Lulu and her cousin Rocky are visiting the city of Detroit, the Motor City! There are so many fun things to see and do, like visiting Campus Martius to make sand castles, eating cherries at the Eastern Market, riding the carousel at the Riverfront, and seeing the works of Diego Rivera at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Written by Barbara Joosse and illustrated by Renée Graef, this second book in the Our City Adventures series explores the city of Detroit, visiting well-known sites like Comerica Park, Fox Theatre, and "Hitsville, U.S.A," where the Motown sound came alive, as well as unexpected gems.
Barbara M. Joosse has written many books for children. Among them are Mama, Do You Love Me?, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; and I Love You the Purplest, illustrated by Mary Whyte. She says, "When I was a little girl, I wished for two things — a best friend, and something so ferocious it would scare away the monsters under my bed. And so I have written Lovabye Dragon. I think maybe it’s for little me." Barbara Josse lives in Wisconsin.
This sweet story is perfect for introducing my students to the wonders and sights of our biggest city in Michigan. Since the state of Michigan is studied in our 3rd grades, I found this book a delightful introduction for these students. This picture book shows two animal friends visiting museums and other attractions in Detroit with joy, curiosity, and a bit of whimsy. Illustrator Enee Graef did a marvelous job delivering on the sights along the way. Thank you to Barbara Joosse for this delightful addition to my elementary school libraries!
The story itself was not terribly captivating to me, but I enjoyed the tour of Detroit and thought the illustrations were sweet. It would be fun to make a point of visiting all of the sights mentioned .