Louis

August 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 3-Louis is a teddy bear who has truly seen it all. And he's a teddy bear who has had enough. He has been used and abused as a pillow, a hankie, and as lunch for a prehistoric beast. He's been buried alive, thrown into a hurricane, hung out to dry, and has even been made an accessory to a nightmare-inducing crime! Lichtenheld lets readers know that Louis is ready to break free-but there is always a reason not to leave, and he's going to need more cupcakes. Rowan-Zoch's colorful and expressive illustrations complement Lichtenheld's silly story and truly bring Louis the grumpy bear to life. Fans of the author's Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site will delight in this enjoyable picture book. VERDICT Perfect for read-alouds or one-on-one sharing, this is a laugh-out-loud spin on a would-be runaway's best-laid plans.-Elizabeth Blake, Fields Corner Lib., Dorchester, MA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 15, 2020
A hug is a powerful thing. Louis, a stuffed teddy bear, has grievances: His owner, a dark-haired kid with light-brown skin, has mistreated Louis in a variety of ways, including using the bear as a hankie, burying the toy in the sand, and subjecting him to the terrors of the washing machine. After Louis suffers the final indignity--almost being left behind on public transportation--the bear plans to make his escape. Savvy readers may surmise that Louis' heart isn't completely in this grand departure, as the teddy delays based on rain, cupcake-filled tea parties, and being the star of show-and-tell due to bravery during the bus incident. When the perfect moment to desert finally arrives, a last-minute hug helps Louis realize how much the kid loves and appreciates him. It's a charming, genuinely sweet ending to a well-crafted story that leaves lots of openings for Rowan-Zoch's boldly colored, crisp cartoon artwork to deliver a vibrant pop that will be appreciated in both large storytimes and intimate lap reads. Louis is marvelously expressive, panicking, glaring, and unexpectedly softening by turns. Caregivers and educators may see an opportunity in the story to engage in creative writing or storytelling based on the readers' own favorite stuffed friends. Louis' owner's mom appears in one scene wearing a salwar kameez, suggesting the family is of South Asian heritage. Like a faithful teddy, sure to become a favorite for many readers. (Picture book. 5-8)

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August 24, 2020
The title character is all talk and no action—and that makes him one endearing teddy bear. The problem, according to Louis, is that his life as a beloved stuffed toy has been something just short of a living nightmare: he’s been “x-rayed” (by airport security), “milk-sprayed” (thanks to clumsy cereal preparation), and “mislaid” (left on the bus—and quickly retrieved). Louis is good and ready to walk, but breaking up is hard to do: each time he prepares himself, something holds him back, whether it’s one more cupcake at a dress-up tea party, being made the star of a dramatic show-and-tell describing the bus incident (“1 brave bear” reads the chalkboard), or a cozy late-night snuggle. Digital cartooning by illustrator Rowan-Zoch (You’re One!) is to the point, with a Louis who is expressive without skewing hammy. Lichtenfeld’s (When My Brother Gets Home) first-person narration is just the right amount of cranky, rendering Louis as both sympathetic (he does get thrown in the washing machine, after all) and clueless as to how good he has it. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Amy Rennert, the Amy Rennert Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Marcia Wemick, Wemick & Pratt Agency.

July 1, 2020
Louis, a gruff-and-grouchy stuffed bear, recounts the indignities he suffers as the beloved toy of a little-kid owner: "I've been a pillow, a hankie..." Sometimes the behaviors are imaginary-play-related (being fed to a dinosaur, forced tea-party attendance), sometimes they correlate to the real world ("I've been x-rayed �at the airport]...milk-sprayed �at the breakfast table]"). When he's "mislaid" on the school bus, it's the last straw. "I can bear it no longer. The next time this kid squeezes me, I'm outta here." Rowan-Zoch's warmhearted, kid-centric digital illustrations do much to convey the story's mood, including Louis's bad one. Through body language and facial expression, along with curved lines and gentle hues, it's clear that the child owner is acting out of pure, unadulterated love for a favorite stuffie; but then we're not the ones being manhandled (bear-handled?) by an overeager tot. Nevertheless, Louis's resolve softens the more he contemplates striking out alone and as he realizes how good he's got it. "A bear could do worse," he concludes, while on the last page being snuggled up in bed. Cupcakes, compliments, and cuddles are the way to a grumpy bear's heart.

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2020
Louis, a gruff-and-grouchy stuffed bear, recounts the indignities he suffers as the beloved toy of a little-kid owner: "I've been a pillow, a hankie..." Sometimes the behaviors are imaginary-play-related (being fed to a dinosaur, forced tea-party attendance), sometimes they correlate to the real world ("I've been x-rayed [at the airport]...milk-sprayed [at the breakfast table]"). When he's "mislaid" on the school bus, it's the last straw. "I can bear it no longer. The next time this kid squeezes me, I'm outta here." Rowan-Zoch's warmhearted, kid-centric digital illustrations do much to convey the story's mood, including Louis's bad one. Through body language and facial expression, along with curved lines and gentle hues, it's clear that the child owner is acting out of pure, unadulterated love for a favorite stuffie; but then we're not the ones being manhandled (bear-handled?) by an overeager tot. Nevertheless, Louis's resolve softens the more he contemplates striking out alone and as he realizes how good he's got it. "A bear could do worse," he concludes, while on the last page being snuggled up in bed. Cupcakes, compliments, and cuddles are the way to a grumpy bear's heart. Elissa Gershowitz

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)