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Charlie & Lola
My Best, Best Friend
Lola and Lotta are best friends. They do absolutely completely everything together, like eating lunch, playing in the sandpit and going in pairs. But when a new girl, Evie, arrives in their class, Lotta starts spending all her time with her, and not Lola. Everything is extremely very different and Lola worries that Lotta is not her Best, Best, Bestest friend anymore. How will Lola get Lotta's attention? Find out in this brand new, ever so good Charlie and Lola story.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2010
About the author
Lauren Child
459 books852 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 13, 2018
Here go Charlie and Lola again ... this time Lola is with her best, BEST friend Lotta with whom she is creating a spell to change her brother Charlie into a toad. Lola and Lotta do everything together and share everything, exchanging a banana for an orange at lunchtime when each doesn't want what she has and always working together as a pair in class.
When they examine things they always agree on everything, such as tadpoles turning into frogs and fish dozing in the water when they look into the school pond. After doing this the school bell rings to summon them back to class and Mrs Hanson, their teacher, introduces a new girl, Evie, to Lotta while Lola goes to collect some of her things from the cloakroom.
Lotta is asked to look after Evie and this changes the relationship between Lola and Lotta for the latter spends all her time with Evie. Not only that but Lotta exchanges her fruit with Evie rather than with Lola and spends all her time playing with the new girl. So when Lola gets home she is sulking and Charlie asks what is wrong.
'I don't think Lotta likes me any more,' says Lola. Charlie tries to comfort her by telling her that she and Lotta are best friends. Lola says, 'That was ages ago.' Charlie tells her that it will probably right itself the next day but when Lola gets to school, Lotta is once more spending all her time with Evie.
But things between the two do not go well, for everything Lotta tells Evie, the latter contradicts but even so Evie goes to Lotta's for tea and Lola is excluded.
The following day Marv says to Charlie, 'Lola seems a bit down in the dumps' to which Charlie replies, 'Yes, Lotta has a new best friend.' But then Charlie and Marv have an idea and they get hold of Lola and swing her high in the air, much to her delight. Meanwhile Lotta has lost Evie and Lola points out that she has engaged with another classmate and is ignoring Lotta.
Lotta, therefore, remarks to Lola that she has seen Charlie and Marv swinging her in the air and that it looked good fun. So the two of them run over to Charlie and Marv and Lola says, 'Charlie and Marv, will you give my best, best, BESTEST friend Lotta a swing?' And suddenly the BEST friendship is back on as Lotta swings through the air with a mighty WHHEEE!
This is the usual great fun from this irresistible comic duo.
When they examine things they always agree on everything, such as tadpoles turning into frogs and fish dozing in the water when they look into the school pond. After doing this the school bell rings to summon them back to class and Mrs Hanson, their teacher, introduces a new girl, Evie, to Lotta while Lola goes to collect some of her things from the cloakroom.
Lotta is asked to look after Evie and this changes the relationship between Lola and Lotta for the latter spends all her time with Evie. Not only that but Lotta exchanges her fruit with Evie rather than with Lola and spends all her time playing with the new girl. So when Lola gets home she is sulking and Charlie asks what is wrong.
'I don't think Lotta likes me any more,' says Lola. Charlie tries to comfort her by telling her that she and Lotta are best friends. Lola says, 'That was ages ago.' Charlie tells her that it will probably right itself the next day but when Lola gets to school, Lotta is once more spending all her time with Evie.
But things between the two do not go well, for everything Lotta tells Evie, the latter contradicts but even so Evie goes to Lotta's for tea and Lola is excluded.
The following day Marv says to Charlie, 'Lola seems a bit down in the dumps' to which Charlie replies, 'Yes, Lotta has a new best friend.' But then Charlie and Marv have an idea and they get hold of Lola and swing her high in the air, much to her delight. Meanwhile Lotta has lost Evie and Lola points out that she has engaged with another classmate and is ignoring Lotta.
Lotta, therefore, remarks to Lola that she has seen Charlie and Marv swinging her in the air and that it looked good fun. So the two of them run over to Charlie and Marv and Lola says, 'Charlie and Marv, will you give my best, best, BESTEST friend Lotta a swing?' And suddenly the BEST friendship is back on as Lotta swings through the air with a mighty WHHEEE!
This is the usual great fun from this irresistible comic duo.
October 19, 2012
Charlie has a little sister called Lola who is very funny. Her best friend is Lotta. Lola and Lotta do absolutely everything together as all best, best friends do. One day a new girl arrives in school, her name is Evie and the teacher asks Lotta to look after Evie. At first the three girls have lots of fun together but then Lola becomes worried that Evie is now Lotta’s best best friend and not her anymore! Charlie tells Lola not to worry and that he thinks they will be best friends again very soon.
The next day Lola and Charlie see Lotta and Evie playing in the park and to cheer Lola up, Charlie and his friend swing Lola really high. It does cheer Lola up. Lotta calls for Lola to come and play and they realise that Evie has made a new friend and everyone is happy again!
This story has a lovely theme and tells a valuable tale of the friendships of children. For this reason it could be useful in discussing friendships in a group. Perhaps it could be read during a circle time and then each child could give a reason they like their friend.
It also touches on knowledge and understanding of the world in the science aspect of the tadpole discussion in the story. Used at the right time of year, pupils could explore this further in a real world context.
The Charlie and Lola series of books with characters created by Lauren Child have the most delightful illustrations. They really are wonderful and I think they could be used as inspiration for creating collages using different materials with children in a class.
Most importantly of all this is an enjoyable book to read. It is beautiful to look at, interesting and uses fun vocabulary. This is the kind of book that really will encourage a love of books in children.
The next day Lola and Charlie see Lotta and Evie playing in the park and to cheer Lola up, Charlie and his friend swing Lola really high. It does cheer Lola up. Lotta calls for Lola to come and play and they realise that Evie has made a new friend and everyone is happy again!
This story has a lovely theme and tells a valuable tale of the friendships of children. For this reason it could be useful in discussing friendships in a group. Perhaps it could be read during a circle time and then each child could give a reason they like their friend.
It also touches on knowledge and understanding of the world in the science aspect of the tadpole discussion in the story. Used at the right time of year, pupils could explore this further in a real world context.
The Charlie and Lola series of books with characters created by Lauren Child have the most delightful illustrations. They really are wonderful and I think they could be used as inspiration for creating collages using different materials with children in a class.
Most importantly of all this is an enjoyable book to read. It is beautiful to look at, interesting and uses fun vocabulary. This is the kind of book that really will encourage a love of books in children.
July 3, 2011
I sometimes get the feeling that these are put together too hastily from the tv show, but this one at least has lots of large illustrations that are very active and imaginative, although sometimes the text is a bit small or gets lost in the texture of the pictures.
June 28, 2017
Miss 2 LOVES Charlie & Lola so this is another book read from the list. We try to order different ones from the library.
Lola and Lotta are best, best, BESTEST friends who do completely everything together. They always pair up, they look after the tadpoles in the pond, and they especially always swap lunches. But when Evie, a new girl, joins the class, suddenly it's Evie whom Lotta does everything with, even lunch swapping. Lola tells her brother Charlie that she has lost her best friend forever, but Charlie helps her.
Lola and Lotta are best, best, BESTEST friends who do completely everything together. They always pair up, they look after the tadpoles in the pond, and they especially always swap lunches. But when Evie, a new girl, joins the class, suddenly it's Evie whom Lotta does everything with, even lunch swapping. Lola tells her brother Charlie that she has lost her best friend forever, but Charlie helps her.
February 17, 2021
*Writing on behalf of my 4 year old*
This is my first book in the Charlie and Lola series.
I liked this book so much that I by-hearted all the lines in it. I also have a best best bestest friend which is why I liked it a lot. I learned about tadpoles.
I liked the part about swapping things in the lunchbox because I also do that with my best friend.
This is my first book in the Charlie and Lola series.
I liked this book so much that I by-hearted all the lines in it. I also have a best best bestest friend which is why I liked it a lot. I learned about tadpoles.
I liked the part about swapping things in the lunchbox because I also do that with my best friend.
November 17, 2017
Good story about friendship when a new girl named Lotta shows up at school. Lola and Lotta help out. Then Lola gets jealous because Evie and Lotta spend lots of time together. Highly recommended Gr. 1-3.
July 3, 2018
I always enjoy Lauren Child's art, but the text is lacking for this edition. If you enjoy Lauren Child check out, "Clarice Bean, That's Me."
December 12, 2018
This is about Lola and her best friend Lotta.
April 10, 2019
What a perfect book to read with someone who might be struggling with sharing a friend and all the feelings such can bring.
February 12, 2012
We absolutely love the Charlie and Lola series of books created by Lauren Child. The stories are fun and our girls love the characters from watching them on television.
This is a fun story about the fickleness of a child's friendships and the jealousy that occurs when a pair of friends is split up by a third person. This is a familiar situation for our girls, who have experienced changes in friendships as they grow up. It's a good story and gives me an opportunity to practice my English accent (much to their dismay.)
The illustrations are as terrific as we've come to expect with these books, and although this story is not actually written by Ms. Child, but instead based on one of the television episodes, it still retains the charm of the original books.
We really enjoyed reading this story together and will certainly look for more of these stories at our local library.
This is a fun story about the fickleness of a child's friendships and the jealousy that occurs when a pair of friends is split up by a third person. This is a familiar situation for our girls, who have experienced changes in friendships as they grow up. It's a good story and gives me an opportunity to practice my English accent (much to their dismay.)
The illustrations are as terrific as we've come to expect with these books, and although this story is not actually written by Ms. Child, but instead based on one of the television episodes, it still retains the charm of the original books.
We really enjoyed reading this story together and will certainly look for more of these stories at our local library.
March 31, 2014
Excellent book to use for the transition into reception especially when schools have a nursey attached as children come in with their 'best friend' from nursey. This books helps children to understand that they should include all children and be friends with everyone. A brilliant read and also handy to use if you have a new child join your class once friendship groups have been made. This book could be used in KS1 as well as reception for any friendship issues. Light hearted and helps children to understand that everyone should be friends.
November 29, 2016
Lola and Lotta are best best friends, but when a new girl from out of town shows up at school and Lotta is assigned to be her special friend and show her around, Lola worries her nicely balanced world will be disrupted forever.
Who can't relate to the tragedy of losing a most beloved friend? You can be friends with lots of people but some friends just have a special bond (and sometimes friends drift apart for a little while and that's okay too). This book touches on lots of ideas that can lead to good conversation, but it still has a happy ending.
Who can't relate to the tragedy of losing a most beloved friend? You can be friends with lots of people but some friends just have a special bond (and sometimes friends drift apart for a little while and that's okay too). This book touches on lots of ideas that can lead to good conversation, but it still has a happy ending.
December 27, 2012
Oh, a problem that happens ever so often. A child thinks they might have been "replaced" by their very best friend.
The only thing (SLIGHT spoiler here) is it might have been nice for them to ALL end up being friends at the end. Yes, comforting to see old friends return. But wouldn't including everyone be an even nicer message?
The only thing (SLIGHT spoiler here) is it might have been nice for them to ALL end up being friends at the end. Yes, comforting to see old friends return. But wouldn't including everyone be an even nicer message?
March 12, 2012
Charlie and Lola are great! In this one, we meet Lotta, Lola's best friend. When Lotta has to show a new girl around school, Lola starts getting left out. Of course any girl will tell you three little girls together never works!
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February 1, 2014A book in the Charlie and Lola series. Charlie and Lola are brother and sister. Lola and Lotta are best friends and when they welcome the new girl, Evie, into their play, Lola begins to feel left out. However, all is well in the end!
June 20, 2012
Thus is another cute book in the Charlie and Lola series.
August 30, 2012
Still love Charlie and Lola? Read this book
October 24, 2013
Fun illustrations, good vocabulary, and a story that is easy for children to follow.
November 6, 2014
I really love all of Lauren Child's work but especially this book. The illustrations are so very cute and the story is one which young readers can relate to.
January 26, 2016
Best friends meet someone new and now one of the original best friends is feeling left out.
August 19, 2016
A great book. I've read it aloud many times to my children. We've enjoyed all of the Charlie and Lola books. Great, simple character, fun, and silliness.
April 13, 2018
Lola is worried she lost her best, best friend Lotta to new classmate, Evie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2011
A story about having a BESTEST friend. Very funny. Charlie and Lola is a great series.
November 13, 2013
Another Charlie and Lola book loved by my 2 year old daughter, and a very nice story to read.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews