Review: The Thing Lou Couldn't Do

*I received a copy of The Thing Lou Couldn't Do from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Picturebooks are a great way to engage kids in reading early. 

Over time, our view of children and their role in society has shifted. Historically, children were thought to be tiny adults, so books were not created specifically with children in mind. Today, childhood is a cherished part of life, and books reflect that. Many children's books are designed to elicit imagination and build character traits.

Today, I'm reviewing a new picturebook by one of my favorite picturebook authors, Ashley Spires. Her books teach kids lessons in developing character traits that are positive and will help them blossom into creative, successful adults. 

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires

In this book, we meet Lou, a bright, courageous young girl. Lou is confident and does not shy away from difficult tasks. However, one day, she needs to climb a tree and becomes instantly paralyzed by the task. She has never climbed a tree before and she is not sure she can do it. She is afraid of falling and getting hurt. Will she be successful and attempt climbing the tree or not?

What I love about this book is that it teaches children about self-efficacy (a person's confidence in his/her ability to complete a task) with a task that is very approachable to young readers - climbing a tree. Self-efficacy is a distinguishing factor among successful and unsuccessful people, so it is important to develop in young children. 

I also love that this book shows diverse characters! The children in the book all look different from each other and represent different ethnicities. This feature makes the book very approachable and appropriate for many readers. 

I highly recommend this book for home reading and classroom use! I also encourage people who enjoy this book to pick up some of Ashley Spires' other titles - you will not be disappointed! 

Happy Reading!