We love a good book in this house. I’m surgically attached to my Kindle, and Dexter is never further than a few metres away from a children’s book. As he’s taking longer than many to talk, we credit books for the few words he can manage. There’s lots to be said for learning through repetition, and thanks to the variety of books on his bookshelf he’s able to familarise himself with more of the world around him.
When we were asked to review Lola Pug, a new children’s book about (… you guessed it) a pug, we agreed immediately. “Doggies” or “Dude-ez” as he calls them, have been a real hit with Dex. When we go to the park he’s fascinated by them, and I know all the words to the theme tune of Clifford the Big Red Dog as it’s so frequently requested on Netflix. As far as I know, he hasn’t seen a pug before so I knew his reaction would be interesting.
What is it about?
Lola Pug is a beautifully illustrated children’s story about Lola, an adorable little pug dog, written by Lola’s real-life owner Carina Lagnado. Carina is originally from Geneva but now loves in Somerset with her husband and two children and of course, Lola the Pug - having previously worked in PR, this is her first children’s book.
The Adams family live in a country cottage, surrounded by their pets and the farm animals, who munch the grass in the orchards. Isabel really wants one more pet – her very own puppy. Big? Small? Hairy? Bouncy?
They choose Lola, an adorable pug – but sometimes it’s hard being a little bit different. The village fair gives Lola a chance to shine and, before long, everyone loves her!
Our thoughts
Carina has seized upon the opportunity to transform Lola’s story into a morality-tale - about how looking different makes you special. At first the other animals on the farm weren’t sure what to make of Lola “a cute, funny little dog, with big, googly black eyes, a little button nose, lots of wrinkles, floppy ears and curly whirly tail” and are quick to dismiss her as odd. Yet her antics soon win her friends and she becomes something of a celebrity. It’s clear this is written from first-hand experience and the real Lola’s integration into village life looked similar.
The book is aimed at children 5+, and I’d say this is fair if you’re wanting for your child to read the book themselves. Owing to the message about not judging on appearance, it’s also lends itself beautifully to a child’s transition into school-life. Dexter however is 3 years old, and will happily sit still when we read the book to him - the 28 pages take approx 8 minutes to get through so it’s the perfect length for a quick bedtime story.
Thanks to some fabulous illustrations by Emily Colenso, there’s plenty for him to look at too. The mix of watercolour and pencil is very reminiscent of Quentin Blake so there’s lots of intricate detail for him to point out as we read. With pictures of horses, pigs, sheep and more, it reinforces some of the work he’s done at nursery (and home) on farmyard animals, it’s a neat step up from the cartoons he’s used to.
Overall, this is a lovely read with a worthwhile message. Dexter will ask me to read it a few times a week and will often study the illustrations on his own during quiet time. I’ll keep my eye out for more from Carina Lagnado and wish her the best with her very book.
Published by Book Guild £8.99 / ISBN: 9781910298183 / Available in hardback HERE
Want to win a copy?
If you fancy giving your child a bedtime treat, you can win 1 of 3 copies of Lola Pug by entering below. Good luck everyone.
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