Ladybug Girl and Bingo

K-Gr 2—Ladybug Girl and her trusty dog head into their latest adventure with all the imagination and pluck that children have come to expect from this delightful duo. This time Lulu's family is going camping, and the lure of the great outdoors has Bingo in a sniffing frenzy. Papa quickly snaps a leash on him and warns Lulu to hold on tight so he won't run off and get lost. They go exploring and, with her usual knack for finding delight in her surroundings, Ladybug Girl casts a spell on a "gnarly old wizard" (a tree), rides a "galloping giant turtle" (a large rock), and "sips tea with buttercup fairies" (butterflies). But Bingo proves difficult in the wild, and when he ultimately gets away from the child, she gathers her wits and resolve and sets off to find him. As with earlier titles, there is a skillful balance between Lulu's challenge and the reassuring presence of her parents, giving her the opportunity to figure things out on her own without putting herself in any real danger. Deep greens and blues of the forest dominate the watercolor-and-ink illustrations, and one noteworthy spread of them all drifting peacefully in a canoe invokes all that is wonderful about a family camping trip. A fine addition to the series and another reason to love Ladybug Girl.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library