Lulu or Lola series by Anna McQuinn illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

I first talked about Lulu loves stories back in 2018. 

I borrowed one book from this series (Lola gets a Cat) only to discover there are so many more titles and that the main character has two different names (more on that confusion in moment). I collect images of books like this one for my Pinterest collection entitled "She looks like me" for two little girls with a mum from UK and dad from Sri Lanka. The books in this series would be perfect gifts for these girls and they should also be added to your preschool shelves. Here is a page from Lulu or Lola gets a Cat.

The books in this series are available in paperback and hardcover. In the UK, Australia and New Zealand the little girl is called Lulu and in USA and Canada she is Lola. I wonder why they made this change - it sure has confused me!

"This is a great picture book where story and illustration come together seamlessly. Yet this is also a must-have picture book because it bucks the trend of a real lack of diversity in children's books."

2021 comment from Children's Books Ireland.

Anna McQuinn has worked in children’s books for more than twenty-five years as an editor, publisher, and writer. She is the author of more than twenty books for children, including Lola at the Library, Lola Loves Stories, Lola Reads to Leo and The Sleep Sheep. On her web page she shares something deeply shocking - in some US states Lola at the Library is a banned book (this is madness). Here is her Facebook page. And Instagram. 

Kirkus said (Lola at the Library): Beardshaw’s vividly colored acrylic paintings of a mother and child’s morning outing in their racially mixed neighborhood complements the classic library scenes charged with a child’s vibrant enthusiasm. The simple, significant message will ring true with every librarian, teacher, caregiver and parent as the day concludes with Lola’s nightly bedtime story. Everyone should begin and end the day with a good book.

Here is the Spanish edition. 

Rosalind Beardshaw loved drawing from early childhood and from a young age decided she wanted to become an illustrator. She studied at Manchester Polytechnic where she earned a degree in illustration. Since graduating in 1992, she has illustrated many children’s books. Check out her books My Pet Star and Just Right for Two. Here is her Instagram page.

And to confuse you further Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw have a series about a little boy called Zeki (UK, New Zealand and Australia) and Leo (USA and Canada).