Dedicated to thumb suckers around the world, Elise's Lulu takes the reader inside the intimate love story of a young person and her thumb. A direct dialogue opens and closes the work while Lulu's story of thumb love is sandwiched between the address.
Always there for her, Lulu's thumb make's sure she feels loved and that she's comfy. It doesn't matter who ridicules her, and the possible dangers of teeth realignment and pronunciation problems seem unreal. All is love, until Lulu has a dream that truly frightens her into inventing a twelve-step program to end her damaging relationship.
The thumb cries over her resolution, but Lulu carries on. Whether it be a firm announcement of quitting, a little Tabasco, a sock, or sleeping with the thumb wedged out of sight, Lulu makes progress. And when she fails, she begins again.
Elise's charming text and illustrations of love exchanges between the thumb and Lulu are heartfelt and humorous. "Can we at least be friends?" the thumb asks. "Sure-but don't get any ideas." Lulu says with a wink.
What a fun, wonderful addition to children's literature. Be ready to welcome Lulu as she stands before the crowd and says:
"Hello. My name is Lulu and I'm a thumb sucker."
Thumb Love
by Elise Primavera
Random House, 2010
I really enjoyed this book, too. An instant classic!
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