I received this book at no cost from the publisher
Lala's Words: A Story of Planting Kindness by Gracey ZhangISBN: 1338648233
Published by Scholastic Inc. on July 6, 2021
Pages: 48
Format: Hardcover
Goodreads
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the LALA’S WORDS by Gracey Zhang Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About the Book:
Title: LALA’S WORDS: A Story of Planting Kindness
Author: Gracey Zhang
Pub. Date: July 6, 2021
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 48
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
From debut author-illustrator Gracey Zhang comes a timeless and timely picture book that celebrates the unassuming power of kind words.
Oh, there goes Lala! She carries a pot of water around the corner, down the block, and over the fence, to a patch of dirt and concrete where tiny weeds sprout. “Hello, hello, friends!” she whispers. Lala waters the plants every day, but it is her kind words that make them sway and nod.
Lala’s wild nature and quiet compassion enchant in this evergreen story about the power of kind words and the magic of being loved for who you are.
A Junior Library Guild selection
Praise for Lala’s Words:
★ “Zhang’s powerful debut lifts up the power words have to heal and feed.” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Zhang’s style, blending warmhearted mltiethnic urban caricature with a bold-lined rough-and-tumble zeal, is wholly original. And like the compliment Lala pays her soon science-fiction-size plants, this debut picture book (which also depcits a burgeoning mother-daughter relationship) is ‘magnificient.'” ― New York TimesBook Review
“This is the enchanting story about the power of words.” ― Booklist
“Lala’s enthusiasm blossoms on the page.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“A verdant tale of leaves, language, and most importantly, love.” ― Molly Idle (author-illustrator of Pearl; Flora and the Flamingo)
“Much like an encouraging word, Gracey’s vibrant pictures will lift you up.” ― Christian Robinson (author of Another; illustrator of Last Stop on Market Street)
“A touching fantasy rooted in reality. Gracey’s art recalls children’s books masters . . . Ludwig Bemelmans, Roger Duvoisin, David Small. Yet it is fresh and lovely and hasn’t been seen before.” ― LeUyen Pham (illustrator of Bear Came Along; Grace for President)
“Lala’s Words is really about magic; a special kind of magic called kindness. Like the sunlight and falling rain, kindness nourishes the world around us. This book, with its lovely art and whimsical story, will also nourish the reader.” ― The Fan Brothers (author-illustrators of Ocean Meets Sky; The Night Gardener)
REVIEW
I am so impressed by the images in this story and they almost speak more than the brief words. Using only shades of green, black, and yellow, the drawings are perfectly paired with the captions. They emphasize how much energy Lala has in that way Schultz illustrated Peanuts. There is no perfection, only movement in these images.
Lala has a love and she wants to share it with her world. She is very energetic and is constantly on the move, so much that it drives her mother bonkers, especially during the heat of summer. The place Lala goes every day is to an empty lot with weeds. There she tends to the plants throughout the year and they reward her in a spectacular fashion that even her mother lets her go back to them. Lala is a girl who can’t be tied down or behave and in her strong-willed fashion, she makes her mother see that this can be a positive thing.
About Gracey Zhang:
Gracey Zhang is an illustrator and animator with a love of storytelling and verse. She was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, and received her degree in Illustration from RISD. She is now based in Brooklyn, New York, where she can be found window watching from the train when she’s not scribbling away at her desk. Lala’s Words is her first picture book. You can visit her at graceyzhang.com.
Website | Instagram | Goodreads
Giveaway Details:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of LALA’S WORDS, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
| 10/4/2021 | Literati Psyche | Review |
| 10/4/2021 | For The Love Of The Page | Excerpt |
| 10/5/2021 | The Momma Spot | Excerpt |
| 10/5/2021 | #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog | Excerpt |
| 10/6/2021 | Jazzy Book Reviews | Excerpt |
| 10/6/2021 | Rajiv’s Reviews | Review |
| 10/7/2021 | Everyone’s Librarian | Review |
| 10/7/2021 | @kristens.reading.nook | Review |
| 10/8/2021 | @curlygrannylovestoread | Review |
| 10/8/2021 | Jill Piscitello | Excerpt |
Week Two:
| 10/11/2021 | Lily Luchesi’s Blog | Excerpt |
| 10/11/2021 | @enjoyingbooksagain | Review |
| 10/12/2021 | More Books Please blog | Review |
| 10/12/2021 | BookHounds ya | Review |
| 10/13/2021 | Nerdophiles | Review |
| 10/13/2021 | Bea’s Book Nook | Review |
| 10/14/2021 | The Adventures of a Travelers Wife | Excerpt |
| 10/14/2021 | Little Red Reads | Review |
| 10/15/2021 | Two Chicks on Books | Excerpt |
| 10/15/2021 | Jaime’s World | Excerpt |
Our middle grandchild’s nickname is Lala.( Her full first name was a lot harder for a young toddler to pronounce.) I would love to read Lala’s Words to our sweet Lala!