Lucille

by Arnold Lobel

Lucille considers herself dull and dirty as a workhorse, but chooses that role after she dresses up and tries to act like a lady. The lively drawings add humor and keep the tone light.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Classics, Fantasy, Horses

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Arnold Stark Lobel was a popular American author of children's books. Among his most popular books are those of the Frog and Toad series, and Mouse Soup, which won the Garden State Children's Book Award from the New Jersey Library Association.

Reviews

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I collect old I-Can-Read books and this one is a keeper for the collection. Lucille is just a pure fun, silly story. Arnold Lobel is a favourite children's illustration and this is a book that he both wrote and illustrated. One of the easier books to read with only one or two sentences per page and illustrations done in a profusion of pink, yellow and orange to match the mood. Lucille the horse is tired of being a dirty mess all the time pulling the farmer's plow. One day the farmer's wife, who has the luxury of spending her days sitting in the house, drinking tea and listening to the radio decides to prettify Lucille by taking her shopping. Well Lucille gets herself a fancy hat, high heels, and a lovely white dress. Now she spends her days drinking tea with the farmer's wife and cannot work in the fields as she is too dainty for such. All the wife's friends come for visits, but Lucille quickly finds the rules of etiquette tiresome and ends up running for her life back to the farmer and her former messy, dirty life. Just plain silly, but obviously contains the message of being happy with who you are and not having pretentious delusions of grandeur.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great picture book for my special needs middle school students. It teaches important lessons about appearance and being happy with who you are--instead of trying to be someone else. It's a fun read and I love the old-fashioned coloring throughout that fits its 1964 copyright date.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the books we read over and over again when I was a child. Perhaps not one of Lobel's best, or most enduring, but lots of nostalgia.

[Linda B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first childhood book.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet and funny! Arnold Lobel's pictures in the book are wonderful.

Lucille the horse belongs to a farmer. When she looks in a puddle she sees that she is dull and dirty. So when they go to town, the farmer's wife buys Lucille a hat, shoes and a dress. Later, Lucille wishes she was out plowing the fields instead of listening to the radio with the farmer's wife. When the ladies come and meet her, Lucille gets nervous and runs out of the house into the fields. She is glad to be a plain, happy horse. "And then she goes to sleep." {Text from book in quotations}

[Peony · Rating 3 out of 5]

humor, cartoon

4-8

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious story of a horse who is trying to be a lady.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a silly book. I love the illustrations of the pig.

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

good

[Micaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always loved this book as a kid! Lucille is so funny. I hope to have a copy of my own someday--same yellow-backed copy :)

[Rahrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this book when I was a kid and loved it. I am honestly thinking of finding one to read to my nephew. <3 this book.

[Erin Rugge · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny!

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

An older book, this is rather funny. My 3 year old got a good chuckle seeing the horse in high heel red shoes and then later eating pink roses and a hat. A nice beginning book, simple and cute.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for the first time recently and I fell in love with Lucille! This is such a good read-aloud for kids. I'm hoping to add it to my collection soon!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this rare Arnold Lobel I Can Read book, Lucille is a horse who is loved by her farmer. But one day Lucille looks at herself in a puddle and thinks she's dirty and not ladylike. So the farmer's wife steps in and takes Lucille to town for some new clothes. Soon Lucille looks like a lady and is invited to tea with the farmer's wife's friends, but things don't go as planned and soon Lucille misses her old life with the farmer and realizes that maybe being something she's not isn't all it's cracked up to being. My rating - 4/5

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucille is a horse that belongs to a farmer. When Lucille sees herself in a puddle she thinks she is dull and dirty, and that makes her sad. The farmer's wife takes Lucille to town, and buys her a new hat, a dress, and some shoes, and tries to make Lucille into a lady. Lucille decides likes being a farmer's horse too much to be a lady.

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic children's book about thinking what life is like on the other side of the fence, rather than actually knowing what life is like on the other side of the fence, and the consequences which occur when you don't look before you leap onto the other side of the fence. This really is a great children's book.

[Justafigleaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Fact: Author Arnold Lobel's mother's name was Lucille.

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Open Library.

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucille is a work horse. but she feels out of place. She dresses in finery, trying to be a lady. This goes badly. Now, she knows to be who you are!

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books from childhood.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome