorite Christmas carol is O, Christmas Tree, which was originally sung in German as O, Tannenbaum. Do you have a favorite Christmas or other holiday carol/song? Was it originally in English, or did it come from another language? Which one?
Why I Like This Book: This is a such a sweet and lovely story – one of those stories that tug at your heartstrings and make it a little hard to read aloud in some parts past the lump in your throat 😊 Red and Lulu are so happy in their tree, and when the tree is taken, with Lulu still in it, Red flies as fast and as far as he can, determined not to lose Lulu. But a bird cannot fly as fast as a truck can drive. . . I love Red’s devotion and determination which clearly show his love for Lulu. I don’t want to give away the ending. . . so I won’t!😊. . . but it’s just right. The watercolor-and-gouache illustrations are full of detail – so pretty! Don’t miss this heartwarming story!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Susanna, a fire. cocoa, and a pile of books sounds heavenly! I’ve always loved this book and it is indeed one that tugs at the heart and is a struggle to read through that lump in the throat. But so very worth it!
I know, right, Maria?! I want to write a book like this 😊😊
This is such a lovely story! The illustrations are wonderful, too!
I need to read it again! Here’s a link. I’ve always been a big fan of Good King Wenceslas, but here is One of my favorite German Carols: https://youtu.be/JtJvuIPYxTI
Beam me up for that hot chocolate, Susanna! And this is a beautiful story…thank you for sharing it.
I’m glad I’m far enough south that this storm is just supposed to be rain for us. (Cocoa goes with rain too!). Red and Lulu is a fantastic story–which makes me wonder why the new owl story is being written for the most recent Rockefeller Center stowaway.
I had thought there wasn’t going to be a linky for PPBF today, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out there is! yay! haven’t read this book, and am wondering if it resonates with one of my son’s old favorites, Fly High, Fly Low by Don Freeman. I’ll be checking Red and Lulu out. Thanks for the rec! Cheers! Also, fingers crossed that I’ll be able to write a holiday story. Haven’t been able to do that, yet…..
I wish I’d read your review yesterday while ordering books for grandkids and nieces and nephews! This is a gorgeous book. It may pair with the Carpenter’s Gift, a book about the beginnings of the Rockefeller Christmas tree.
What a perfect choice for the holiday season! It also makes me wonder whether the poor little owl that rode the tree to Rockefeller Center this year was missed by a mate or parent, too.