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Lulu & Pip
The lovely follow-up to Kiki & Coco in Paris, Lulu & Pip tells the story of a girl, Lulu, and her doll, Pip, as they leave the busy city life for a rustic camping adventure. Featuring once again the beautiful photographs of Stephanie Rausser, the charming doll by Jess Brown, and story by Nina Gruener.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 29, 2014
To what do we credit the distinct increase in children’s books containing photography this year? I posed that very question to a group of children’s book photographers not that long ago and the answers were telling. In the past, creating a book of high quality color photographs cost beaucoup de bucks. Plus children’s books illustrated with photos were in black and white. Yet as color photography became more and more ubiquitous, publishers found that folks were unwilling to buy children’s books that were black and white. The era of The Lonely Doll, J.T., and others was over. Yet prohibitive costs kept photos in children’s books minimal. Then came the rise of digital photography and cheaper printing techniques on the part of publishers. The floodgates consequently opened and what we’re seeing now is a variety of different types of children’s books that use everything from handmade models to wildlife to cut paper techniques. Few of these really harken back to the 1950s and 60s big books of photography. Few, that is, but Lulu and Pip. A companion of sorts to the author/artist’s previous book Kiki and Coco in Paris, the book shouldn’t work as well as it does. Yet all the elements align so perfectly that there is nothing to say except that it is undoubtedly the most charming work of pure photography in a children’s book format that I’ve seen in years.
Meet Lulu. She’s a girl. Meet Pip. She’s a doll. The two are inseparable and that’s a good thing since living in a big city like San Francisco can be intimidating. Then one day the two pack up their things. Today they’re leaving the city for a campout in the wild and that means leaving behind all the toys, except Pip. Once there Lulu adjusts to the differences. She’s wary of the donkey they meet and she realizes that she may have brought too much stuff. Still, next thing you know the twosome are cooking their food on a fire and getting a glorious view of the universe above. The next day it’s all fishing, swimming, and exploring. But when Lulu and Pip get lost without a clue how to return to their campsite, they find help from an unexpected source.
I was in a wonderful independent bookstore when I first spotted this book. Because of the nature of my job I don’t usually buy children’s books all that often, but there was something unique about this title. The size, for one thing. Coming in at an impressive 9.8 x 12.8 inches, the book stands just slightly taller than the other picture books on your average bookshelf. It distinguishes itself. Then there’s the arresting cover. Photography is too often the last bastion of the sentimental. Whether we’re talking Anne Geddes or the art in the style of Nancy Tillman, there are those that believe that photography only works when its used in the service of the easy aww. The jacket image seen here of a little girl kissing a donkey would seem to support that belief, but that’s a textbook case of judging a book by its cover. I had only to open the book to see that this wasn’t the usual fare. Not by half.
First and foremost, the star of this book is photographer Stephanie Rausser who carries a particular talent for photographing kids and lifestyle types of images. The red-haired moppet that is her subject is a charmer. Cute but not cloying. The shots of her that pepper the book are carefully selected and cropped. As for the photos themselves, I took great joy in them. There’s a shot of Lulu and Pip’s feet in a stream, the sunlight filtering through the water that socks it to you. In books of this sort I’m not a huge fan of images that feel staged. I’d rather go about believing that the photographer is some kind of guerrilla-style rebel than a professional who sets up her shots. Still, because she has the lifestyle background, Rausser gets very natural shots out of her young muse. Only the occasional image (peeking around a tree, exiting her tent, etc.) feel like you’ve accidentally picked up a copy of Parents Magazine or something. For the most part, Rausser keeps it real.
What also struck me as remarkable on a fifth or sixth reading was how well the design of the book incorporates the text into these images. I don’t know if Ms. Rausser took them while thinking in the back of her head about where the text was supposed to go. Illustrators are very keen on such matters, so photographers should be just as vigilant. As it stands, the book does a very good job of breaking the images into more than just full-page bleeds. Some pictures will appear only on the left or right hand side of the page. Other times the pictures will fill both pages in long horizontal spreads. Because of the nature of the shots the text changes from black to white and back again depending on the levels of contrast to be found. In spite of that, the book is easy to read and visually stimulating.
Full credit where credit is due to author Nina Gruener too. I don’t know the background behind this book. I don’t know if Ms. Rausser, in her capacity as a photographer, took these images first and then they were handed to Ms. Gruener to cobble together into some kind of story. If that was the case then she is to be commended. Such assignments often come off as feeling forced or false. Not so here. Gruener keeps the tone light and the storyline frisky. It is equally possible that Ms. Rausser was handed the text first and then took the pictures to match, of course. Or perhaps it was a bit of a combination of both. Whatever the case, the book reads very nicely. It’s not swimming in purple prose or anything but neither is it austere or simplistic. It tells the story it has come to tell and tells it well. Nuff said.
Because my daughter is a city kid I was much taken with the plot of a urban child’s first rural campout experience. As odd as it sounds, camping isn’t a common activity in children’s picture books. Not realistic camping sans bears anyway. And though the book does eschew the issue of mosquitoes, it’s realistic in its portrayal of campfires, smores, tents, night sounds, hiking, and star filled skies. It fills a gap in library and bookstore sections everywhere and will be of great use to those parents trying to excite their kids with the prospect of sleeping beneath the stars. Mind you, it may raise expectations of certain kids a bit far. If they’re hoping to bag a gigantic rainbow trout on their first fishing trip then they are bound to be woefully disappointed.
Perhaps Lulu & Pip marks the beginning of something. Maybe we’ll be seeing large format picture books of fictional stories featuring real kids a lot more in the future. Maybe. Certainly Rausser takes care not to include much of anything that will significantly date this book. Technology and gadgets are nonexistent and Lulu herself is dressed in contemporary children’s fashions that, with only a few exceptions (sneakers, etc.) won’t be dated anytime soon either. There’s a lot to love about this one-of-a-kind little book, and a lot to enjoy. With any luck, Rausser and Gruener will continue their partnership of creating great books and we the readers will be the lucky beneficiaries. Marvelous unique stuff.
For ages 3-7.
Meet Lulu. She’s a girl. Meet Pip. She’s a doll. The two are inseparable and that’s a good thing since living in a big city like San Francisco can be intimidating. Then one day the two pack up their things. Today they’re leaving the city for a campout in the wild and that means leaving behind all the toys, except Pip. Once there Lulu adjusts to the differences. She’s wary of the donkey they meet and she realizes that she may have brought too much stuff. Still, next thing you know the twosome are cooking their food on a fire and getting a glorious view of the universe above. The next day it’s all fishing, swimming, and exploring. But when Lulu and Pip get lost without a clue how to return to their campsite, they find help from an unexpected source.
I was in a wonderful independent bookstore when I first spotted this book. Because of the nature of my job I don’t usually buy children’s books all that often, but there was something unique about this title. The size, for one thing. Coming in at an impressive 9.8 x 12.8 inches, the book stands just slightly taller than the other picture books on your average bookshelf. It distinguishes itself. Then there’s the arresting cover. Photography is too often the last bastion of the sentimental. Whether we’re talking Anne Geddes or the art in the style of Nancy Tillman, there are those that believe that photography only works when its used in the service of the easy aww. The jacket image seen here of a little girl kissing a donkey would seem to support that belief, but that’s a textbook case of judging a book by its cover. I had only to open the book to see that this wasn’t the usual fare. Not by half.
First and foremost, the star of this book is photographer Stephanie Rausser who carries a particular talent for photographing kids and lifestyle types of images. The red-haired moppet that is her subject is a charmer. Cute but not cloying. The shots of her that pepper the book are carefully selected and cropped. As for the photos themselves, I took great joy in them. There’s a shot of Lulu and Pip’s feet in a stream, the sunlight filtering through the water that socks it to you. In books of this sort I’m not a huge fan of images that feel staged. I’d rather go about believing that the photographer is some kind of guerrilla-style rebel than a professional who sets up her shots. Still, because she has the lifestyle background, Rausser gets very natural shots out of her young muse. Only the occasional image (peeking around a tree, exiting her tent, etc.) feel like you’ve accidentally picked up a copy of Parents Magazine or something. For the most part, Rausser keeps it real.
What also struck me as remarkable on a fifth or sixth reading was how well the design of the book incorporates the text into these images. I don’t know if Ms. Rausser took them while thinking in the back of her head about where the text was supposed to go. Illustrators are very keen on such matters, so photographers should be just as vigilant. As it stands, the book does a very good job of breaking the images into more than just full-page bleeds. Some pictures will appear only on the left or right hand side of the page. Other times the pictures will fill both pages in long horizontal spreads. Because of the nature of the shots the text changes from black to white and back again depending on the levels of contrast to be found. In spite of that, the book is easy to read and visually stimulating.
Full credit where credit is due to author Nina Gruener too. I don’t know the background behind this book. I don’t know if Ms. Rausser, in her capacity as a photographer, took these images first and then they were handed to Ms. Gruener to cobble together into some kind of story. If that was the case then she is to be commended. Such assignments often come off as feeling forced or false. Not so here. Gruener keeps the tone light and the storyline frisky. It is equally possible that Ms. Rausser was handed the text first and then took the pictures to match, of course. Or perhaps it was a bit of a combination of both. Whatever the case, the book reads very nicely. It’s not swimming in purple prose or anything but neither is it austere or simplistic. It tells the story it has come to tell and tells it well. Nuff said.
Because my daughter is a city kid I was much taken with the plot of a urban child’s first rural campout experience. As odd as it sounds, camping isn’t a common activity in children’s picture books. Not realistic camping sans bears anyway. And though the book does eschew the issue of mosquitoes, it’s realistic in its portrayal of campfires, smores, tents, night sounds, hiking, and star filled skies. It fills a gap in library and bookstore sections everywhere and will be of great use to those parents trying to excite their kids with the prospect of sleeping beneath the stars. Mind you, it may raise expectations of certain kids a bit far. If they’re hoping to bag a gigantic rainbow trout on their first fishing trip then they are bound to be woefully disappointed.
Perhaps Lulu & Pip marks the beginning of something. Maybe we’ll be seeing large format picture books of fictional stories featuring real kids a lot more in the future. Maybe. Certainly Rausser takes care not to include much of anything that will significantly date this book. Technology and gadgets are nonexistent and Lulu herself is dressed in contemporary children’s fashions that, with only a few exceptions (sneakers, etc.) won’t be dated anytime soon either. There’s a lot to love about this one-of-a-kind little book, and a lot to enjoy. With any luck, Rausser and Gruener will continue their partnership of creating great books and we the readers will be the lucky beneficiaries. Marvelous unique stuff.
For ages 3-7.
August 26, 2023
Adorable!!!
December 16, 2015
I can't remember reading anything quite like this when I was a kid. The photographs are beautiful.
I just want to know how Lulu got away with dipping the doll into the lake without ruining it...
I just want to know how Lulu got away with dipping the doll into the lake without ruining it...
October 27, 2017
the CUTEST!
April 24, 2019
What a gorgeous, sweet book. Reminds me of wonderful, lazy summer days exploring. Will recommend to others to read.
November 1, 2014
I have to say, I haven't read a ton of children's picture books that use photographs rather than illustrations. I do remember reading a few in my own childhood, but I don't remember them being as cute as Lulu & Pip.
The story is pretty simple: a little girl and her doll best friend (and, presumably, her mother... though we never see her!) leave the busy city and head off for a fun camping trip, leaving all their technology and gadgets behind. They get to enjoy a campfire and marshmallows, swimming in the lake, and some exciting exploring.
The style of the photographs reminds me of a trendy catalog. It's not the most realistic camping trip; the girl gets to stay in a cute little teepee with twinkle lights, and every piece of clothing she wears looks like it was bought in a vintage-inspired boutique! Lulu does mention -- as she struggles toward the campsite in her flouncy skirt and turquoise booties, tugging her old-fashioned suitcase behind her -- that perhaps they overpacked (and overdressed!), so at least there's some acknowledgment of the slightly unrealistic scenes.
I did notice some continuity issues with the photographs. At one point, when Lulu and Pip go exploring, Lulu's wearing shoes and her hair is tied back. In the next picture, her feet are bare. Her hair is loose. Then her shoes are inexplicably back on her feet and the ponytail is in place. I'm not sure if kids would notice, but I did; it's kind of a shame, because it was distracting enough to disrupt the flow of the story for me.
Pip, the doll, is a Jess Brown doll. I had no idea what those were until I read the book. It's probably best not to let your kids know that they can have their own Pip. The dolls cost nearly two hundred dollars! Now I'm cringing, thinking about how Pip went "swimming" in the lake...
All in all, it's a cute book with adorable photographs. I'd probably recommend it to very young girls.
http://theladybugreads.blogspot.com/2...
The story is pretty simple: a little girl and her doll best friend (and, presumably, her mother... though we never see her!) leave the busy city and head off for a fun camping trip, leaving all their technology and gadgets behind. They get to enjoy a campfire and marshmallows, swimming in the lake, and some exciting exploring.
The style of the photographs reminds me of a trendy catalog. It's not the most realistic camping trip; the girl gets to stay in a cute little teepee with twinkle lights, and every piece of clothing she wears looks like it was bought in a vintage-inspired boutique! Lulu does mention -- as she struggles toward the campsite in her flouncy skirt and turquoise booties, tugging her old-fashioned suitcase behind her -- that perhaps they overpacked (and overdressed!), so at least there's some acknowledgment of the slightly unrealistic scenes.
I did notice some continuity issues with the photographs. At one point, when Lulu and Pip go exploring, Lulu's wearing shoes and her hair is tied back. In the next picture, her feet are bare. Her hair is loose. Then her shoes are inexplicably back on her feet and the ponytail is in place. I'm not sure if kids would notice, but I did; it's kind of a shame, because it was distracting enough to disrupt the flow of the story for me.
Pip, the doll, is a Jess Brown doll. I had no idea what those were until I read the book. It's probably best not to let your kids know that they can have their own Pip. The dolls cost nearly two hundred dollars! Now I'm cringing, thinking about how Pip went "swimming" in the lake...
All in all, it's a cute book with adorable photographs. I'd probably recommend it to very young girls.
http://theladybugreads.blogspot.com/2...
January 22, 2016
A feast for the eyes! I love looking through this book . Not a realistic portrayal of camping, but a fun and beautifully-staged and photographed book with a carefree summer feel. Great attention to detail with vintage clothes and textiles. A city girl, Lulu, from San Francisco and her doll, Pip, are off camping. They load a donkey and set-up camp in style. Lulu surrounds herself with things that bring her beauty and comfort. They roast hot dogs, make smores, watch the stars, swim, catch frogs, go fishing, follow butterflies, climb a tree…all the good stuff. They get carried away and get lost, but donkey comes to the rescue. They barely sleep the first night, but are happily sleeping by the second. The large format photos allow the photos to be properly enjoyed. We keep reordering this from the library. I want her clothes!
June 26, 2014
While this is a longer storytime book than usual I feel it's a very necessary one in a world where children don't always get to connect with the great outdoors anymore.
I think this would go great with a Tex by Dorie McCullough Lawson, which is about a boy who wants to be a cowboy and dreams about what it would be like.
Use for storytimes about nature or friendships or imaginary friends(since Pip has a voice in this book).
I think this would go great with a Tex by Dorie McCullough Lawson, which is about a boy who wants to be a cowboy and dreams about what it would be like.
Use for storytimes about nature or friendships or imaginary friends(since Pip has a voice in this book).
August 27, 2016
Pip is Lulu’s doll and they live in a big city and are going on their first campout. Beautiful photographs tell the story with accompanying minimal text in a large format size book. Lulu and Pip get to experience exploring the great outdoors, cooking over a campfire and sleeping in a tent. Young girls will enjoy this fun adventure.
June 25, 2014
I loved this book! Lulu and her doll, Pip, are city girls who go on a trip to the countryside. The photographs are delightful and have a timeless quality which will allow this book to be on the shelf for years and years because there is little in the photos to date them, then have a real nostalgic quality to them.
December 2, 2015
This book uses photography as the illustrations, I absolutely love the quality and planning that went into each picture. The book depicts how Lulu choses to make the world around her to her liking. The pictures show a wonderfully set up homey space that the main character created. I think it would be a great way to teach kids how to make the world their own.
December 13, 2014
Lulu is a city girl who's constant companion is her handmade doll. The duo set off for a camping trip in the country.
The story is supported by color photos of Lulu's activities. The photos and all of Lulu's luggage/accessories are hipster-chic. Overall, nice. PreK-2.
The story is supported by color photos of Lulu's activities. The photos and all of Lulu's luggage/accessories are hipster-chic. Overall, nice. PreK-2.
February 27, 2015
Kindergarteners loved the photography and details on each page of this oversized book. The story is about a girl that goes camping with her doll. The students loved the page that show the girl's legs under water and the dolls skinny legs underwater next to her.
June 6, 2014
Such a cute story! I love these photographs.
June 9, 2014
The photographs in this book are wonderful and the story line fun and easy. Highly recommend!
July 21, 2014
beautiful pictures, cute adventure with little girl and her doll. 2.5yo girl and 6yo boy both enjoyed this book!
August 2, 2014
The photographs in this book are gorgeous. It's a bit long for storytime, but it's definitely one I'll have to give as a gift for little kids in my family.
November 7, 2014
My daughte loved looking at the beautiful pictures in this book and said she wanted a tent just like Lulu's.
March 4, 2015
cute book!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews