Lulu Is Getting a Sister by Judith Viorst - ADVISABLE

Lulu Is Getting a Sister by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Kevin Cornell, 178 pages.  CHAPTER BOOK. Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2018.  $17. 

Language: G (0  swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Lulu is NOT too old for tantrums, as she clearly demonstrates when she hears that in a few short months, she will be getting a baby sister. She has been the only child for a long time now, and likes it that way, thank you very much. Her parents have anticipated that Lulu might not be totally thrilled with the news, and so are ready to bribe her to attend Camp Sisterhood for two weeks where she has been signed up to practice being a big sister with a “temporary” younger sibling assigned to her. When her first temporary sister ends up being a set of identical twins who beat her at Scrabble and swimming, she is assigned another temporary sibling, a little boy who is completely opposite and demanding in his own way. Along the way, she actually learns some important lessons.

This is the fourth book featuring Lulu, a character who is stubborn, spoiled, and conceited, and yet endearingly resourceful and pragmatic as well. This is a stand-alone story with short chapters, a larger font size, expressive spot art, and a narrator that makes wry comments throughout. The prospect of getting a younger sibling is shared by many young readers, and Lulu’s antics at Camp Sisterhood will tickle many funny bones. 

P K Foster, teacher-librarian