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Charlie & Lola
I've Won, No I've Won, No I've Won
Lola always always always has to win! No matter what games she and Charlie play, Lola always triumphs. What will happen when Charlie devises a strategy for a game that surely he will win? When playtime is through, Charlie and Lola have learned that maybe having the upper hand isn’t as important as lending a hand when a brother or a sister could use a little help.
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2005
1 person is currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Child
452 books837 followersLauren Child MBE is an English author and illustrator. She was the UK Children's Laureate from 2017-19.
Child grew up in Wiltshire as the middle child of three sisters and the daughter of two teachers. She has always been interested in the many aspects of childhood, from gazing into toy shop windows to watching American children's shows from the 1960s. After attending two Art Schools, she travelled for six months, still unsure about which career to embark upon.
Before writing and illustrating children's books Child started her own company 'Chandeliers for the People' making lampshades. It was only when she came to write and illustrate the book Clarice Bean, That's Me that she decided to devote her time to writing and illustrating books for children, which combines her fascination for childhood and her talent for designing and creating. Child gets her inspiration from other people's conversations or from seeing something funny happen.
Her book I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato won the 2000 Kate Greenaway Medal. For the 50th anniversary of the Medal (1955–2005), a panel named it one of the top ten winning works, which comprised the shortlist for a public vote for the nation's favourite. It finished third in the public vote from that shortlist.
Child lives in North London.
Child grew up in Wiltshire as the middle child of three sisters and the daughter of two teachers. She has always been interested in the many aspects of childhood, from gazing into toy shop windows to watching American children's shows from the 1960s. After attending two Art Schools, she travelled for six months, still unsure about which career to embark upon.
Before writing and illustrating children's books Child started her own company 'Chandeliers for the People' making lampshades. It was only when she came to write and illustrate the book Clarice Bean, That's Me that she decided to devote her time to writing and illustrating books for children, which combines her fascination for childhood and her talent for designing and creating. Child gets her inspiration from other people's conversations or from seeing something funny happen.
Her book I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato won the 2000 Kate Greenaway Medal. For the 50th anniversary of the Medal (1955–2005), a panel named it one of the top ten winning works, which comprised the shortlist for a public vote for the nation's favourite. It finished third in the public vote from that shortlist.
Child lives in North London.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 13, 2017
Being an ultra-competitive person myself (I want to win at snap, monopoly, cribbage, scrabble, football, tennis, squash - indeed anything!) I can fully understand the competitive instinct that both Lola and Charlie have when they face up to each other in a variety of games.
Charlie sets the scene by telling us that they often play 'Who can sit still the longest' (doesn't sound much fun!) and when they do Lola always has to win. And when she has done, she often shows off by telling Charlie what else she can do. Lola even has to win at drinking pink milk and Charlie asks her 'But do you have to win at everything Lola?' To which she replies, 'Yep. I've won.'
A game of spoons,a game of snap, at which Lola seems to cheat to win, and a game of snakes and ladders, in which Lola becomes a snake charmer to go up snakes as well as ladders to win, follows before the pair venture to the park for a race which involves a bendy tree, swings, a slide and back to the bench. Charlie is winning hands down but Lola brings in a girl's cunning and the final outcome is open to debate. Charlie feels that he has won and says so to which Lola replies, 'Charlie, you don't have to win all the time, you know.'
So off they go home and at bedtime they decide the overall winner will be the first to go to sleep. Charlie asks, 'Are you asleep yet, Lola?' 'Yes,' says Lola and when Charlie queries that answer she replies, 'I am sleep-talking!' And the sleep contest goes on and you know who wins ... Lola whispers, 'Charlie? I've won!' to which Charlie says, 'No, I've won!' Please feel free to work it out for yourselves when reading this delightfully illustrated book.
Charlie sets the scene by telling us that they often play 'Who can sit still the longest' (doesn't sound much fun!) and when they do Lola always has to win. And when she has done, she often shows off by telling Charlie what else she can do. Lola even has to win at drinking pink milk and Charlie asks her 'But do you have to win at everything Lola?' To which she replies, 'Yep. I've won.'
A game of spoons,a game of snap, at which Lola seems to cheat to win, and a game of snakes and ladders, in which Lola becomes a snake charmer to go up snakes as well as ladders to win, follows before the pair venture to the park for a race which involves a bendy tree, swings, a slide and back to the bench. Charlie is winning hands down but Lola brings in a girl's cunning and the final outcome is open to debate. Charlie feels that he has won and says so to which Lola replies, 'Charlie, you don't have to win all the time, you know.'
So off they go home and at bedtime they decide the overall winner will be the first to go to sleep. Charlie asks, 'Are you asleep yet, Lola?' 'Yes,' says Lola and when Charlie queries that answer she replies, 'I am sleep-talking!' And the sleep contest goes on and you know who wins ... Lola whispers, 'Charlie? I've won!' to which Charlie says, 'No, I've won!' Please feel free to work it out for yourselves when reading this delightfully illustrated book.
March 22, 2020
Maddie read this live on Instagram for the 24in48 readathon! 😁
September 4, 2016
This is a book about Winning and Losing..If you can accept it gracefully or not. I've been reading this book to a child who just LOVES it. It's because they can relate to the story and at the moment everything is about 'winning' so the moral of the story isn't quite hitting home with this child just yet.
It's basically about the brother and sister constantly arguing over who's winning the game. Lola is the youngest and ALWAYS has to win or have the last word...Charlie is the older brother who has to put up with Lola's outbursts.
It's basically about the brother and sister constantly arguing over who's winning the game. Lola is the youngest and ALWAYS has to win or have the last word...Charlie is the older brother who has to put up with Lola's outbursts.
June 4, 2023
Story: 2 stars
Illustrations: 2 stars
A brother and sister compete in a variety of games with the little sister always claiming she has won, even though that is clearly not the case. They finally have a moment of sibling harmony, but it is quickly dashed by the last three pages of this picture book, on which the rivalry resurfaces and perpetuates as if their understanding earlier that very day had never happened. This is a television tie-in book, so perhaps that's funny on the show, but in a print format I found the ending frustrating. What's the point of the book if both the characters end up in exactly the same place emotionally that they started?
The art is an odd mixture of childlike scribbles, realistic game pieces (dice, cards, etc.), and illustrations with overly busy backgrounds, and the disparate styles don't mesh in this case.
Illustrations: 2 stars
A brother and sister compete in a variety of games with the little sister always claiming she has won, even though that is clearly not the case. They finally have a moment of sibling harmony, but it is quickly dashed by the last three pages of this picture book, on which the rivalry resurfaces and perpetuates as if their understanding earlier that very day had never happened. This is a television tie-in book, so perhaps that's funny on the show, but in a print format I found the ending frustrating. What's the point of the book if both the characters end up in exactly the same place emotionally that they started?
The art is an odd mixture of childlike scribbles, realistic game pieces (dice, cards, etc.), and illustrations with overly busy backgrounds, and the disparate styles don't mesh in this case.
June 4, 2020
This was very good, because the same thing is happening between me and my brother.
I liked that the boy was thinking like me, and my brother says like the girl in the story.
I like the pictures and the story.
I liked that the boy was thinking like me, and my brother says like the girl in the story.
I like the pictures and the story.
February 15, 2020
Hm. I don't think Charlie needs to learn a lesson at all, and I think Lola needs to learn that cheating is bad, not just that sometimes it's fun to be challenged and see a brother/friend win. But maybe she's just going through a phase, and if her family keeps an eye on her, she'll outgrow it.
November 12, 2017
Bedtime book and one that shows that winning isn't everything
March 28, 2018
Lola, Charlie's little sister, needs to win at everything.
October 3, 2018
Very relatable for children and emphasizes in the end that it is OKAY to not always win!
September 26, 2023
Storytime Themes: Games, Fair Play, Siblings
July 14, 2025
I liked that Charlie won at the end of the book and I didnt like when Lola didnt play the (king and queen) game properly. Yes, I will recommend it to daddy and my friends.
February 20, 2017
My girl has this thing for winning, in everything that she does.
This was so apt - she related to Lola, and also laughed at even sillier things Lola did (which she doesn't do).
This was so apt - she related to Lola, and also laughed at even sillier things Lola did (which she doesn't do).
January 23, 2011
Liked the book and it is part of a series of Charlie and Lola. The
characters play on the theme of winning contests and the little sister
always has to win or get the last word in. Will be a good story
starter for my third grade writers to debate the issue of winning and
losing games and playing fair and whether it is important or not.
Lola is younger than Charlie so she is more of the strong character.
characters play on the theme of winning contests and the little sister
always has to win or get the last word in. Will be a good story
starter for my third grade writers to debate the issue of winning and
losing games and playing fair and whether it is important or not.
Lola is younger than Charlie so she is more of the strong character.
July 2, 2007
Charlie, age 7, is the long-suffering older brother of Lola, age 4. Lola likes to win, and usually changes the rules so that she does win. This book is best read in a cute British accent, and is just as funny for grownups as for little people.
May 26, 2011
This was one of my favorite books to read with my little boy before bedtime. It is funny, but also teaches the value of fairness when playing with others.
June 30, 2011
Read with Meilyn. Thought she would see herself. Nope, she didn't. But she did say Lola doesn't know that you don't have to win all the time. LOL.
September 16, 2011
Used for adult memory care. Fun book about the competitive nature in people. Played UNO afterward. Good set.
October 15, 2011
This book is about not having to always win. You can still have lots of fun, without winning. I love the interaction between these two siblings. The illustrations are beautiful.
November 30, 2011
My four year old enjoys these Lauren Child books.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews