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Lulu #3
Lulu's Mysterious Mission
This irresistible illustrated chapter book starring Judith Viorst’s Lulu is full of hilarious hijinks, delightful twists, and a top-secret mission!
Eeny meeny miney mo,
That babysitter’s got to go.
Lulu has put her tantrum-throwing days behind her. That is, until her parents announce that they are going on vacation—WITHOUT LULU. Not only that, but they are leaving her with the formidable Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky, who says hello by bellowing, “The Eagle has landed,” and smiles at you with the kind of smile that an alligator might give you before eating you for dinner.
The second her parents are out of the house, Lulu tries out several elaborate schemes to bring them straight back. But just when she seems to finally be making some headway, her babysitter reveals an astonishing secret…one that has Lulu crossing her fingers that her parents will go on vacation all the time—without her!
Eeny meeny miney mo,
That babysitter’s got to go.
Lulu has put her tantrum-throwing days behind her. That is, until her parents announce that they are going on vacation—WITHOUT LULU. Not only that, but they are leaving her with the formidable Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky, who says hello by bellowing, “The Eagle has landed,” and smiles at you with the kind of smile that an alligator might give you before eating you for dinner.
The second her parents are out of the house, Lulu tries out several elaborate schemes to bring them straight back. But just when she seems to finally be making some headway, her babysitter reveals an astonishing secret…one that has Lulu crossing her fingers that her parents will go on vacation all the time—without her!
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2014
36 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
About the author
Judith Viorst
120 books849 followersJudith Viorst is an American writer, newspaper journalist, and psychoanalysis researcher. She is known for her humorous observational poetry and for her children's literature. This includes The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (about the death of a pet) and the Alexander series of short picture books, which includes Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972), which has sold over two million copies.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
October 19, 2017
Lulu's doting parents go out of town despite her objections, and leave her in the care of the best babysitter in town-- Sonia Sofia Solinsky. Ms. Solinsky is very firm and on to all of Lulu's tricks, no matter what she does. After Lulu attempts to import cats, to which Ms. Solinsky is allergic and an unfortunate incident involving a dresser in front of Lulu's bedroom door, Ms. Solinsky lets it slip that she is actually a spy. At that, Lulu begs to be trained as a spy for the remaining six days, but Ms. Solinsky demands utter obedience. After that, Lulu has much more fun, learning to disguise herself and being instructed in the ways of spies. When Lulu's parents return, she is crushed to find that they never want to travel again without her, which means she won't need a babysitter! She uses her wiles to insure that she will be able to keep up her spy training.
Even better than the last one. Looking forward to more! This is the third book in the series. It is by far the best so far. Viorst is an ingenius writer.
Even better than the last one. Looking forward to more! This is the third book in the series. It is by far the best so far. Viorst is an ingenius writer.
April 6, 2017
Lulu’s Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst is a very appealing book to capture an audience reading. This author has a way of catching the reader’s attention and making the reader feel like the author has personally written just to you- the reader. The authors style of writing is extremely engaging and very attractive. Kevin Cornell does a great job illustrating this book making sure that Lulu really does look like she is described by her babysitter and the babysitter really does look as described by Lulu. My favorite illustrations in this book were of Ms. Solinsky in disguise,it was hillarious. Because of Lulu’s catchy singsong in the book “Eeny Meeny Miny Mo, that Babysitter’s Got to Go!”, kids love to sing along each time Lulu chants her evil singsong. This book is about a mischievous little girl whose world is turned upside down when she is assigned a top-notch military style babysitter (Mrs. Sonia Sofia Solinsky) when her parents leave town. Lulu, called “an especially difficult child” by her babysitter, constructs several conniving (but funny) schemes to rid herself of this babysitter until she discovers that her babysitter used to be a spy, and her code name was “Triple S”. This excites Lulu tremendously and she agrees to complete obedience to Triple S in exchange for spy training. Lulu then changed her singsong to “G F E D C B A, Triple S has got to stay. June or April, March or May, Triple S has got to Stay”. For the remaining six days her parents are away, Lulu and Triple S go through spy training. Lulu has so much fun learning spy techniques with Triple S that she is disappointed when her parents come back and vow never to go on vacation again without their sweet little girl. I read chapters of this book to a Kindergarten classroom as a read aloud and they adored this book. Every time I said “Eeny Meeny Miny Mo”, the kids chanted right after me “That Babysitters Got to GOOO!”. They had so much fun listening to me read the book and participating in all of Lulu’s rhyming chants. Some of the chapters in this book are only a page long, and others are a few pages, which makes this an easy book to read to younger children as there are more stopping points in the book. Since this book is spy related, it could capture a reader in 5th or 6th grade, however, I would recommend this book to a 2nd-4th grader as an independent reading text. This is definitely a book to recommend to a child who may not be a reader due to a lack of interest in books, and possibly could transform the child into an excited reader. Since I now own the book, I will take this book with me to classes that I sub in case we have “free time” (I know, I know, free time is a funny thing to say) for some read alouds.
May 10, 2015
A funny thing happened on the way to trying to find Sir Roger Moore's Bond on Bond book at Barnes & Noble this afternoon. Nick, who always checks the kids section, found Stuart Gibbs' Spy series. While looking at that series, I was instantly drawn to the chic little girl with the Louise Brooks' bob and the trench-coated secret agent in the background meant to be her shadow.
Written by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Kevin Cornell, this is Viorst third Lulu book. The first two Lulu books were illustrated by Lane Smith. Having not read or seen the first two, I cannot compare the illustrations, however I thought Cornell did a wonderful job, a soft Tim Burton style or Beetlejuice for kids.
The story. Sheer delight and while there was some repetition - Lulu's chants - on the whole, it was an intelligent, cohesive and engaging story of Lulu who has to come to terms that her parents want to spend some "grown up" on their own, going on a vacation without their darling daughter. Lulu is unhappy with the idea and is further pushed to hate the idea when she meets her stern babysitter, Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky. It becomes Lulu's personal mission to break Ms. Solinsky and have her parents on the next flight home.
Lulu puts each plan into action only to have Ms. Solinsky head her off each time. By the fourth plan, Plan D, Lulu and Ms. Solinsky are at a cross-roads in their babysitter-child relationship, until Ms. Solinsky reveals she is a retired spy. Lulu's whole demeanor shifts regarding her babysitter, who has become her spy instructor, teaching her the essential spy basics. After learning the basics, Lulu faces the MM, or Mysterious Mission, that she finishes just shortly before her parents return at the end of the week. The adventure has solidified the relationship between the two spies and Lulu cannot wait for her parents to take more vacations without her, so Ms. Solinsky will come back and teach her more cool spy stuff.
Viorst keeps her storytelling engaging and fun. She even breaks the "fourth wall" and speaks directly to the reader, which I thought was rather clever and a unique technique that works nicely in this story. The illustrations compliment the story and emphasize the important points of the story. I liked that the protagonist and supporting character, Ms. Solinsky, are female, since the more meaty spy stories for teenagers tend to be more male-centric. I think this is a fun, positive story that children can read over and over again. And for the family that likes spy stories, this is fun start for their daughter(s).
Written by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Kevin Cornell, this is Viorst third Lulu book. The first two Lulu books were illustrated by Lane Smith. Having not read or seen the first two, I cannot compare the illustrations, however I thought Cornell did a wonderful job, a soft Tim Burton style or Beetlejuice for kids.
The story. Sheer delight and while there was some repetition - Lulu's chants - on the whole, it was an intelligent, cohesive and engaging story of Lulu who has to come to terms that her parents want to spend some "grown up" on their own, going on a vacation without their darling daughter. Lulu is unhappy with the idea and is further pushed to hate the idea when she meets her stern babysitter, Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky. It becomes Lulu's personal mission to break Ms. Solinsky and have her parents on the next flight home.
Lulu puts each plan into action only to have Ms. Solinsky head her off each time. By the fourth plan, Plan D, Lulu and Ms. Solinsky are at a cross-roads in their babysitter-child relationship, until Ms. Solinsky reveals she is a retired spy. Lulu's whole demeanor shifts regarding her babysitter, who has become her spy instructor, teaching her the essential spy basics. After learning the basics, Lulu faces the MM, or Mysterious Mission, that she finishes just shortly before her parents return at the end of the week. The adventure has solidified the relationship between the two spies and Lulu cannot wait for her parents to take more vacations without her, so Ms. Solinsky will come back and teach her more cool spy stuff.
Viorst keeps her storytelling engaging and fun. She even breaks the "fourth wall" and speaks directly to the reader, which I thought was rather clever and a unique technique that works nicely in this story. The illustrations compliment the story and emphasize the important points of the story. I liked that the protagonist and supporting character, Ms. Solinsky, are female, since the more meaty spy stories for teenagers tend to be more male-centric. I think this is a fun, positive story that children can read over and over again. And for the family that likes spy stories, this is fun start for their daughter(s).
September 30, 2017
Lulu is back! First introduced in Lulu and the Brontosaurus , Lulu is not what one would call a well behaved child. In fact, she has been called on more than one occasion an "extremely difficult child." She vows to ratchet up the difficulty she causes people when her parents have the audacity to go on a trip without her! *gasp* Lulu is trying her best to get rid of her babysitter, Ms. Solinsky, and force her parents to come home right away! Ms. Solinsky, however, is not a babysitter who can be easily deterred. With her background as a spy, she is a force to be reckoned with. Lulu's Mysterious Mission was entertaining and frequently elicited giggles from my children as I read it aloud. My son, rather than running off and playing video games as soon as a chapter finished, begged for "just one more chapter!" As soon as this book was complete, they began demanding more Lulu!
May 5, 2016
Lulu is an especially difficult child, so when her parents go on vacation without her, they seek out an especially talented babysitter: Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky. She's good, maybe even the best babysitter "in the world." Lulu will have nothing to do with her babysitter. Until she learns that Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinksy is not quite the babysitter people thinks she is. She's better, she's a ......... but that would give it away! Read this funny book to yourself, or even out loud, because Lulu's got spunk and you'll have fun!
Reviewed by Lisa Coleman, Youth Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Reviewed by Lisa Coleman, Youth Services, Vernon Area Public Library
May 27, 2017
First sentence: But first let's go find Lulu, who is in the living room screeching, "No! No! No!" although she doesn't screech much anymore.
Premise/plot: Lulu is DEVASTATED to learn that her parents are set to vacation without her. She'll be left behind in the care of a babysitter. Her babysitter is Sonia Sofia Solinsky. And it will be a fierce match between the two...or will it?! Does the babysitter have a secret? And are these two kindred spirits after all?
My thoughts: Definitely a fun story. I love how smart the babysitter is. I love how Lulu even at her most difficult can't surprise and outwit her. I'd recommend all three books.
Premise/plot: Lulu is DEVASTATED to learn that her parents are set to vacation without her. She'll be left behind in the care of a babysitter. Her babysitter is Sonia Sofia Solinsky. And it will be a fierce match between the two...or will it?! Does the babysitter have a secret? And are these two kindred spirits after all?
My thoughts: Definitely a fun story. I love how smart the babysitter is. I love how Lulu even at her most difficult can't surprise and outwit her. I'd recommend all three books.
November 11, 2014
This was by far my favorite of the Lulu books. I missed Lane Smith's illustrations in this one, but Kevin Cornell's drawings were awesome in their own right. Lulu definitely has some attitude and I can't wait to read more about her. I'm hoping Fleischman and/or Mr. B will make another appearance, and maybe we'll get to know Mabel a bit more, too!
July 22, 2017
Another great installment in the Lulu series. Not my favorite so far but still pretty amusing. Has all the classic Lulu aspects: fit throwing, arguing and general belligerence. Lulu definitely keeps readers on their toes.
February 14, 2018
The kids and I just love all the Lulu books. This one was so fun! The author asides are probably my favorite part, but it is such a great story. And Lulu is a fantastically 'difficult' child. My children love reading about her adventures.
May 1, 2018
I enjoyed this book because I liked the part when Ms. Solinsky taught Lulu to be a spy in training. I did not like this book because I do not like disguises. I also enjoyed this book because I liked the part when Lulu got an MM (which means mysterious mission) disk.
April 12, 2014
Very fun--my favorite lulu book yet. It took me a little while to transition to the new illustrator but I loved the book and now love the new illustrator too.
January 24, 2015
This series is quite cute. I love the package and illustrations!! Lulu is charming.
May 2, 2019
This book is about a girl, named Lulu, who always gets her way until her parents decide to go on vacation and she is left with a babysitter. Not getting what she wants, Lulu comes up with elaborate plans to get rid of her babysitter, Ms. Solinsky, who wears a uniform and combat boots. Surprisingly, Mrs. Solinsky always defeats Lulu’s plans. As her last attempt, Lulu locks herself in her room and Ms. Solinsky kicks down her door and destroys her bedroom. Lulu takes pictures of the mess in hopes it will destroy Ms. Solinsky’s reputation. Instead, Ms, Solinsky reveals she is a retired spy and Lulu charms her way in learning how to become a spy. In the last lesson, “Mysterious Mission”, Lulu is rewarded with a necklace and her official spy name. When Lulu’s parents come home, Lulu gets her way again by persuading her parents to go on more vacations and leave her with Ms. Solinsky.
I would use this book in 2nd - 6th grade for my struggling and beginning readers because this is a series books where the characters are the same, the plot is not complicated, it’s predictable, at times, and it gets readers’ attention.
I would use this book in 2nd - 6th grade for my struggling and beginning readers because this is a series books where the characters are the same, the plot is not complicated, it’s predictable, at times, and it gets readers’ attention.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2014
Holy guacamole, this is hilarious!
So Lulu is a beastly little thing...like if you were to mix Eloise and add a dash of Syd (from Toy Story). But she's smart and clever and hilarious, though, honestly, I'm really glad she's not my kid. In fact, she's why I didn't have kids because I didn't want to get that one.
Her beleaguered parents tell her they're going to go on a vacation without her and this sets off pandemonium in the household. To add to that, there's going to be a babysitter. This story is about Lulu trying to make her parents come back early and the babysitter go away.
Remember how Calvin was always trying to escape from/torment/outsmart Rosalyn? Yeah, same thing here. But the babysitter, she's a Trained Professional and she looks like the General of All Generals and she is actually the best babysitter in the town - maybe the world.
The whole thing is tongue-in-cheek enough to appeal to me, the grown-up, and lighthearted and funny enough for me, the kid. For instance, on page 57:
Harry Potter, to everone's bemusement and confusement, is Lulu's trombone teacher's actual name, which forced him to have to reply, whenever he meets someone new, "Sorry. No. NOT Harry Potter, boy wizard. The OTHER Harry Potter, trombone teacher." He also, much too often, has to put up with all kinds of incredibly stupid jokes about spells and potions and wands and flying broomsticks. It makes me kind of wonder, since I am the person writing this story, if maybe I should have found him a different name. But though I'm the first to admit that this might have saved him a lot of trouble, sometimes a writer has to make tough choices.
I love that kind of zingy, zany, crazy storytelling and I find it hilarious when the author pops into her own story.
Then there are the illustrations. They are fantastic. Lulu looks like a little Mr. Magoo, only angry and with hair. Her expressions are often over-the-top and ridiculous and I just find all of them - the pictures - smile-inducing. AND! All the Chapter pages (each chapter begins with a page that gives you the chapter number) are covered in big, blue dots. So cute!
Anyhow, if you enjoy Lemony Snicket, Roald Dahl, Calvin and Hobbes, The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip, Olivia, Miss Nelson Is Missing! Spy vs. Spy or just think crazy, silly stories are fun, there's a good chance you'll like this book!
So Lulu is a beastly little thing...like if you were to mix Eloise and add a dash of Syd (from Toy Story). But she's smart and clever and hilarious, though, honestly, I'm really glad she's not my kid. In fact, she's why I didn't have kids because I didn't want to get that one.
Her beleaguered parents tell her they're going to go on a vacation without her and this sets off pandemonium in the household. To add to that, there's going to be a babysitter. This story is about Lulu trying to make her parents come back early and the babysitter go away.
Remember how Calvin was always trying to escape from/torment/outsmart Rosalyn? Yeah, same thing here. But the babysitter, she's a Trained Professional and she looks like the General of All Generals and she is actually the best babysitter in the town - maybe the world.
The whole thing is tongue-in-cheek enough to appeal to me, the grown-up, and lighthearted and funny enough for me, the kid. For instance, on page 57:
Harry Potter, to everone's bemusement and confusement, is Lulu's trombone teacher's actual name, which forced him to have to reply, whenever he meets someone new, "Sorry. No. NOT Harry Potter, boy wizard. The OTHER Harry Potter, trombone teacher." He also, much too often, has to put up with all kinds of incredibly stupid jokes about spells and potions and wands and flying broomsticks. It makes me kind of wonder, since I am the person writing this story, if maybe I should have found him a different name. But though I'm the first to admit that this might have saved him a lot of trouble, sometimes a writer has to make tough choices.
I love that kind of zingy, zany, crazy storytelling and I find it hilarious when the author pops into her own story.
Then there are the illustrations. They are fantastic. Lulu looks like a little Mr. Magoo, only angry and with hair. Her expressions are often over-the-top and ridiculous and I just find all of them - the pictures - smile-inducing. AND! All the Chapter pages (each chapter begins with a page that gives you the chapter number) are covered in big, blue dots. So cute!
Anyhow, if you enjoy Lemony Snicket, Roald Dahl, Calvin and Hobbes, The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip, Olivia, Miss Nelson Is Missing! Spy vs. Spy or just think crazy, silly stories are fun, there's a good chance you'll like this book!
May 7, 2014
What this book is about:
In Lulu’s latest adventure, her parents decide to take a trip on their own (gasp!) and Lulu must stay with a babysitter. However, this babysitter is most definitely NOT Mary Poppins and Lulu is NOT pleased. After concocting several schemes to eliminate the sitter from her home, Lulu finally comes to a truce with her when her babysitter reveals an astonishing secret. Now Lulu is begging her to stay!
Why I love this book:
First, I LOVE the Lulu books. Judith Viorst has a wonderful way of including kids in the story and making them feel apart of the action. Between addressing the reader directly and creating repetitive and clever rhymes, kids are caught right up in the adventure.
Before she even starts the book, Viorst confesses that the title may be misleading.
She didn’t think kids would pick up a book titled “Lulu’s Babysitter.” She then feels slightly bad about tricking the reader and tells them she might … just might put something in about a mysterious mission. This is good stuff and readers will just eat it up.
Now the illustrator for this book is different from the first two. Originally the pictures were done by Lane Smith and they are brilliant. In an early chapter book the pictures work very much in harmony with the text and Smith paints an absolutely charming and perfect depiction of Lulu. The new artist Kevin Cornell worried me a bit. Now he has a lot a great book credits to his name, so he isn’t too shabby a choice to replace Smith, but his pictures are much more realistic, as opposed to the stylized art of Smith. While at first glance I thought I would be disappointed, as my daughter and I read the story, the illustrations grew on me, and by the end I was a much bigger fan.
Who this book is for:
Please don’t let the fact the main character is a girl dissuade you from picking this book up for a boy. It is a wonderful gender neutral story, and Lulu’s escapades will bring delight to all kids. I read this book aloud to my daughter and it is wonderful delivered that way. If your child is an independent reader, the pages have large type and pictures are on most pages. Probably the most intimidating thing about the book is the length at 182 pages.
Final thoughts:
I loved the first Lulu book, I was charmed by the second Lulu book but this third Lulu book was a home run! My daughter and I are unwavering fans!
In Lulu’s latest adventure, her parents decide to take a trip on their own (gasp!) and Lulu must stay with a babysitter. However, this babysitter is most definitely NOT Mary Poppins and Lulu is NOT pleased. After concocting several schemes to eliminate the sitter from her home, Lulu finally comes to a truce with her when her babysitter reveals an astonishing secret. Now Lulu is begging her to stay!
Why I love this book:
First, I LOVE the Lulu books. Judith Viorst has a wonderful way of including kids in the story and making them feel apart of the action. Between addressing the reader directly and creating repetitive and clever rhymes, kids are caught right up in the adventure.
Before she even starts the book, Viorst confesses that the title may be misleading.
She didn’t think kids would pick up a book titled “Lulu’s Babysitter.” She then feels slightly bad about tricking the reader and tells them she might … just might put something in about a mysterious mission. This is good stuff and readers will just eat it up.
Now the illustrator for this book is different from the first two. Originally the pictures were done by Lane Smith and they are brilliant. In an early chapter book the pictures work very much in harmony with the text and Smith paints an absolutely charming and perfect depiction of Lulu. The new artist Kevin Cornell worried me a bit. Now he has a lot a great book credits to his name, so he isn’t too shabby a choice to replace Smith, but his pictures are much more realistic, as opposed to the stylized art of Smith. While at first glance I thought I would be disappointed, as my daughter and I read the story, the illustrations grew on me, and by the end I was a much bigger fan.
Who this book is for:
Please don’t let the fact the main character is a girl dissuade you from picking this book up for a boy. It is a wonderful gender neutral story, and Lulu’s escapades will bring delight to all kids. I read this book aloud to my daughter and it is wonderful delivered that way. If your child is an independent reader, the pages have large type and pictures are on most pages. Probably the most intimidating thing about the book is the length at 182 pages.
Final thoughts:
I loved the first Lulu book, I was charmed by the second Lulu book but this third Lulu book was a home run! My daughter and I are unwavering fans!
April 13, 2015
If you’re looking for a chapter book with a spunky heroine, Lulu is the character for you. In fact, she’s spunky to the point that she’s a spoiled brat, or, in the words of her babysitter, “an especially difficult child.”
Lulu’s parents decide to take a much-needed break from their little darling but don’t tell her until the day before they plan to leave on vacation. Lulu is insulted that they have planned to go without her and immediately sets out to ruin their plans.
Fortunately, they have hired the very best. Lulu has met her match and then some in combat boot wearing Sonia Sofia Solinsky, known by the code name of Triple S. Not only does Ms. Solinsky keep Lulu from spoiling her parents’ vacation, she actually gets Lulu to cooperate. Only by cooperating does Lulu get lessons on spy craft.
Lulu learns to repair, to infiltrate and to disguise. She also gets a mysterious mission complete with a trail of rhyming clues and a prize at the end. Lulu has such a great time with Ms. Solinsky that she’s actually looking forward to being baby-sat again and getting to go on more missions. But when Mom and Dad get home, they’ve missed her so much that they swear they will never again leave without her.
Lulu’s next mission? To convince them that they can and they will.
I’ll admit it — it took me a while to warm up to this story. Lulu is, in short, a huge brat. That said, the story is both fun and funny. Lulu is disguised as a teen boy, a middle-aged woman and even a cow. She has to see through Ms. Solinsky’s disguises and her mistakes in this area are too funny.
Readers will also enjoy hearing directly from the author. In this series, Viorst makes a habit of speaking directly to the reader, peppering the reader with both warnings and encouragement to go on.
Cornell’s pencil and water color illustrations do a great job of bringing the characters to life and building on the humor. I especially enjoyed the reunion scene at the end, between Lulu and her parents.
This book is an excellent format for a reluctant reader. It is hard cover like a “big kids book” but the font size is fairly large which limits the amount of text per page. Each page and each chapter becomes something they can easily conquer. This book would also make a fun read aloud leading to discussions of what might happen next.
Oringally reviewed on the Bookshelf, suebe2.wordpress.com.
Lulu’s parents decide to take a much-needed break from their little darling but don’t tell her until the day before they plan to leave on vacation. Lulu is insulted that they have planned to go without her and immediately sets out to ruin their plans.
Fortunately, they have hired the very best. Lulu has met her match and then some in combat boot wearing Sonia Sofia Solinsky, known by the code name of Triple S. Not only does Ms. Solinsky keep Lulu from spoiling her parents’ vacation, she actually gets Lulu to cooperate. Only by cooperating does Lulu get lessons on spy craft.
Lulu learns to repair, to infiltrate and to disguise. She also gets a mysterious mission complete with a trail of rhyming clues and a prize at the end. Lulu has such a great time with Ms. Solinsky that she’s actually looking forward to being baby-sat again and getting to go on more missions. But when Mom and Dad get home, they’ve missed her so much that they swear they will never again leave without her.
Lulu’s next mission? To convince them that they can and they will.
I’ll admit it — it took me a while to warm up to this story. Lulu is, in short, a huge brat. That said, the story is both fun and funny. Lulu is disguised as a teen boy, a middle-aged woman and even a cow. She has to see through Ms. Solinsky’s disguises and her mistakes in this area are too funny.
Readers will also enjoy hearing directly from the author. In this series, Viorst makes a habit of speaking directly to the reader, peppering the reader with both warnings and encouragement to go on.
Cornell’s pencil and water color illustrations do a great job of bringing the characters to life and building on the humor. I especially enjoyed the reunion scene at the end, between Lulu and her parents.
This book is an excellent format for a reluctant reader. It is hard cover like a “big kids book” but the font size is fairly large which limits the amount of text per page. Each page and each chapter becomes something they can easily conquer. This book would also make a fun read aloud leading to discussions of what might happen next.
Oringally reviewed on the Bookshelf, suebe2.wordpress.com.
September 26, 2014
Viorst's slightly longer third Lulu book may be the best one yet, after a first one I loved and a second one that dropped the bar just a bit. I'm a big Lane Smith fan and definitely missed his illustrations, but I came to appreciate Cornell's style by the end. I'm ready for more entries in the series.
One note of warning that will (intentionally) not be evident from the title, cover, and description, a very fun warning that serves as a good introduction to the tone of the series should you not be familiar. The book opens with not quite a prologue or prelude, but a disclaimer of sorts:
One note of warning that will (intentionally) not be evident from the title, cover, and description, a very fun warning that serves as a good introduction to the tone of the series should you not be familiar. The book opens with not quite a prologue or prelude, but a disclaimer of sorts:
STOP! Don't begin the first chapter just yet. There's something I need to tell you. And I think I'd better tell it to you right now.
This isn't a book about Lulu's Mysterious Mission. It's actually about Lulu's Babysitter. And that's what I wanted to call it except two kids I know, Benjamin and Nathaniel, kept telling me that Lulu's Babysitter was a really boring title. Which means that the name of this book has absolutely nothing at all to do with the story I'm writing.
YOU HAVE NOW BEEN WARNED!
Wait! Now that I have warned you, I am feeling a tiny bit guilty.
Like maybe it isn't fair to trick readers like that. Like maybe there ought to be a law that what's INSIDE a book has to somehow match up with the NAME of the book. So maybe--I'm not promising, but just maybe--I'll put in some stuff about a Mysterious Mission.
Meanwhile, either return this book or keep reading. You'll find out what happens when Lulu meets up with Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky, who is definitely not your Mary Poppins-type babysitter.
And you might find out about a Mysterious Mission.
September 19, 2017
Summary:
Lulu is granted anything she has ever wanted, but when her parents go on a trip WITHOUT Lulu her world is turned upside down. Instead Lulu is forced to stay with trained professional Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky. From the moment Lulu meets Ms. Solinsky she starts constructing various plans to get rid of her. Somehow every one of Lulu’s plan are stopped by the sneaky Ms. Solinsky. That is when Lulu comes up with her final and best plan. This plan would not only reveal a big secret about Ms. Solinsky, but change the relationship between the two. Her secret changes Lulus outrageous behavior and sends Lulu on a mysterious mission.
Questions:
Recall what Ms. Solinskys secret was. In addition, what was the mysterious mission?
Explain how Lulu’s action changed before she knew Ms. Solinsky was a spy to after she knew Mrs. Solinsky was a spy. Why do you think this change happened?
Predict what it would be like to have a babysitter like Sonia Sofia Solinsky. What would you do/ think when you found out your babysitter is a spy?
You now are in Lulu’s spot. Create a Mysterious Mission for classmates to solve. What are you going to include in your mission?
Do you think that Lulu’s parents knew that Ms. Solinsky was a spy? Defend why you believe yes, they did know or no, they did not know.
Citations: Viorst, J. (2014). Lulu's Mysterious Mission. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Lulu is granted anything she has ever wanted, but when her parents go on a trip WITHOUT Lulu her world is turned upside down. Instead Lulu is forced to stay with trained professional Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky. From the moment Lulu meets Ms. Solinsky she starts constructing various plans to get rid of her. Somehow every one of Lulu’s plan are stopped by the sneaky Ms. Solinsky. That is when Lulu comes up with her final and best plan. This plan would not only reveal a big secret about Ms. Solinsky, but change the relationship between the two. Her secret changes Lulus outrageous behavior and sends Lulu on a mysterious mission.
Questions:
Recall what Ms. Solinskys secret was. In addition, what was the mysterious mission?
Explain how Lulu’s action changed before she knew Ms. Solinsky was a spy to after she knew Mrs. Solinsky was a spy. Why do you think this change happened?
Predict what it would be like to have a babysitter like Sonia Sofia Solinsky. What would you do/ think when you found out your babysitter is a spy?
You now are in Lulu’s spot. Create a Mysterious Mission for classmates to solve. What are you going to include in your mission?
Do you think that Lulu’s parents knew that Ms. Solinsky was a spy? Defend why you believe yes, they did know or no, they did not know.
Citations: Viorst, J. (2014). Lulu's Mysterious Mission. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
March 20, 2016
I think this one is my favorite Lulu.
What I love about this series (besides the fun character, Lulu), is how Viorst talks to the reader and does so with a tongue-in-cheek manner.
I think this book would make an excellent read-aloud for the younger grades. It's a great transitional chapter book that will entertain readers and expose them to keeping track of longer books and story lines.
I miss Lane Smith's illustrations, but Kevin Cornell has stepped in with an easy transition.
What I love about this series (besides the fun character, Lulu), is how Viorst talks to the reader and does so with a tongue-in-cheek manner.
I think this book would make an excellent read-aloud for the younger grades. It's a great transitional chapter book that will entertain readers and expose them to keeping track of longer books and story lines.
I miss Lane Smith's illustrations, but Kevin Cornell has stepped in with an easy transition.
July 5, 2014
I love this series and I ADORE Judith Viorst. Lulu is like a tween Junie B. Jones with a dash of menace. She is a horrid, spoiled child with feckless parents. Each Lulu book shows her being just awful but there is always a twist and it is always hilarious. They are quick reads, with lots of fantastic illustrations and the text is in very large print which makes for easy reading and an easy sell for kids just emerging out of those early chapter books. Thumbs up!
June 18, 2016
Lulu is a spoiled child who is very determined to get her own way, and very good at it as well. When Lulu's parents schedule a much needed "adults only vacation" Lulu's determination is tested as she attempts to get rid of her "babysitter", Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky. Viorst frequently steps aside from her storytelling and speaks directly to readers throughout the book as she makes comments, asks questions and explains her thinking process.
October 3, 2017
I loved this book!
This book is about a girl named Lulu who basically always gets whatever she wants to get by whining to her parents. Her parents can't stand her being sad so they do anything for her. One day they go on a Vacation without Lulu and she is stuck with this babysitter. She is determined to do anything to get rid of that babysitter. Well that is until she finds a secret about the babysitter that makes her become the opposite.
This book is about a girl named Lulu who basically always gets whatever she wants to get by whining to her parents. Her parents can't stand her being sad so they do anything for her. One day they go on a Vacation without Lulu and she is stuck with this babysitter. She is determined to do anything to get rid of that babysitter. Well that is until she finds a secret about the babysitter that makes her become the opposite.
May 16, 2014
Another fun Lulu book that provides laugh out loud moments! I love Lulu's rhymes that also appear in the previous books because they remind me of the rhymes my kids used to use when they were little! Lulu meets her match in this book when her parents find a new babysitter, Ms. Solinsky, who proves to be able to outsmart Lulu!
May 5, 2014
This is a fun read but not a difficult one. It looks like a hefty book but there are not a lot of words on every page. Could be enjoyed by third graders, and maybe some second graders. Lulu is NOT going to knuckle under for her baby sitter until the baby sitter says she can teach Lulu how to be a spy. Suddenly she has our heroine's attention.
Very satisfying.
Very satisfying.
June 22, 2014
When Lulu's parents go on vacation without her (and boy, do they deserve a break!) and hire a babysitter to watch her, she is determined to do whatever it takes to get them back on the first plane home, sorry they ever left. But has Lulu met her match in Ms. Solinsky, who has a few surprises of her own? Fans of the first two Lulu books will enjoy her matching wits with a formidable opponent!
November 26, 2015
These Lulu books are getting longer and longer. And the words and topics seemed to go over my 4 year old's head this time. Jane was still interested to finish this, but it took us a while and I didn't like it as much as the first book with Mr. B. I can't recommend this one as an early chapter book.
August 10, 2016
We love Lulu, so were very excited to find a third in the series! While W is probably a tad too old for Lulu, this one has a spy bent, and includes a potentially "bad" babysitter, which we all loved! The kids also loved the allusions to the prior two books; it must run in the family to enjoy feeling rewarded for being a dedicated reader :) Find a kid to read this series to, it's so great!
November 18, 2015
I just didn't love this third book in the series. The plot just seemed so...random. And although I understand that it was meant to be over-the-top humor (and the damage was repaired later) I was pretty appalled at the scene in which the caregiver kicks through a door and destroys half of Lulus room.
June 2, 2016
A cute early chapter book with a heroine who's a little bratty but not totally obnoxious and who winds up getting an appropriate comeuppance from a clever babysitter whose tactics are refreshingly old-fashioned in a draconian sort of way (cleaning a front stoop with a toothbrush? Love it!) On the 2017 Illinois Bluestem list.
November 26, 2016
This was a really cute book about the mischievous Lulu on her crazy antics to rid herself of her babysitter while her parents are on vacation. However, once Lulu discovers that her babysitter was once a world class spy everything changes. A hilarious book that is sure to make kids and adults chuckle.
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