Lulu's Piano Lesson - Hardcover

ARLENE ALDA is an award-winning photographer and writer whose work has appeared in numerous galleries as well as in Life, Vogue, and People magazines. She is the author of fourteen children's books, including Iris Has a Virus, illustrated by Lisa Desimini. Her photographs are featured in 97 Orchard Street, New York, written by Linda Granfield. She both wrote and provided the photographs for Hello, Good-bye; Here a Face, There a Face; Did You Say Pears?; and The Book of ZZZs. A native New Yorker, Arlene Alda lives on Long Island with her husband, actor Alan Alda.

LISA DESIMINI, a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, has written and illustrated many award-winning books for children, including My House, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year; I Am Running Away, a Bologna Book Fair Honor Book; Love Letters, a Publishers Weekly Best Picture Book of the Year and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; and the critically acclaimed Iris Has a Virus, written by Arlene Alda. Lisa Desimini and her husband divide their time between New York City and Northport.

Kindergarten-Grade 3 Readers meet Lulu as she leaves the home of her piano teacher, Mr. Sharp, after her weekly lesson. They then spend the rest of the week with her, witnessing each day's excuse to not practice Old MacDonald. On Monday, she'd rather soar on squeaking swings on Tuesday and Wednesday, she rides her bike and plays in the branches of an apple tree on rainy Thursday, she stays indoors and plays with stuffed animals. By the time Friday arrives, Lulu hasn't practiced at all and dreads her lesson. She admits her lapse to Mr. Sharp and he asks her to describe all the things she did instead. She describes the sounds associated with the fun times and soon she is singing about her week to the tune of Old MacDonald. Relaxed, she sits down at the piano, plays her lesson, and makes up new words to the familiar song. Lulu dances all the way home, imagining an orchestra playing her song. Many readers will identify with the young protagonist who, despite good intentions, fails to find time to practice her music. The adults in Lulu's life are sympathetic and do not force the issue. Alda's text is nicely paced, and Desimini's cheery and inviting, jewel-toned, mixed-media collages provide a playful, active accompaniment. Young musicians, parents, and teachers will appreciate this compassionate book about the connections between practice and play. Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI
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