Loula is Leaving for Africa

Reach for this book when your child feels overshadowed by siblings, frustrated by household rules, or simply needs to feel like the master of their own universe. It is a perfect choice for the preschooler or early elementary student who has reached their 'breaking point' with family dynamics and is expressing a desire to run away or find a new life elsewhere. The story follows Loula, a young girl fed up with her three mean brothers, as she decides to leave for Africa. What follows is a beautifully staged pretend journey facilitated by her family's chauffeur, Gilbert, who takes her imaginative needs seriously. This book validates a child's big, messy feelings of anger and resentment while showing them that the adults in their life are a safe harbor. It turns a moment of family tension into an opportunity for creative play and emotional connection.