Lulu and the Cat in the Bag

February 1, 2014

Gr 2-4-In this third book of the series, Lulu and her best friend/cousin Mellie are being cared for by their grandmother, who dislikes animals. Lulu discovers a tied-up sack on her doorstep containing a loudly snoring object. The girls are eager to open it, but Grandma Nan is afraid of adding to their overgrown menagerie of dogs, fish, parrot, and guinea pigs. One large and frightened orange cat emerges, and the adventure begins. Sadly, this story has none of the charm of Lulu and the Duck in the Park (2012) or Lulu and the Dog from the Sea (2013, both Albert Whitman). In this story, the only purpose the animals have is to react negatively to the unwelcome cat. Grandma Nan spends her time thinking of ways to get rid of Lulu's pets yet inexplicably takes the cat home. The mystery of the cat's appearance is never explained, but the reason for its size brings a satisfying and simple resolution. Fans of the previous books will miss the playful interactions between the characters and the animals. The black, gray, and white illustrations are bright and cheery, but the story doesn't match the quality of the first two books. For avid readers of the series only.-Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
This installment in the continuing story of Lulu, her cousin and best friend, Mellie, and her growing collection of pets delights. Their grandmother, Nan, who is "little and snappy and quick and kind," is staying with the girls while their parents are away on a grown-up holiday. She is not fond of animals, so this is quite brave: Lulu's menagerie is ever-growing. When a bag full (as it turns out) of a marigold-colored cat is left on the doorstep, Nan tries mightily to keep Lulu from opening something that could be dangerous, but she does not succeed. What follows is a rollicking tale of a cat that loves flowers (and is wary of humans), terrorizes Lulu's old dog Sam and young dog Rocko, and allows the girls to understand that not all animals can cohabit with the same family and that not all adults look upon creatures with the affection and care that Lulu does. Their neighbor Charlie, who loves making people "shriek and giggle," makes a cameo appearance. Why the marigold cat was so large (and so wary) is explained in the end, and a satisfactory home for the marigolds three (!) is found. The story allows for increasing complexity of situation and emotion in a way that's utterly accepting of 7-year-old thought--and it's very funny. (Fiction. 7-9)

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July 1, 2013
Grades 2-4 When an enormous orange cat is left in a bag on Lulu's doorstep, she and her cousin Mellie are awestruck, while their grandmother Nan is alarmed and irritated. But just as Lulu knows how to reassure the wary newcomer, she also understands that Nan needs time to warm up to the cat. From Lulu's independent (not to say disobedient) streak to Nan's ability to change her mind, McKay brings the characters to life in scenes full of warmth, wit, and perception. Lamont's lively drawings with gray washes illustrate the story. An appealing beginning chapter book from the excellent Lulu series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2014
Grandmother Nan is taking care of Lulu and her cousin Mellie, and they're all staying at Lulu's house so they can tend to her many rescued pets. When kindhearted Lulu finds a large cat on her doorstep, there's a problem: Nan is not a cat person. Gentle humor and deft characterization add up to another winning entry in this fine series.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2013
Lulu's and cousin Mellie's parents are on a grownups-only holiday, so grandmother Nan is taking care of the girls. They're staying at Lulu's house, naturally, so they can tend to her many rescued pets. But kindhearted Lulu can always save another animal. Opportunity knocks when she finds a knotted-up bag on her front doorstep containing a large cat. Having already established her characters in the previous two books, here McKay develops new ones. Nan is particularly strong. She's patient with the girls, mindful of their manners, and a teeny bit vain. Charlie, the young neighborhood tagalong, is also spot on, especially in his inability to understand tone. When Lulu tries to convince Nan that cats aren't so bad, she prompts Charlie to back her up. "'Yes, Charlie has a cat. . .She doesn't bring in dead mice and things, does she, Charlie?' 'Not dead ones,' said Charlie cheerfully. 'Live ones, though!'" And that does it for Nan, who proclaims: "I am not a cat person. I am a garden person." In a plot twist that's a little precious, the cat (described in particularly visual language as "a glow-in-the-dark orange cat with eyes like lime-green sweets. Fur like a cloud. Paws like beanbags. A tail like a fat feather duster") gifts Nan with flowers. But the best present comes from McKay: another solid entry in this fine series. betty carter

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)