Julie's Big Day, by Pauli Libsohn (Page Publishing. 2022, 88 pp, $26.95 hardcopy)
What could a big day be, other than a birthday?
A sixth birthday!
And Julie's sixth is unbelievable - truly a dream come true with all her wishes fulfilled, plenty of birthday cake for breakfast, lunch and supper and her dream presents, all celebrated with her wonderful doting parents who fulfill her every wish, and with her favorite 'people' - the six dolls with names* that nearly come to life in conversation.
Every child should have such a doting family and friends (even if they are not too lively!).
Julie's Big Day is a big book, rather long for a chapter book, especially for 6-year-old girls but with a unique plot like all of Pauli Rose Libsohn's. As a matter of fact, the author actually has lived all or part of all her many book plots!
A Pink Book Full of Lovely Surprises
All little girls will love the pink in Julie's book - from her always pink hair ribbons to her bedroom in a former barn loft (where the author actually had a wonderful bedroom - you cannot make this stuff up!). Her six dolls live in the six former chicken coops, now turned into luxurious doll houses.
Will Julie Get Her Pink Convertible?
Most of all, Julie wants a pink convertible so she can take all her dolls for a ride at once. What a surprise to find a cake in the shape of a pink convertible, but will Julie get her wish, her dream of a real pink convertible she can drive and that smells like pink bubblegum? If she gets the car, where will she park it - in the garage with her mom's car or in the other garage with her dad's car?
And Finally, A Lesson to be Learned
Even a perfect day with perfect parents and perfect doll-friends and perfect presents must have a lesson learned. Even perfect little girls can become more perfect. After reading this book, do you remember what the lesson was that Julie learned?
Writing Style
The author's writing style and books are unique - rather difficult for first readers in having big (8 1/2 by 11) pages full of words but some pages are illustrations only - a good respite - and long, but splotched with text in all caps to emphasize at first. After a while, this reading and guessing why becomes tedious and the reader has many questions as to why some words and not others are capped. The plot is sugary sweet and little boys may not be able to read the entire book.
*Adorable Annabel, Bubbling Betty, Shy Charlotte, Delighted Daisy, Elegant Ella and Fashionista Florrie, of course
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