Louder, Lili

by Gennifer Choldenko, S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)

Lili is the quietest kid in class. She spends recess inside with Lois, the class?s pet guinea pig, and allows Cassidy do her talking for her, even if it means never getting to have the best parts in games. Sometimes it?s just easier letting Cassidy be in charge, but will Lili have the courage to speak up when it means keeping Lois from getting hurt? This warm, humorous story will speak to any child learning to find his or her own voice?and children used to being the boss might see themselves reflected in Cassidy?s over-the-top antics, as well.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Friendship, Emotion, School Stories

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2007

About the author

There’s a Lego in my bum which fits with the Lego in my chair and when I sit down to write, I hear the satisfying snap of the two pieces fitting together. I love words, dictionaries, thesauruses, sharp pencils, the smell of book ink and the delicious art of carving out sentences on clean white paper. I love to slip into another person’s skin and feel what it’s like to live another life. I love when characters come to me out of nowhere and make me cry so hard my mascara runs or laugh until my stomach hurts. I love the crazy fun and infinite possibility of storytelling.

What prepared me for a life of writing fiction? Though I have a BA from Brandeis University in English and American Literature and a BFA in illustration from Rhode Island School of Design, the true answer is probably genes. I come from a long line of Irish storytellers on my father’s side and theatre people on my mother’s. I always knew I loved to write, but it took me a long time to summon the courage to chase the dream. I finally went for it when I realized I would prefer to be a failure at something I wanted to do, then a success at something I didn’t.

While I was pretending I wasn’t a writer, trying to be a nice person with a nice quiet job somewhere, I sold lingerie, lipstick and lamp shades. I wrote junk mail. I taught visually and hearing-impaired kids horseback riding. I held a prestigious job in rubbish removal and I worked in a factory wearing a paper gown while wielding a large mallet on small serving packages of ketchup.

One Third Nerd, my funniest novel yet, is due out in January 2019. My most famous novel, Al Capone Does My Shirts, garnered 20 awards, one of which was the Newbery Honor. The Tales of Alcatraz series has sold more than 2 million copies. What will probably be the last book in the series: Al Capone Throws Me a Curve is the best of the fifteen books I’ve written so far.

I am a fitness fanatic; a book-obsessed, tennis-playing woman who thinks like a twelve-year-old. If I ever get the good fortune to meet you, offer me coffee and I will be your friend for life.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title and the cover illustration made me choose this book. A softspoken girl, Lili's wishes often get ignored, as her teacher tells her, "Louder, Lili!" However, one day when the class substitute teacher spends too much time on her cell phone in the bathroom, Lili finds her voice when she defends the class pet---and makes a friend in the process! Definitely a good read!

[Iroquois · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I wa totally shy as a kid and it took a looooong time for me to learn to speak louder. I think it would be a great book to read/share with any shy little girl, that's learning how to navigate their first years at school.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lili is quiet and shy, largely goes unnoticed, and is taken advantage of. But she learns to speak up when it matters.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

My five-year-old and four-year-old love this book. At night one of them takes it to their room to "read" and after they finish, they hand it to the other one for their turn to "read". I read it to them because they love it and it has a good message: speak up for what really moves you and don't let other people decide who your friends are.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love how this book handles the quiet child. The illustrations are lovely and it does a nice job of covering a school story. I love choldenko's novels, so I'm glad to see her tackle a picture book.

[Charlee Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was great. I liked when Cassidy almost poured glue into the guinea pig's water bottle but Lili said, "STOP!" and everybody around her, stopped. I also liked when the sub talked on her cell phone all the time.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was one of my favorites. This book teaches children about friendship and speaking up when something isn't the right thing to do. This book also reminds me of my younger sister when she was little. She was so shy, until she found her place and voice, like
Lili.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes a heroic stand against guinea pig abuse...okay, not so much.

but, cute

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have a child who doesn't speak up for themselves this might be a good book. Not one I would buy but a book to read once when checked out of the library.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a great book to use with younger students when talking about being a bystander versus speaking up for what's right.

[Mamta Valderrama · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my daughter’s favorites! She asks me to put her hair in ponytails just like Cassidy and Rita B. This sweet children’s story teaches an important lesson about finding your voice, and sticking up for what you believe in. I love the subtle message that you don’t have to have the loudest voice in the room to be heard, and sometimes the person with the loudest voice is the one others stop listening to. Highly recommend for children, especially those that struggle to raise their hand, speak up, or feel awkward in social settings. My favorite thing about this book is that the lesson is subtle, it is NOT over the top, bonk you on the head right or wrong, do or die.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lili is a shy child who is afraid to speak up for herself, even when another girl at school takes advantage of her. But when the class pet guinea pig is in trouble, Lili finds courage and her voice. Another classmate befriends Lili as a result.

Lili is a role model for shy children, and this book is a great way to start a discussion about coping with bullies, standing up for oneself, speaking up for what is right, and selecting supportive friends - important topics for quiet, timid children learning to navigate school.

[Maddie Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister's name is Lilli. Sometimes, I wish she would be quieter instead of louder...

[Ana Lilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gennifer Choldenko made a great story to help shy kids to find their voice. It has been very useful to some kids I know. Shyness can be difficult to address, but doing it as early as possible and reading books with cute illustrations is a good way to start.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lili was so shy and quiet that she let others speak for her and get the best of things. It was when the safety of Lois, the class’s guinea pig, was at stake that Lily found her voice. Lovely story and illustrations.

[Shanshad Whelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I appreciate the message of speaking up when it is necessary and the struggle of a shy girl to do so, I really don't like how it's presented. Lili gets completely taken advantage of by another girl, yet no one else notices--not even the teacher. And then the substitute teacher not only engages in gross neglect by talking on her cell phone and going to the bathroom (what teacher anywhere would leave a class of little kids totally unobserved?!) is downright criminal. Cassidy--the bully who takes advantage of Lili decides to take out the pet guinea pig and then to cut its hair and then wants to put glue in its water. True, Lili speaks up and puts a stop to it, but what kind of behavior is that? I often give picture books a lot of leeway for unrealistic situations, but when a book is presented as "real life" like this is, I found myself thinking Cassidy should be in therapy. Mostly what bothered me is the implication of no teacher in the classroom like that. It's an okay book otherwise, and I appreciate the attempt to empathize with the plight of the shy child, but I would have preferred a more realistic situation.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A WONDERFUL book for shy kids.

Lili is extremely quiet and shy. So quiet and shy, in fact, that people usually don't even realize she's there! But then a bully-type makes "friends" with her in class, and takes advantage of Lili. Finally, Lili just can't take it anymore and stands up for herself (and gets some respect, too!).

Seriously, this is a great book for shy kids. I read it with two very quiet and shy girls (one can't even look you in the eye) and they LOVED it, and totally saw themselves in Lili. Lili's a new hero for the timid crowd.

[Meredith Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute book about the importance for sticking up for oneself. In the book, Lili is a shy girl who never speaks up for what she wants. A girl Cassidy bosses her around a lot and makes her do things she doesn’t want to. One day Lili has had enough and forcefully tells Cassidy ‘No’. She finally sticks up for herself (and the class pet). I think this is could be a great book for students, especially quieter ones, to understand the importance of their voice and feelings. It can be used to help students understand the importance of speaking up for his or herself.

[Salsabrarian]

Lili is quiet and shy in class, uncomfortable when it's time to choose
partners and much preferring to read a book indoors during recess next to the class guinea pig. Her voice is so soft, "you couldn't hear it
even if you wanted to." One day an aggressive classmate named Cassidy chooses Lili as a partner and pretty much takes advantage of her for several days. Lili is unable to speak up until Cassidy begins to mess with the guinea pig. Then she finds the courage and accumulated outrage to tell Cassidy to "STOP IT!"

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lili doesn't like to speak up and she doesn't have any friends in her class. But then she gets stuck with a bully who takes credit for Lili's work, eats Lili's food and is mean to the class pet. Finally, Lili speaks up for herself (and for the poor guinea pig) and makes a friend. It's a nice tale that is good, especially for young girls in elementary school who may be reticent to stand out in the crowd and make their voice be heard.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lili is a little girl who is very shy and has a hard time speaking up. Her only "friend" at school is the class pet - a guinea pig. One day Cassidy, a very loud obnoxious sort of girl, latches on to her and takes advantage of Lili reticence. But when Cassidy threatens the safety and health of the guinea pig, Lili finally finds her voice and a new friend (Rita B.) in the process.

Illustrations are cute. What can I say, I'm a sucker for books with guinea pigs in them.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story of a very shy girl finally who has to speak up to save the day. This book reminds me how often it's not until we need something that we overcome that which keeps us from getting what we need! It's that proverbial board between two skyscrapers, but your child is on the other side kind of picture book.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story a very shy and quiet girl, Lili, finds her voice when she needs it most. I liked this book because it has a great message without being overbearing or didactic and the illustrations by S.D. Schindler are wonderful.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lili is shy. Lili is quiet. Lili learns that sometimes you have to speak up to be heard. A good book for the timid children in your life or for teaching kids to stand up for themselves or others. Cute illustrations. My students rated it as follows: Loved it = 243, Liked it = 61, Didn't like = 40.

[Tanya Wadley · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids liked this more than I did, it was a good book... has a message... sometimes you just have to speak up even if you're shy (in this story, Lili should have spoken up sooner which is why I gave it 3 instead of 4 stars).

2010 Beehive Award Nominee (children's lit assoc of utah).

[Tya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a person who grew up constantly being told to "...be louder, Tya." I don't *get* louder! This, this volume that I'm speaking to you? This. Is. It. I love that Lili learned to be just loud enough for the right people to hear her.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the heroine in this story, a shy girl who finds her voice just when she needs it. I can't help but like Lili a lot. I can identify with being shy but she stood up when she had to and that is to be commended.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a bully threatens to pick on the class's pet hamster, Lili finds her voice for the first time.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute little story. My 9 year old daughter really enjoyed reading it with me. The illustrations were a wonderful compliment to the storyline.

[Tracy Ralston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even the quiet ones can get upset and have to speak up. A great book about standing up for what you believe in