ALA Booklist (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Ladybug Girl is back for her seventh picture-book adventure. It's Halloween, and Lulu is suddenly uncertain about who she should be. Ladybug Girl seems like the obvious choice, but if she is Ladybug Girl every day, shouldn't she be someone different for Halloween? Lulu comes up with several alternate and creative costumes, but there seems to be a problem with each (her robot costume is too big to get through the bedroom door; a silent-movie star wouldn't be able to ask for candy; and so on). With no decision made, Lulu and her family head to the orchard, where an opportunity to rescue a lost child helps Lulu decide on her perfect costume. The story is predictable, but children will enjoy following Lulu's thought process as she works her way to the conclusion. Lulu's ubiquitous ladybug outfit adds pizzazz to the palate of autumn browns and oranges that dominate the ink-and-watercolor illustrations. This is another treat for Ladybug Girl's fans.

Horn Book

After her brother questions her costume choice, Lulu (a.k.a. Ladybug Girl) struggles to decide what to be for Halloween--until someone needs her help and she embraces her alter-ego once again. Soman's luminous ink and watercolor illustrations keep the pace moving, though the story is hampered by overly descriptive text. Still, many readers will relate to Lulu's problem.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

What does one dress up as for Halloween when one spends the other 364 days of the year in a ladybug outfit? That-s the question facing Lulu as she tries to come up with the perfect costume, even though it-s already Halloween day. A robot costume made from a cardboard box isn-t the most mobile option, and there-s a critical flaw in the Chaplinesque getup she puts together next: -A silent movie star can-t ask for candy!- A trip to an apple orchard, where Lulu helps a small girl who gets lost in a corn maze, leads to an epiphany-one that probably won-t surprise many of Ladybug Girl-s fans. Soman-s watercolors are right at home with autumn-s muted hues (the slightly melancholic orchard scenes are especially lovely), helping make this thoughtful story another winner for Ladybug Girl. Ages 3-5. (Aug.)

School Library Journal (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

K-Gr 2 Deciding what to be for Halloween takes a lot of thought and creativity, especially if you're Ladybug Girl and are already known for your awesome superhero costume. When her older brother makes her doubt her decision to trick-or-treat as her red-tutu-clad-superhero self, Lulu begins thinking of other costumes she can put together on short notice. After rejecting a robot, a silent movie star, an octopus, an alien, and, most uniquely, a vampire panda, she is forced to give up her costume-creating to go apple picking with her family. While there, she worries about her options, and it isn't until she goes into full Ladybug Girl mode to help a lost girl in the corn maze that she realizes she already has the perfect costume. Soman's artwork combines the endearing sketchbook illustration style that readers have come to love with the warm hues of autumn, creating the perfect backdrop for this spunky heroine's latest adventure. Fans of Ladybug Girl won't be disappointed with this installment that weaves together favorite fall activities and the familiar message of staying true to yourself. Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH