REVIEWS+

Thumb Love

by Elise Primavera
48p. 978-0-37584-481-2.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—Lulu is a contented thumb sucker, but in response to her family's and friends' concerns, she develops a 12-step program that helps her to kick the habit. She spends part of the story torn between those who want her to quit and her anthropomorphic thumb, which pleads with her to continue. She endures comments, snickering, and old peer pressure as she enjoys sucking her thumb. Lulu's turning point occurs after she awakes from a disturbing dream in which she has buckteeth and her "s's" come out as "th's." By the end of the story, she has gained enough confidence to help other kids say good-bye to the habit as well. Colorful cartoon illustrations and occasional speech bubbles complement the amusing text. This humorous story is best suited for kids who have already moved beyond thumb sucking and are ready to laugh about it.—Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO
"Hello. My name is Lulu and I'm a thumb sucker." A girl walks readers through her twelve-step program to kick the habit. The running jokes (e.g., the hammered-hard parallel to adult-geared recovery programs, the outsized thumb that talks to Lulu like a jilted lover) will go over kids' heads, but they may find some humor in Lulu's plight and the cartoony illustrations.
Reviewed by Lisa Glasscock , Oct 01, 2010

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?