Lola plants a flower garden with her parent's help, and watches it grow. - (Baker & Taylor)

A backyard adventure starring the heroine from Lola at the Library and Lola Loves Stories finds her planting flower seeds with her mother and carefully tending her garden while waiting for the flowers to grow. - (Baker & Taylor)

In this Lola Reads picture book, Lola learns how to plant a flower garden in this simple and sweet story about gardening and patience.

After Lola reads a book of garden poems, she wants to plant some flowers. She gets books from the library and chooses her plants. Then Lola and her mommy buy the seeds, make the garden, and mark the rows. Lola finds it hard to wait, but at last the flowers bloom. Now it's time for a party with her friends!

The Lola Reads series celebrates family time and togetherness through reading, special activities, and new adventures. - (Random House, Inc.)

Anna McQuinn has worked in children's books for more than twenty-five years as an editor, publisher, and writer. She is the author of more than twenty books for children, including Lola at the Library, Lola Loves Stories, Lola Reads to Leo, The Sleep Sheep (Scholastic), and If You're Happy and You Know It! (Barefoot). Anna leads groups like Leo's at her local library.

Rosalind Beardshaw studied at Manchester Polytechnic where she earned a degree in illustration. Since graduating in 1992, she has illustrated many children's books, including two of her own stories; Grandma's Beach and Grandpa's Surprise (Bloomsbury) inspired by long summer holidays spent with her playful grandparents. In her spare time, Rosalind works as a volunteer with adults who have learning difficulties. She lives in York, England. - (Random House, Inc.)

Booklist Reviews

Lola wants a flower garden just like the one described in her favorite nursery rhyme, which begins "Mary, Mary, quite contrary." With help from Mommy and Daddy, she plants seeds and waits for them to grow. Meanwhile, she makes three things: a book about flowers, a string of silver bells, and a little Mary Mary doll. The flowers grow and bloom, but the fun is just beginning. After making cupcakes with Mommy, Lola invites three friends to enjoy the garden, which now includes the shiny bells, little Mary Mary, and refreshments. First published in England, the simple story reads aloud well, while the acrylic paintings use warm colors and rounded forms to depict this engaging black child and her supportive parents. The many young children who love the other picture books in the Lola series, such as Lola Loves Stories (2010) and Lola Reads to Leo (2012), will enjoy watching Lola turn her poetry-inspired interest into an imaginative, child-sized adventure. A rewarding picture book to read and reread. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Book-loving Lola (Lola at the Library) wants to plant a garden. Naturally, she and her mom go to the library to research flowers before planting the seeds. When the flowers are finally blooming, Lola invites her friends to enjoy their beauty as well as her mom's homegrown strawberries. Good-natured Lola's latest story, with its gentle art and appropriately simple text, will appeal to her fans.

Kirkus Reviews

Hoping to have a garden like the one in her poetry book, Lola plants seeds, waits and weeds, and finally celebrates with friends.The author and illustrator of Lola Loves Stories (2010) and its companion titles take their appealing character outside. Inspired by her favorite poem, the nursery rhyme "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" (repeated on the front endpapers), Lola chooses her favorite flowers from library books. Helped by her parents, she grows a grandly diverse flower garden, just right for a celebration with peas and strawberries from the family plot. Beardshaw's acrylic illustrations show her garden in all its stages. They also show the copper-toned preschooler reading on her mother's lap, making a flower book, a beaded string with bells and shells, a little Mary Mary doll and cupcakes for the celebration. Her bunchy ponytails are redone, and her flower shirt is perfect for the party. Not only has she provided the setting; she makes up a story for her friends. The simple sentences of the text and charming pictures make this a good choice for reading aloud or early reading alone. On the rear endpapers, the nursery rhyme has been adapted to celebrate "Lola, Lola, Extraordinary."It's gratifying to see Lola's love of books leading her to new experiences. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus 2014 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 1—Lola loves her book of garden poems. In fact, reading it inspires her to plant her own garden, so she and her mother look at flowers in books at the library, and she chooses her favorites. They purchase seeds, and Lola plants them and marks the rows with the seed packets. While she waits for something to appear, she makes her own garden book and includes her favorite poem, "Mary Mary." Finally, Lola sees tiny green shoots. She watches as her flowers grow higher and higher. Flowers are everywhere. Lola invites her friends for a picnic, because the best part of having a garden is sharing it. This fourth, sweet story about Lola delivers with brightly colored acrylic depictions of an adorable child sharing special moments with her mother, reading books, and patiently waiting for her seeds to grow. Lola's bright, cherubic face shows curiosity, joy, and determination as she completes her project. Large, clear type allows for beginning readers to share the story with their parents. Engaging and inspiring to new gardeners everywhere, Lola is a delight.—Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH