Will little Lola the flamingo ever eat her flock's preferred menu of shrimp?Lola's pink-flamingo parents urge their little, gray chick to eat shrimp so that she will share their rosy plumage and grow up big and strong. She demurs, finding the crustaceans "soggy," "muddy," and "yucky." Instead, finicky flamingo Lola sneaks off and seeks out a variety of tropical fruits. An avocado turns her feathers green, pepino melons, yellow, and dragon fruits, fuchsia with black spots. "¡Ay de mí!" Mami cries at each instance. But it's her parents' encouragement rather than their alarm that encourages Lola to finally try to eat shrimp. But like Dr. Seuss' protagonist with his green eggs and ham, it turns out that Lola does like shrimp after all when she finally gives them a chance. James' text employs pattern, repetition, and alliteration, making it a pleasure to read aloud. Young listeners will key in on, as Lola's parents do, the rebellious flamingo's typical prelude to sneaking away for a nonshrimp snack: "Lola dillies on her right leg. / Lola dallies on her left leg. / She dips her black-tipped beak into the water." Rivera's expressive, comical illustrations capture Lola's transformation with aplomb, concluding with a triumphant picture of the not-so-little-anymore chick taking flight, her plumage now blushing a bright pink. Backmatter facts about flamingos round out the offering.Try it. You'll like it. (Picture book. 3-6)

PreS-Gr 1 In James's debut, Lola is a young flamingo who doesn't want to eat shrimp. Her Mami and Papi are appalled and urge her to try because they will make her feathers a "healthy blush." Lola resists and sneaks away to nosh on an avocado which causes her feathers to turn green. Her parents are horrified and shout out "Ay de mi!" Lola still cannot be persuaded to eat shrimp and declares them "soggy." She once again slips away and this time partakes of a pepino melon. Now her poor parents are subjected to the young flamingo turning yellow instead of the desired pink. Eventually, after much cajoling and a few other culinary deviations, Mami and Papi convince this picky youngster to try some shrimp. She loves them and her beautiful pink feathers are the proof. Two pages of "Flamingo Facts" at the end of the story aid curious readers, who will want to know if what they eat will turn them colors. VERDICT An optional purchase for collections looking to augment books on picky eating or stories featuring flamingos.Amy Nolan, St. Joseph P.L., MI