About the Author

Lauren Child attended art school and did "lots of things" before writing children's books, including designing ceramics for children, working as an artist's assistant, and designing lampshades.

Reviews

In this equally spirited follow-up to I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato, big brother Charlie faces a new challenge: to cajole his sister, Lola, into bed. "Lola likes to stay up coloring and scribbling and sticking and wriggling and bouncing and most of all chattering," remarks the patient older sibling. Chatter she does, as the comic dialogue between the two attests. Warning that "I will probably still be perky at even 13 o'clock," Lola trots out some imaginative procrastination maneuvers. Charlie offers her a subtle bribe: " `If there's no bedtime there can be no bedtime drink, and it's strawberry milk tonight.' (Lola really likes strawberry milk.)" Lola counters that her three tiger pals need a similar treat as well. Creative situations also arise when it comes to toothbrushing (she says that a lion is using her toothbrush) and bathtime (she insists whales are swimming in the bathtub). Child's collages juxtapose photographs of flannel pajamas, bubble gum-pink toothpaste tube and bath bubbles with childlike drawings framed in exotic wallpaper patterns. These images emanate as much energy as does Lola herself, with text in an array of sizes and typefaces. Once again, Child tackles a common childhood conundrum with boundless imagination and zip. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

PreS-Gr 1-Charlie and his sister, introduced in I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Candlewick, 2000) return, this time in a whimsical bedtime tale. Charlie informs readers that when his parents ask him to put his sister to bed, "This is a hard job because Lola likes to stay up late.-most of all chattering." When he says, "But all the birds have gone to sleep," she does not fall for his logic: "But I am not a bird, Charlie." He tries to bribe her with her favorite drink, strawberry milk; she tells him that the three tigers at the table want some, too. And so this imaginative adventure continues-Lola and a lion brush their teeth, she takes a bath with a whale, Charlie phones two dancing dogs to ask whether she may borrow their pajamas. After hopping into bed at last, "small and very funny" Lola informs her brother that there is a hippopotamus in his bed. The illustrations and text are appealingly quirky and lively. The exuberant colors and patterns provide visual stimuli, and the varied fonts and sizes of the text and clever layout of the mixed-media artwork are sure to please. The cartoonlike characters are set against a surreal, collage background. The story is certain to remind youngsters of similar experiences, and is appropriate for storytimes and one-on-one sharing.-Olga R. Kuharets, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, NC Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Child's collages juxtapose photographs of flannel pajamas, bubble gum-pink toothpaste tube and bath bubbles with childlike drawings framed in exotic wallpaper patterns. These images emanate as much energy as does Lola herself, with text in an array of sizes and typefaces. Once again, Child tackles a common childhood conundrum with boundless imagination and zip.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Whether they spot themselves in Charlie or Lola, young ones will enjoy this exuberant, hilarious spin on a bedtime story.
--Booklist Once again, Child tackles a common childhood conundrum with imagination and zip.
--Los Angeles Times Colors shock...Details delight...Charlie's and Lola's expressive body language and facial features will be easily recognized by all. An inventive, entertaining bedtime tale.
--Kirkus Reviews