Lulu and the Cat in the Bag (Lulu #3)

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