Even though Lulu%E2%80%94in full ladybug bathing suit regalia%E2%80%94has never been to the beach, she knows that she%E2%80%99s going to love it. But at the edge of the water, where she%E2%80%99s dwarfed by a curling wave that spills over an entire spread, she isn%E2%80%99t so sure about going in. Luckily, there are other things to do, like building sand castles and getting ice cream on the boardwalk. Davis%E2%80%99s warmly expressive illustrations capture Lulu%E2%80%99s trepidation and, in the end, her triumphant self-assurance: when her bucket gets drawn in with the tide, Ladybug Girl finally has to confront the ocean. A tender addition to the series. Ages 3%E2%80%935. (May)

K-Gr 1 With her antennae quivering and her wings shimmering, Lulu (aka Ladybug Girl) and her basset hound find sun and sand on their first trip to the beach. There's a problem, though; the too-big ocean, too-loud noises, and too-tall waves are a bit intimidating. "Lulu takes a few steps backward. Bingo barks at the waves." While her brother runs for the water and her parents bask in the sun, Lulu's courage fails, and she begins a round of activities designed to help her avoid the ocean. She builds a sand castle, flies her kite, begs for ice cream, takes a long walk across the beach, and digs for pirate treasure. Young readers may recognize the swing of Lulu's emotionswill she ever enter the water? It takes an emergencya lost pail in the wavesto bring forth her courage and move her knee-deep into ocean water. Suddenly Ladybug Girl " loves the beach!" Cartoon figures on a background of summer pastels fill illustrations; Bingo's floppy, swinging ears follow the bend of grass in the wind as the hound stretches out in a series of naps across the sand. A welcome new adventure for Ladybug Girl fans. Mary Elam, Learning Media Services Plano ISD, TX