Lola Dutch

Reading this masterfully illustrated story reminded me that creative expression is sometimes less about imagination--which some of us might not think we possess in abundance--than it is about just getting out there, rolling up sleeves, and trying new things. Any child (or child IN the adult), can do it. And should! All it takes is a little push, some stray ingredients to hand, and true friends to cheer us on. In Lola Dutch, a strong-willed, high energy go-getter and her pals embark, escapade after escapade, on more than “a little bit much” in a single day of painting, cooking and ransacking the local library. In the process, the adventuresome pack of friends—Lola, Gator, Crane, Pig and Bear—leave behind a glorious, and often messy, proof of life. European-style children's illustrator Sarah Jane Wright, in all her detailed attention to whimsy, takes pains NOT to cover up her dynamic new characters' collateral bric-à-brac, as she teams with subtle storyteller Kenneth Wright to remind us that sometimes the act of imaginative play itself—Did I spy "The Creation of Lola" on the ceiling?—can be its own reward; the end product mere collateral. (It’s as if the creative team are asking and answering the question, “Why can't creative expression sometimes just be, um, expressive?”) As this wise-between-the-lines story reminds us, the best end product of a well-worn day can be something as mundane, and as real, as an earned night's sleep! And can I also just add that Bloomsbury's decision to invest in a heavier paper grade that says, "What you’re sensing as you turn these pages is the gravity of a REAL book. We deliberately selected this weight because Lola Dutch, and books like it that aim to bring reading (and living, for that matter) back to the tactile world," underscore Lola’s call to action.

Lola Dutch is an absolute delight. I can’t tell you how much we’ve giggled with glee as we’ve read this book again and again over the past few days. The illustrations are so charming and we are a huge fan of Sarah Jane's work - we have several of her prints in our kids' rooms. But I think the most delightful part of the book for us has been the story by her husband, Kenneth Wright. Both of my kids love to create and draw and write and have huge imaginations, and I love that the main character Lola Dutch has a little group of animal friends that love her and support her creative endeavors in different ways - they jump in and start creating with her, and Bear is there offering quiet support. I had a really engaging discussion with my son yesterday (he's 11, and I didn't think he'd even care to read it, but he's read it as many times as my 7 year old daughter has) about how the sweet Bear is such a good, steady presence and loves Lola whatever she does - even if she makes a big mess creating her works of art. And then he compared the Bear to his dad and I and how we support him in what he tries to do. (which may have made me teary-eyed.) I love that he got it. That we make space for people to create and dream and be who they are, and we support each other with who we are. All that from a sweet little story about a girl with a fabulously big personality.

Wonderful story and beautiful illustrations. My biggest regret is that it appears that the author will not be writing any more Lola stories. My granddaughter has all the books that were written in the series as well as the Lola doll. We've also gifted the Lola Dutch books. There are very few children's books of this caliber available today.

As a Mother of 4, I am very conscious of the message or moral of children's books. Too many stories are only focused on entertainment and not enriching or inspiring kids in their life. Lola & Dutch is the NEW STANDARD for children's books. The message of creativity, exploration, and imagination is a MUST in today's world. Sarah and Kenneth brilliantly tell the story of Lola and her friends. What many would mistakingly call an "ordinary" day, Lola see's as "another AMAZING day!" In order to make it in the world today, you need the right mindset, and Lola shares her way of thinking in a fun and inspiring way. Sarah is a BRILLIANT illustrator. Her art feels so familiar and nostalgic. You can feel Lola's excitement and energy through the colors and details in each page. If you are tired of you kids spending too much time in front of a screen and want to jumpstart their imagination, then this book will do just that. My 4 year old daughter requests this book every night. And her 9 year old brother loves to listen in as well. It even comes with a fun surprise inside the book sleeve.

The story itself is very sweet and the illustrations are lovely, but I was disappointed that our book didn’t come a dust jacket. This is one of the few children’s books where I actually wanted the dust jacket because of how thoughtful the authors were in making it something children could play with. I think it’s probably just a different edition than the original (maybe?), but we were a little disappointed since we’d bought it in the past as a gift and it did come with the adorable dust jacket. Just wanted others to know it might not come with that since several of the other reviews mention the dust jacket.

I have been a fan of Sarah Jane's art and illustrations for years. Her fabric has been used to make some of my daughter's most loved possessions. Her art decorates my daughter's walls. So when Sarah Jane announced that she was illustrating and co-writing a children's book with her teacher husband Kenneth (and that it would be a series), my heart skipped a beat!! I knew that it would be filled with whimsy, mischief, fun, and tenderness. And Lola Dutch is just that, and a little bit more! My 5 year old really enjoys the story and loves Lola's friends Gator, Pig, and Crane. But she adores Bear and so do I. Bear seems to be Lola's nannie, and you can tell he loves her very much. Such a beautifully illustrated story of a little girl full of creativity and a love of learning, and a curiosity of the world beyond! Lola Dutch may be a little bit much, but she's absolutely perfect that way! We can't wait for the next book!! Fun surprise in the dust cover of the hardback edition!

Oh do we ADORE Lola Dutch! Maybe even a wee bit more than the average Bear but that’s only because we have our very own Lola Dutch in-house. This is a whimsical story about a whirlwind of a girl, the adventures filling her days, and her friends throughout. So far we’ve read this book maybe five or six times. My Lyla hasn’t grown tired of the story and we keep finding new things to discuss on practically every page. I love love love how much value this book puts on the arts and the artistic process. Lola Dutch has definitely not lost her spark. Her enthusiasm for the day-to-day 100% reminds me of my little people and I am sure that other readers will see shades of their little ones as well and me that’s what makes a really good story, when you can truly relate. I am fairly new to the talents of Sarah Jane Wright but my goodness is this a masterpiece. It’s wonderful how much each page enriches the storyline. I’m going to go ahead and say that this book is a must-buy.

What a darling book! Lola Dutch and her friends are such bright, fun characters. Lots of fun details throughout. Our book came earlier this week and the kids have asked to read it every day since! We have an 8 year old girl, 4 year old boy and they both love it. Even 7 month old baby brother loves seeing the pictures. :) Really just such a great all-around fun and uplifting book that celebrates creativity, being yourself, and loving those around you. Reads like classic children's lit with just wonderful, charming illustrations and story. The book cover is also super detailed and fun. It has two characters (Lola Dutch and Bear) that you can cut out and play with and when you slip the book cover off, the backside/inside of the book cover reveals Lola Dutch's house! So you can cut out the characters and play with them and make up stories as you move them from room to room. We just cut ours out today and my four year old has loved making up his own little stories with them. Very highly recommend!

Lola Dutch IS just too much! But I love her for every second of it as I've got a little girl who is very, very similar. (Right down to insisting on wearing a tutu on a daily basis.) This girl has a huge imagination, wonderful friends, and Bear is the most relatable character in any children's book ever for the would-be overwhelmed parent of a big personality. Love everything about these books!!

My girls (4 and 7) love this book. We will definitely be ordering the rest of the series. The story is fun, the illustrations are so beautiful and the dollhouse feature with the jacket cover was a major hit.

Reading this masterfully illustrated story reminded me that creative expression is sometimes less about imagination--which some of us might not think we possess in abundance--than it is about just getting out there, rolling up sleeves, and trying new things. Any child (or child IN the adult), can do it. And should! All it takes is a little push, some stray ingredients to hand, and true friends to cheer us on. In Lola Dutch, a strong-willed, high energy go-getter and her pals embark, escapade after escapade, on more than “a little bit much” in a single day of painting, cooking and ransacking the local library. In the process, the adventuresome pack of friends—Lola, Gator, Crane, Pig and Bear—leave behind a glorious, and often messy, proof of life. European-style children's illustrator Sarah Jane Wright, in all her detailed attention to whimsy, takes pains NOT to cover up her dynamic new characters' collateral bric-à-brac, as she teams with subtle storyteller Kenneth Wright to remind us that sometimes the act of imaginative play itself—Did I spy "The Creation of Lola" on the ceiling?—can be its own reward; the end product mere collateral. (It’s as if the creative team are asking and answering the question, “Why can't creative expression sometimes just be, um, expressive?”) As this wise-between-the-lines story reminds us, the best end product of a well-worn day can be something as mundane, and as real, as an earned night's sleep! And can I also just add that Bloomsbury's decision to invest in a heavier paper grade that says, "What you’re sensing as you turn these pages is the gravity of a REAL book. We deliberately selected this weight because Lola Dutch, and books like it that aim to bring reading (and living, for that matter) back to the tactile world," underscore Lola’s call to action.

Lola Dutch is an absolute delight. I can’t tell you how much we’ve giggled with glee as we’ve read this book again and again over the past few days. The illustrations are so charming and we are a huge fan of Sarah Jane's work - we have several of her prints in our kids' rooms. But I think the most delightful part of the book for us has been the story by her husband, Kenneth Wright. Both of my kids love to create and draw and write and have huge imaginations, and I love that the main character Lola Dutch has a little group of animal friends that love her and support her creative endeavors in different ways - they jump in and start creating with her, and Bear is there offering quiet support. I had a really engaging discussion with my son yesterday (he's 11, and I didn't think he'd even care to read it, but he's read it as many times as my 7 year old daughter has) about how the sweet Bear is such a good, steady presence and loves Lola whatever she does - even if she makes a big mess creating her works of art. And then he compared the Bear to his dad and I and how we support him in what he tries to do. (which may have made me teary-eyed.) I love that he got it. That we make space for people to create and dream and be who they are, and we support each other with who we are. All that from a sweet little story about a girl with a fabulously big personality.

Wonderful story and beautiful illustrations. My biggest regret is that it appears that the author will not be writing any more Lola stories. My granddaughter has all the books that were written in the series as well as the Lola doll. We've also gifted the Lola Dutch books. There are very few children's books of this caliber available today.

As a Mother of 4, I am very conscious of the message or moral of children's books. Too many stories are only focused on entertainment and not enriching or inspiring kids in their life. Lola & Dutch is the NEW STANDARD for children's books. The message of creativity, exploration, and imagination is a MUST in today's world. Sarah and Kenneth brilliantly tell the story of Lola and her friends. What many would mistakingly call an "ordinary" day, Lola see's as "another AMAZING day!" In order to make it in the world today, you need the right mindset, and Lola shares her way of thinking in a fun and inspiring way. Sarah is a BRILLIANT illustrator. Her art feels so familiar and nostalgic. You can feel Lola's excitement and energy through the colors and details in each page. If you are tired of you kids spending too much time in front of a screen and want to jumpstart their imagination, then this book will do just that. My 4 year old daughter requests this book every night. And her 9 year old brother loves to listen in as well. It even comes with a fun surprise inside the book sleeve.

The story itself is very sweet and the illustrations are lovely, but I was disappointed that our book didn’t come a dust jacket. This is one of the few children’s books where I actually wanted the dust jacket because of how thoughtful the authors were in making it something children could play with. I think it’s probably just a different edition than the original (maybe?), but we were a little disappointed since we’d bought it in the past as a gift and it did come with the adorable dust jacket. Just wanted others to know it might not come with that since several of the other reviews mention the dust jacket.

I have been a fan of Sarah Jane's art and illustrations for years. Her fabric has been used to make some of my daughter's most loved possessions. Her art decorates my daughter's walls. So when Sarah Jane announced that she was illustrating and co-writing a children's book with her teacher husband Kenneth (and that it would be a series), my heart skipped a beat!! I knew that it would be filled with whimsy, mischief, fun, and tenderness. And Lola Dutch is just that, and a little bit more! My 5 year old really enjoys the story and loves Lola's friends Gator, Pig, and Crane. But she adores Bear and so do I. Bear seems to be Lola's nannie, and you can tell he loves her very much. Such a beautifully illustrated story of a little girl full of creativity and a love of learning, and a curiosity of the world beyond! Lola Dutch may be a little bit much, but she's absolutely perfect that way! We can't wait for the next book!! Fun surprise in the dust cover of the hardback edition!

Oh do we ADORE Lola Dutch! Maybe even a wee bit more than the average Bear but that’s only because we have our very own Lola Dutch in-house. This is a whimsical story about a whirlwind of a girl, the adventures filling her days, and her friends throughout. So far we’ve read this book maybe five or six times. My Lyla hasn’t grown tired of the story and we keep finding new things to discuss on practically every page. I love love love how much value this book puts on the arts and the artistic process. Lola Dutch has definitely not lost her spark. Her enthusiasm for the day-to-day 100% reminds me of my little people and I am sure that other readers will see shades of their little ones as well and me that’s what makes a really good story, when you can truly relate. I am fairly new to the talents of Sarah Jane Wright but my goodness is this a masterpiece. It’s wonderful how much each page enriches the storyline. I’m going to go ahead and say that this book is a must-buy.

What a darling book! Lola Dutch and her friends are such bright, fun characters. Lots of fun details throughout. Our book came earlier this week and the kids have asked to read it every day since! We have an 8 year old girl, 4 year old boy and they both love it. Even 7 month old baby brother loves seeing the pictures. :) Really just such a great all-around fun and uplifting book that celebrates creativity, being yourself, and loving those around you. Reads like classic children's lit with just wonderful, charming illustrations and story. The book cover is also super detailed and fun. It has two characters (Lola Dutch and Bear) that you can cut out and play with and when you slip the book cover off, the backside/inside of the book cover reveals Lola Dutch's house! So you can cut out the characters and play with them and make up stories as you move them from room to room. We just cut ours out today and my four year old has loved making up his own little stories with them. Very highly recommend!

Lola Dutch IS just too much! But I love her for every second of it as I've got a little girl who is very, very similar. (Right down to insisting on wearing a tutu on a daily basis.) This girl has a huge imagination, wonderful friends, and Bear is the most relatable character in any children's book ever for the would-be overwhelmed parent of a big personality. Love everything about these books!!

My girls (4 and 7) love this book. We will definitely be ordering the rest of the series. The story is fun, the illustrations are so beautiful and the dollhouse feature with the jacket cover was a major hit.

Love this story about a girl bursting with imagination and the energy to carry out her ideas. My girls enjoyed it as well. It is a joy to read to them and has a positive message about embracing you with all your quirks and there is nothing wrong with being over the top or "too much."

I have followed Sarah Wright since she had a small shop on ETSY--her illustrations are the perfect blend of beauty and whimsy (we have her prints in our home.) SO, when I heard she was producing books with her husband, we had to buy them! And Lola does not disappoint. Not only are the illustrations darling, but the character is, too. This book is already well-loved in our family!

I've been waiting for this book for some time now, as I am a big fan of all fabric designed by Sara Jane Wright. As a retired Kindergarten teacher and a Grandma, I was delighted to find the story was just as perfect as the illustrations! This book doesn't just hint that creativity in childhood is important, it teaches by example. The puppets to cut out and use with the jacket for story play is such an inviting way to allow each child who reads this book to become the author of Lola Dutch's next amazing day. Clearly, this author/illustrator team respect and trust the imagination of every child. Lola Dutch is perfectly much!

Such a sweet book! I got this for my soon to be born niece along with the matching fabric. It’s the theme of her gifts for the next year.

This book is so fun and creative. My 6 yr old daughter loves it and has so much fun playing with the paper dolls (that come with the book) while we read.

What a sweet book! I love the illustrations, so charming and whimsical. My 3 year old daughter and I return to this one to read again and again.

We pre-ordered this book, and my boys 5 & 7 loved it! We read it two times the night it came and then it was requested again the next morning before school. My youngest son in particular just thinks it is so funny! He will just walk around saying Oh Lola Dutch -- she's just too much and laugh and laugh. A sign of a great book in our house. I personally loved the art work -- the whole thing is so charming, I will probably be buying them as birthday gifts for classmates in the coming months.

We gave this to our daughter (6mo) for her first Christmas. She loves to have it read to her, as do our older kids. The illustrations are captivating! The pages on famous people and paintings have led to educational conversations for our older ones. We will be buying all of the other Lola Dutch books.

This is a cute book with adorable artwork, but I was disappointed in two ways. First, for how much the story and main character emulated another well-known, respected and cherished book in print. It isn't unique. It didn't offer us any pleasant surprises to make it memorable or set apart. Secondly, it was too short and simple - overpriced for what it is. This being a new release, we will keep as a collector's item and a keepsake for our 5 year old, who is none the wiser at this point.

We have been anxiously awaiting this book & are in LOVE with Lola Dutch!! We have been fans of the author and illustrator for 10 years now. She is so talented and creative and it shows in the beautiful artwork on every page. I can’t wait to gift these to friends and relatives. We are beyond excited that the book jacket comes off and as an added bonus it is a beautiful and sturdy backdrop for a little puppet theater! Brilliant and Beautiful are he best way to describe this book. Two thumbs way up!

I preordered Lola Dutch because I have been a long time fan of Sarah Jane Wright’s whimsical, sweet children’s art. I was expecting to love the illustrations, but I was not expecting to meet such a captivating character as Lola Dutch, nor a story that is so full of the essence and magic of childhood. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. If you agree that childhood should be full of wonder and color and creativity, and loving friends, you will love this book too. I cannot say enough good.

Lola Dutch is everything I wish for my self and my children to be: daring, kind, engaged, smart--enjoying the little moments and making them grand. It has been a favorite at our Montessori school since it came out. Every Montessori child needs this book! I love that the book shows her washing the dishes after she makes a grand breakfast. And the message that relationships are more important that stuff is just perfect. I love this book! I can't wait to own them all!

What a sweet story! Beautiful illustrations and amusing characters. My youngest child is Lola Dutch! Bursting with creativity and energy; interested in everything! But when the day ends, she needs a little hug to help deal with life when it feels like it's just too much. This book was the perfect remedy for day 5 of the flu. The dollhouse book jacket was a delightful surprise too. She felt well enough today to have a birthday party for Lola complete with streamers! Can't wait to see what Lola does next!

We love Lola Dutch books! I’ve bought this one 3 times. Once for my daughter and twice as gifts. The illustrations are beautiful and we have fun seeing what Lola and her friends are up to. I love the little nods to classic art, science and more! My 4 yr old daughter is excited to hear that a third Lola Dutch book is in the works!

Such a lovely book! The illustrations are beautiful and I really appreciate all the special touches and nods to Paris, Monet's garden at Giverny, things like that which make it even more interesting for me to read to the kids. Lola's world is magical, inspiring, and encouraging -- I highly recommend!

Received with great anticipation yesterday. Read to my littles (4,3, and 1) over dinner, and all were rapt, and wanted to read it again, including the 1 year old (who has actually never before sat through an entire book). It is full of imagination, intensity, wonderful references to famous artists and creatives throughout history, and inspired me to be more patient and even facilitative with my own energetic, "little bit much" crew. We are in love and can't wait for more books!

Absolutely adorable. Sweet story and characters, BEAUTIFUL illustration, and (surprise!) the book flap has cut out characters to play with the inside of the book jacket- a beautiful illustration of Lola’s house! I’m smitten :)

This book is so wonderful. If you love Fancy Nancy, Calvin and Hobbs, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie you’ll love this book. The artwork is out of this world and I have found myself staring at the pictures in great detail. The story, the art, the charachters- they will all draw you in and when you’re on the last page you’ll wish there was more. I truly hope there is a whole series of Lola Dutch adventures.

Lola Dutch.....who knew....a great discovery for this Nana!!! The stories are engaging with such lovely artwork, I'm captivated❤

Cute book for boys and girls. Lola makes everything in her day amazing and extra special for her friends . My 4 year boy loved it and could pick up on the message of doing things with others and doing special things for others, like taking the time to make everyone’s favorite breakfast. my two year old loved the art, colors, and animals in the book so it’s a win for us.

Just received this in the mail and what a darling story! Such a wonderful way to encourage creativity in our kids. The illustrations are darling and full of so much personality. It is also a great reminder that as parents, we can also be like the character “Bear” and encourage our kids to express themselves in a variety of ways. I can’t wait to share this with my kids!!

Delightful book! Very creative and fun to read. The art is absolutely fantastic. Lola Dutch is such a fun character. Shes "just a little bit much." We follow her through a day of her "muches." Her imagination runs wild as we follow her and her animal friends through breakfast, a library trip, and art project and bedtime. She definitely makes the most of her day! We love this book!

Lola Dutch is an adorable character in a fabulous book. Her relationship with Bear brings all sorts of smiles to my mama heart and Lola’s curious nature breathes life into any reader old or young. The nods to artists and Parisian life are magical and her friends add some quirky silliness to the mix. I can’t wait to see where they all go and what they do next.

Charming story with evocative illustrations. Wonderful visit to the library and different artists. 5 and 3 year olds enjoyed this book.

Got this for my niece, Lola. Can't wait to give it to her next week. The book is a nice size and the illustrations are just beautiful. The jacket that looks like a doll house is also so creative.

Such a sweet story with the most lovable characters! I was on the fence about ordering this book for my three boys (10,6,4) but they liked it right away, taking long looks at each page. The details are wonderful and this is a book we will be reading over and over for the story and pictures. Already looking forward to the next Lola adventure!

This book could not be any cuter. Love the art, the story. My kids love it. We can't wait for the next one to come out. I bought 2 copies! One for our family and one for Grandma! Thank you, Lola Dutch for being just a little too much! We love you! :)

I was so excited to get this book and honestly it fell a little short of my expectations. The illustrations are beautiful but the story is not quite there in my opinion. I wanted to get to know Lola Dutch and her wonderful imagination and ideas. But, I'm sure my granddaughter will love it all the same!

Absolutely love Lola Dutch! Can't wait to share her with my future kiddos. This power writing and illustrating combo by the Wrights is incredible. Looking forward to more Lola Dutch books in the future.

My daughters love to create and we love to read. I preordered this book and was excited to receive it and read it to my girls even though they are a bit older than the recommended age. My girls liked guessing who the art references were from and the overall character of Lola. They are also bit much. Beautiful book!

Just the sweetest book. Full of childhood magic and the illustrations are fantastic. My three year old loves it and so do my 5, 6, and 9 year old. Added bonus that "Bon appetit!" is one of our new favorite phrases.

I bought one as a gift and I couldn’t bear to part with it! So, I am ordering my own! It’s a delightful character that reminds me of my own Lulu May who is famously and perfectly a little bit much. I truly hope this character grows beyond the books and on the screen. I adore it.

So excited to finally have my copy! Lola Dutch is a bit to much is the perfect book to add to our collection. My little girls loves it so much we’ve already read it 3 times. (Just got last night) The story is fun and the illustrations are beautiful! Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

WE LOVE THIS BOOK!!! This sweet book has inspired my 4 year old twins to cook feasts, become inventors, chemists, writers and painters! Lola Dutch is a fun and loving character who encourages creativity and joy. The illustrations are beautiful and the story line makes both the reader and the listeners smile. I highly recommend this book!

Love , love the series but the cover cane damaged.

Love this bright, colorful, and beautiful book! I have loved Sarah Jane Wright’s illustrations for a very long time and seeing her illustrations come to life through Lola Dutch is a dream come true! I love the message this book gives and I plan to read this book over and over again to my kids.

This is an extremely cute and fun book. The dust jacket has a little paper Lola and paper Bear. It also has a paper house. I put a backing on the paper dolls and house so that my 2 yo granddaughter couldn't tear.

Everything it promises to be, reading Lola Dutch brings you to another world where an attitude of adventure permeates the entire day. While I relate most to Bear, I'm inspired to allow more room in our home for courageous creativity. Can't wait for more adventures with Lola and friends!

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book full of inspiration for both young and old. And the dust cover is cleverly designed to make its own puppet back drop, puppets included with ideas for many more. This book is a delight and a spring board for creativity.

This book is so amazingly adorable. I purchased it for my 3 year old daughter for Valentine's Day, and I couldn't be more excited to give it to her! The message is great, the story is well written, and the illustrations are just beautiful! You really MUST purchase!

This book is fun to read and beautiful to look at! we like to play I spy while we read books at bedtime, and the gorgeous illustrations will provide us with plenty of things to spy! What a great way to spark creativity in young minds!

Beautifully illustrated and such a sweet story! If you have a little “too much” in your life, she needs this book! I’ve purchased 6 as birthday gifts.

We love this book so much! Such darling illustrations as well as the story. A perfect story to captivate children's minds of all ages and inspire them to create! We will be treasuring this book and I know it will be read, and reread!

Such a fun book! It encourages creativity and exploration. Every child will enjoy this book. My son and daughter love it. The pictures are so fun and the story is equally great!

This book by the Wrights is a delight! all of my kids were captivated by the colorful pictures & sweet, adventurous Lola! the cutout paper dolls from the dust jacket have been a huge hit!

This is a sweet book with lovely illustrations. Looking forward to reading the whole series.

This is one of our families favorite books. My spunky little girl can relate to Lola’s enthusiasm for doing all the things! This book is beautiful and such a fun read.

LOVE everything about this book. The illustrations are beautiful, and the story inspires the type of creativity and joyful approach to learning I hope to foster in my daughter.

I feel as if Kenneth & Sarah Jane wrote my childhood autobiography! Adorable storyline, amazing illustrations, and the most unique cover I've seen (back of cover can be used for play) make this a treasure young and old will enjoy.

Bought this for my 5yr old - and all four of my kids LOVE it Lola Dutch, a character kids can laugh with and get inspired by

Very surprised at how many positive reviews this book has. The message is downright passive aggressive. “Lola Dutch is a bit much.” The bear (adult figure) is constantly eye rolling and telling the girl she’s a bit much instead of encouraging her and enjoying how many creative ideas she has. Even at the end of the book the girl goes to the bear, and the bear is so rude to her. “What do you need? Fancier pajamas? Milk and cookies?” As if she’s some spoiled brat... the only good thing about the book is the beautiful illustrations. Other than that I’m constantly making up my own words to the book as to spin it more positive and encouraging creativity instead of trying to squash it. Such a bummer.

This book is so cute! The illustrations are stunning and the story is so cute. My very active daughter relates well to this book.

Cover to cover. Word to word. Picture to picture. My children were entranced. And then, to add even more magic, the surprise under the cover!!! Every bit of Lola Dutch is heart and magic.

This book is fantastic. My daughter (5) and my son (6.5) both enjoy this book. It is charming and well worth adding to our library.

Very cute book. The book jacket paper dolls is genious and original! Gorgeous illustrations. You’ll fall in love with endearing young Lola and her big imagination!

My younger kids practically take turns falling asleep with Lola Dutch by reading at bedtime. Sweet book with gorgeous illustrations!

Adorable book!! The story is great for kids of all ages but toddlers & preschoolers will love the repetition! The illustrations are absolutely charming with bright colors and fun characters!

Such a fun book!!! Love the doll house & cut out that are on the back of the book jacket. One of my girls’ favorites!!

Absolutely darling story with beautiful illustrations and message. I will be buying this as gifts for any child I need a gift for! So beautifully drawn and written.

Absolutely LOVE this book and can’t wait for the next books in the series to come out! So whimsical and it’s message is empowering and inspires the imagination!

My daughter and I both love Lola Dutch. I love everything about the idea of keeping kids curious and imaginative.

What a fun book! My nearly-three-year-old wants a red tu-tu, like Lola's. Art looks French-ish, like in Madeline books, but more colorful.

Cute book that our daughter loves to read and laugh at

This book is delightful, especially if you have a daughter that is JUST TOO MUCH. So cute, and the paper doll idea is brilliant.

There couldn't be a more darling children's story! Beautiful illustrations and as a mom - I "get" the "bit too much" ideas ;)

We gave this to a little girl for her 5th birthday and she loved it.

I bought this book based on high reviews, but after receiving and reviewing it, it is not something I would support. The message is that Lola Dutch "is a little bit much" - I would never want my kids to think that they are "too much," it's pretty much the opposite message of "ambitious girl" by Meena Harris. If you are looking for adventurous stories about curious girls or boys, try the lily huckleberry series, or the questioneers series (Rosie Revere, Igggy Peck, Ada Twist, or Sofia Valdez ) and their chapter books instead! Even try the other Meena Harris books!

Such a sweet book, would highly recommend for any sassy little girl!

3 year old adores this one. It’s a cute book for bed time. I like that it touches on different things - they go to the library and discover scientists etc.

Darling book! My 5 year-old loves that she relates to Lola’s character and her big ideas.

Very adorable book for children (I also loved it!)! The illustrations are beautiful.

Adore this book and even based my daughter’s first birthday party off it!

We LOVE this book so much, we bought additional copies to share with Friends!

I was excitied to get this book for my 5 year old daughter, especially with all these rave reviews. Yeah, no. It's ok, really sweet story, but really no story at all. Doesn't seem engaging enough for 5. Definitely a library check out first. Adorable illustrations though but just not awesome or worth owning in my opinion, especially in hardback.

Adorable illustrations. Lola Dutch is a keeper.

This has become our favorite nightly read. We can't wait until the next one comes out!

Love the unique style of illustration. The energy and thought process of Lola is quintessential kid. I hope the author/Illustrator will create more stories for this generation of children.

Beautiful illustrations and engaging story. I loved the fine art references. Perfect picture to read with your kids!

Fantastic story and illustrations. This will be well-loved for many years to come.

Super cute story with beautiful illustrations

This is a book which will be read over and over again!

Daughter loves this story!

This book is of the highest quality with massive attention given to detail.

The story was ok. Illustrations are very good. The kids loved that the jacket turned into a dollhouse but weren't that into the story.

Beautiful story and illustrations

Such a sweet book with beautiful illustrations. Gorgeous for a little girl.

This is such a beautiful book. My kids love it!

This book is beyond adorable. My 7yo daughter loved it!!

This book is fabulous!! Beautifully illustrated and well written.

One of the most beautiful books!

Great book!

My three year old LOVES this book!

The cutest book ever. I want more Lola!!

This is a fine book, but really, just fine. Based on rave reviews I purchased it without looking at it first or checking it out at the library instead. It’s fine, really, it’s kind of sweet, but was not worth owning for me.

Cute book

Cutest book!!!

Super cute book

Fun, imaginative, and upbeat.

Lovely pictures

I don't know why my baby didn't like this book

Love the book-unfortunately my book came in a box with another book and both were completely wet. Not wet from the outside in-the box was dry and inside the books were wet. I’ll start going to book stores from now on.

We purchased this first Lola Dutch book from a second-hand online store when it had been out for a few months. I have followed the artist, Sarah Jane Wright, for several years and absolutely love her magical artwork. I was so excited that she and her husband, Kenneth, were starting a book series together. Lola Dutch does not disappoint! The artwork is breathtaking and the storyline is fun and engaging. We purchased these books for our now nearly 7yo when she was turning 5yo. She is now turning 7 this week and we purchased the second book last year for her 6th birthday, and just ordered the most recently book/#3 for our daughter's 7th birthday. While I am not opposed to princesses, I do not like that a lot of children's books for girls are "princessey" and miss the "meat" or importance of childhood and chasing dreams. Lola Dutch is a confident girl with an imagination to boot. I'm sure your daughters will love this story as much as ours has.

Lola Dutch is phenomenal! My girls and I initially fell in love with the cover art, but the entire story is one to keep near and dear to our hearts. Lola embodies the finest parts of all three of my children; creative, imaginative, sensitive and joyful. We loved how passionate Lola was about making everyday things fancy and extravagant. I won't spoil the end, but it rings true that sometimes you just need some of your most simple comforts at the end of the day. As an art major; I appreciate the nod to classic artists depicted on almost every page. Those renderings were a great talking point for my little ones and launched us into deeper conversations on Monet, Matisse and Michelangelo. Sarah Jane Wright has a beautiful illustrative style that makes us want to jump into each page and live there forever. We especially loved all of the extra details that were tucked into the reverse side of the book jacket. So clever! We loved reading about Lola's adventures in her first book and look forward to what hopefully becomes many more!

My twin 2-yo girls love Lola Dutch ... so many fun things to find in the pictures, such beautiful full page spreads, so many words for them the follow along and “read” themselves ... “bon appetit” and “wild” and “little bit much.” (Can’t wait for the fabric do I can make them blankets for their adventures.) Clever and sweet and inspiring.

This is a really sweet new picture book! It's the story of Lola Dutch who is "a bit much." She has so many big ideas with her active imagination that it is sometimes a little overwhelming. It really reminded me of how I feel whenever my kids are being super creative- I'm really happy to see it, but also cringing a little at all the mess. The book is full of charming illustrations and there is the fun added bonus that the book jacket can be used as a doll house with cut out dolls to go with it.

Perfection! It's own new niche. I have three girls 10 and under and we fell in LOVE with Lola Dutch. She is spunky, spirited and just precious. The illustrations are beautiful. She is as classic as Madeline and as creative as Eloise with the addition of darling animal compadres. The art and cultural references are always appreciated as a parent. Inside the book cover is a brilliant surprise. So clever! A must have for your keepsake library and we have already gifted multiple friends!

We love Lola Dutch!! This book is adorable. The illustrations are fantastic and the message of the book is great too. I didn't think it was possible, but we like the second Lola Dutch book even more than the first.

This book is flat out dreamy for kids and adults. It represents the childhood we all dream about having and providing for our kids full of imagination and creativity. I love love love this book. I can only hope they turn Lola into a TV series one day.

My girls loved this, and got right to playing with the dust jacket, which doubles as a dollhouse. Simple storyline, but the pictures are a visual treat. Lola Dutch is a fun, imaginative little girl who turns each normal daily activity into a larger than life production. Love the gentle nod to weary parents, and the encouragement to love fiercely and take each new day as it comes. Anyone with a kid who's a "little bit much" will appreciate this one!

My daughters age 4 and 7 just love Lola Dutch and these books. So glad there is more coming too. The writing and story is nice and the illustrations are awesome and beautiful.

What a beautiful, whimsical book! I bought this only three days ago, and it is already a family favorite. My daughter can be a "bit much" sometimes, and reading it to her makes me chuckle. Not only is this sweet, feel-good book fun to read, but even more fun to play with! The book cover that converts into a paper-doll-house has been played with non-stop. The entire book is bursting with creativity. Definitely recommend this for anyone's at-home library.

Just got our copy and we love this book! Lola Dutch is a dreamer and a doer and loves her friends, all the things I want my girls to be. And the fact that the dust cover pulls off to a dollhouse? Genius! Thanks for the treasure for our family.

We are long time Sarah Jane fans so this book was a must for our library. This book has beautiful illustrations! My daughter and son both enjoy reading the book, but my daughter has especially taken to it. She has informed me on multiple occasions that she has "big plans" for the day like Lola and in essence, is Lola Dutch. She is always reading and creating.

This is such a delightful book. The storyline is sweet and simple, and the pictures are sweet but anything but simple. Every time I read it I notice something else to admire. My daughter loves to pretend to be Lola and the little puppets in the back flap of the cover are her favorite. It has inspired many creative adventures in our home.

LOVED it and had to send it to my granddaughter! She loves it! Amazing story in the cutest way possible. Thank You Sarah Jane! Aviles Family