
A parent should reach for this book when their child is heartbroken because their best friend is suddenly playing with someone new. Lola and Lotta are the very best of friends, but when a new girl named Evie arrives, Lotta's attention shifts, leaving Lola feeling utterly alone and replaced. The story masterfully captures the intense jealousy, sadness, and worry a young child feels when their primary friendship is threatened. Appropriate for ages 4 to 7, this book is a gentle and powerful tool for validating these big, painful emotions. It reassures children that their feelings are normal and opens the door for a conversation about how friendships can change and grow to include new people.
The primary emotional theme is the pain of social exclusion and friendship jealousy. The approach is direct, deeply empathetic, and portrayed entirely from Lola's perspective. It does not shy away from the intensity of her sadness. The resolution is hopeful and positive, modeling for children that friendships can expand rather than being replaced. The context is secular and grounded in a typical school experience.
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Sign in to write a reviewA 5-year-old who has just experienced their first major friendship rift. This child has come home from school visibly upset, saying things like, "Maddie played with Sarah all day and she isn't my best friend anymore." They are grappling with feelings of jealousy and fear of being abandoned.
This book can be read cold as the situation is highly relatable. However, parents should be prepared to pause on the illustrations that show Lola's isolation. The pictures where she is watching the other two from a distance are powerful. A parent can use these moments to say, "Look at Lola's face. It looks like she's feeling very sad and lonely right here. Have you ever felt like that?" The parent has just picked up their child from school and found them either unusually quiet or openly crying. The child explains that their best friend chose to play with someone else during recess, and now they are convinced the friendship is over.
A younger child (4-5) will connect with the surface-level sadness of being left out and will be comforted by the happy ending. An older child (6-7) can have a more nuanced discussion about the feeling of jealousy itself, the fear of change, and the idea that it's okay to have more than one good friend. They might also begin to think about how Evie, the new girl, was feeling.
Lauren Child's unique collage art style and authentic child narrator voice make this book stand out. Unlike many books on the topic that offer quick, didactic solutions, this one allows the main character (and thus the reader) to truly sit with the uncomfortable and painful feelings of being excluded. It validates the emotional experience first, before providing a gentle, realistic resolution.
Lola and her best friend, Lotta, are inseparable. Their world is turned upside down when a new student, Evie, joins their class. Lotta and Evie become fast friends, sharing secrets and games, leaving Lola feeling excluded, jealous, and heartbroken. Lola worries she has lost her best friend for good. Through her observations and feelings of sadness, Lola eventually discovers that Lotta can have two best friends, and the three of them can form a new, happy group.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.