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Charlie & Lola
HELP! I Really Mean It!
Lola keeps calling for Charlie's help and each time, a concerned Charlie rushes in only to find that there is no real problem. Now that Charlie's on to Lola's game, he refuses to answer her calls. But what will Lola do when she really does need Charlie's HELP!?
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
24 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2009
About the author
Lauren Child
452 books844 followersLauren Child MBE is an English author and illustrator. She was the UK Children's Laureate from 2017-19.
Child grew up in Wiltshire as the middle child of three sisters and the daughter of two teachers. She has always been interested in the many aspects of childhood, from gazing into toy shop windows to watching American children's shows from the 1960s. After attending two Art Schools, she travelled for six months, still unsure about which career to embark upon.
Before writing and illustrating children's books Child started her own company 'Chandeliers for the People' making lampshades. It was only when she came to write and illustrate the book Clarice Bean, That's Me that she decided to devote her time to writing and illustrating books for children, which combines her fascination for childhood and her talent for designing and creating. Child gets her inspiration from other people's conversations or from seeing something funny happen.
Her book I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato won the 2000 Kate Greenaway Medal. For the 50th anniversary of the Medal (1955–2005), a panel named it one of the top ten winning works, which comprised the shortlist for a public vote for the nation's favourite. It finished third in the public vote from that shortlist.
Child lives in North London.
Child grew up in Wiltshire as the middle child of three sisters and the daughter of two teachers. She has always been interested in the many aspects of childhood, from gazing into toy shop windows to watching American children's shows from the 1960s. After attending two Art Schools, she travelled for six months, still unsure about which career to embark upon.
Before writing and illustrating children's books Child started her own company 'Chandeliers for the People' making lampshades. It was only when she came to write and illustrate the book Clarice Bean, That's Me that she decided to devote her time to writing and illustrating books for children, which combines her fascination for childhood and her talent for designing and creating. Child gets her inspiration from other people's conversations or from seeing something funny happen.
Her book I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato won the 2000 Kate Greenaway Medal. For the 50th anniversary of the Medal (1955–2005), a panel named it one of the top ten winning works, which comprised the shortlist for a public vote for the nation's favourite. It finished third in the public vote from that shortlist.
Child lives in North London.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 3, 2017
Charlie and Lola are here again! This time Lola is telling Charlie that she really means everything she tells him.
At the beginning the pair of them are looking after Caspar, their Granny and Grandpa's cat. Lola wants Caspar to play with her but Charlie informs her that he might not like her games. Lola is unconvinced, 'He definitely likes this one,' she says. She also tells Charlie that Caspar is 'an actual tiger'.
Lotta is with them and, hearing some noises, she asks what they are. Lola tells her not to worry because Caspar is with them but then he disappears. 'HEEEELLLLPPPP!', shout Lola and Lotta.
Charlie and Marv run in to see what is wrong only to be told by Lola that Caspar is going to rescue her and Lotta from some tigers. Charlie is annoyed and tells Lola that she must only call for help if she really means it. Lola tries to get out of the dilemma by telling Charlie, 'Sorry, Charlie. We only said HELP by accident.'
Lotta finds it funny that Charlie and Marv come running in when they shout HELP so Lola wonders if they will come again and screams 'HELP! HELP! HELP! HELP!' Once again Charlie and Marv appear to ask what the matter is. 'Nothing, Charlie ...,' says Lola so Charlie is not amused and replies 'Oh, I get it. Very funny.'
Lola says that she won't do it again and in reply to Charlie's question about promising, she says, 'We absolutely do promise.'
Lola and Lotta dress Caspar in a hat and then they decide to take him for a ride in a pram. But when they turn away Caspar darts up a tree and goes to sleep so when Lola and Lotta look in the pram, it is empty. 'HELP, Charlie, HELP,' cries Lola.
Exasperated Charlie turns up to be told that Caspar is up a tree, 'right up in the sky ... and he's crying and his hat's gone all wonky.' Charlie ignores her and tells her that the ploy won't work again but Lola insists with 'But Charlie, we really REALLY need you to help.' Charlie still doesn't believe her so does nothing.
Lola and Lotta, therefore, try to get Caspar down from the tree but he only climbs higher which worries Lola to such an extent that she cries, 'Noooooo! Charlie! HELP!' Charlie and Marv run over again and Lola tells them 'I did really need you.' But Charlie tells her that he didn't believe her because of all her earlier false alarms.
By this time Caspar has jumped on to Marv's balcony and is safe. But Marv notices he is wearing a hat and asks why. Charlie tells him that cats don't like hats to which Marv replies that he would run away if he had to wear a hat like that! And, with that rather abrupt ending, everyone is safe and carriy on with their games!
Although it is the usual Charlie and Lola banter, which is funny and most enjoyable, this is not one of the better storylines so it fails to generate quite the same laughs as others in the series.
At the beginning the pair of them are looking after Caspar, their Granny and Grandpa's cat. Lola wants Caspar to play with her but Charlie informs her that he might not like her games. Lola is unconvinced, 'He definitely likes this one,' she says. She also tells Charlie that Caspar is 'an actual tiger'.
Lotta is with them and, hearing some noises, she asks what they are. Lola tells her not to worry because Caspar is with them but then he disappears. 'HEEEELLLLPPPP!', shout Lola and Lotta.
Charlie and Marv run in to see what is wrong only to be told by Lola that Caspar is going to rescue her and Lotta from some tigers. Charlie is annoyed and tells Lola that she must only call for help if she really means it. Lola tries to get out of the dilemma by telling Charlie, 'Sorry, Charlie. We only said HELP by accident.'
Lotta finds it funny that Charlie and Marv come running in when they shout HELP so Lola wonders if they will come again and screams 'HELP! HELP! HELP! HELP!' Once again Charlie and Marv appear to ask what the matter is. 'Nothing, Charlie ...,' says Lola so Charlie is not amused and replies 'Oh, I get it. Very funny.'
Lola says that she won't do it again and in reply to Charlie's question about promising, she says, 'We absolutely do promise.'
Lola and Lotta dress Caspar in a hat and then they decide to take him for a ride in a pram. But when they turn away Caspar darts up a tree and goes to sleep so when Lola and Lotta look in the pram, it is empty. 'HELP, Charlie, HELP,' cries Lola.
Exasperated Charlie turns up to be told that Caspar is up a tree, 'right up in the sky ... and he's crying and his hat's gone all wonky.' Charlie ignores her and tells her that the ploy won't work again but Lola insists with 'But Charlie, we really REALLY need you to help.' Charlie still doesn't believe her so does nothing.
Lola and Lotta, therefore, try to get Caspar down from the tree but he only climbs higher which worries Lola to such an extent that she cries, 'Noooooo! Charlie! HELP!' Charlie and Marv run over again and Lola tells them 'I did really need you.' But Charlie tells her that he didn't believe her because of all her earlier false alarms.
By this time Caspar has jumped on to Marv's balcony and is safe. But Marv notices he is wearing a hat and asks why. Charlie tells him that cats don't like hats to which Marv replies that he would run away if he had to wear a hat like that! And, with that rather abrupt ending, everyone is safe and carriy on with their games!
Although it is the usual Charlie and Lola banter, which is funny and most enjoyable, this is not one of the better storylines so it fails to generate quite the same laughs as others in the series.
April 10, 2018
The re-tale of the classics where the little girl cries wolf. It wasn't bad, would be OK but for:
1) the words that are randomly SET in different typeset and size;
2) the narrator being the boy, Charlie, when he is not even there, so it is confusing when after 6 pages I see the text "I say";
3) the unnecessary character of Marv (and I do not see the point of Lotta either).
1) the words that are randomly SET in different typeset and size;
2) the narrator being the boy, Charlie, when he is not even there, so it is confusing when after 6 pages I see the text "I say";
3) the unnecessary character of Marv (and I do not see the point of Lotta either).
February 9, 2020
Sorry, the original Peter and the Wolf is much better, and teaches kids about shepherds & all, too. Still, I will reread the full-size Charlie and Lola books, and every other in this mini series that I can find at my libraries.
February 16, 2018
The story of the boy who cried wolf, Charlie and Lola style.
January 8, 2021
The little girls who cry "HELP!" learn a lot about crying wolf.
December 16, 2021
I really like this series.
This is the age-old, don't ask for fake help or else no one will believe you when it's true. I didn't enjoy it as much.
This is the age-old, don't ask for fake help or else no one will believe you when it's true. I didn't enjoy it as much.
September 14, 2025
The boy who cried wolf featuring Charlie, Lola and a cat wearing a hat very much against his will
February 20, 2017
Teaches you not to cry "wolf" in a different way.
March 11, 2014
Our girls really enjoy the Charlie and Lola series of books created by Lauren Child.
They don't always like my fake English accent when I read it, but the stories are always a hit. They cut to the heart of sibling relationships - the love, the support, the arguments, the tattling... Great stories for younger children.
This is a good book that emphasizes the importance of telling the truth with a The Boy Who Cried Wolf-kind of story. The narrative and illustrations are typical for the series and we love the whimsical patterns and the crazy cat in a hat. (I made sure to point out that the cat looked incredibly unhappy wearing the hat and that we should never do that to our own kitties!)
We enjoyed reading this book together and we will likely look for more of the books in this series at our local library.
They don't always like my fake English accent when I read it, but the stories are always a hit. They cut to the heart of sibling relationships - the love, the support, the arguments, the tattling... Great stories for younger children.
This is a good book that emphasizes the importance of telling the truth with a The Boy Who Cried Wolf-kind of story. The narrative and illustrations are typical for the series and we love the whimsical patterns and the crazy cat in a hat. (I made sure to point out that the cat looked incredibly unhappy wearing the hat and that we should never do that to our own kitties!)
We enjoyed reading this book together and we will likely look for more of the books in this series at our local library.
February 18, 2016
Small and very funny Lola often needs help from big brother Charlie, but after crying wolf one too many times will her prank backfire when she really does need help?
It's true that little kids often need help, but sometimes they're just playing around, and it's important to recognize the difference. This C&L selection was a fun sort of Lola Who Cried Wolf, and it maybe hasn't had a ton of repeated readings at bedtime, but it was still well received. I love the pets in these books.
It's true that little kids often need help, but sometimes they're just playing around, and it's important to recognize the difference. This C&L selection was a fun sort of Lola Who Cried Wolf, and it maybe hasn't had a ton of repeated readings at bedtime, but it was still well received. I love the pets in these books.
July 17, 2009
This story, modeled after the screenplay from the T.V. episode, is fun to read. I gently prefer the books that are actually written by Lauren Child herself, but the characters of Charlie and Lola are always fun to read about, and I enjoyed this book. I would give it one and a half stars.
July 20, 2010
The television show does not translate too well to book form. Still, you get some of Charlie and Lola's quirky Britishisms along with dinner plates consisting of bangers, mash and peas. This story is nothing more than a reworking of The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
November 26, 2013
My son and I have read a few in this series. I like the illustrations and basic plot (who doesn't love an annoyed cat wearing a ski hat), BUT the amount of Lola said/ Lotta said is beyond overkill. The author really should use pronouns more often.
March 25, 2010
A similar story to "The Boy Who Cred Wolf". It's about a girl and her friend who keep yelling for help because they think it's funny when her brother comes to help.
November 23, 2010
a book about a little girl who keeps calling her brother for help on purpose until at one point she really needs his help
February 4, 2012
"Help, I Really Mean It," is the Charlie and Lola version of the boy who cried wolf. It is a fun read with a good lesson.
August 16, 2012
Charlie and Lola are cute little sisters. I love them.
February 2, 2013
Strange that these books are based on the tv show based on Child's stories. Some are okay. Some not so much. Kids sure love these characters though
October 29, 2015
The girl who cried help
A new twist on the classic boy who cried wolf story. Lola needs help but her brother doesn't believe her.
A new twist on the classic boy who cried wolf story. Lola needs help but her brother doesn't believe her.
April 3, 2017
This is a cute Charlie and Lola book.
April 23, 2017
A standalone in the Charlie and Lola series created by Lauren Child revolving around a pair of siblings.
My Take
Starkey plays off the allegory about the boy who cried wolf. It's a cute reprisal of the ramifications of "crying wolf", but it was too simple for me. And, yes, I can definitely see kids pranking this.
I like the funky use of fonts to emphasize word usage.
The graphics are simplistic and sweet. I like the colored pages used behind the text.
The Story
While babysitting Granny and Grandpa's kitty, Lola puts poor Caspar through the wringer. One that no self-respecting kitty would stomach.
So Caspar does the only thing that self-respecting cat could do…
The Characters
Charlie is the straight "man" to his younger sister's, Lola's, actions. Caspar is Granny and Grandpa's orange striped cat.
Lotta and Marv are Lola's and Charlie's friends, respectively.
The Cover and Title
The cover is banded in a light colonial blue with the title in black and poor Caspar skulking off. The series information is in a white oval on the left. The angled middle band is the main graphic with a deep pink thistle-figure against a white background acting as wallpaper. Charlie is in an orange shirt, his arms crossed, looking quite doubtful as Lola, in a red and green plaid dress, pleads her case. The bottom band is a strip of light wood flooring with credit to the creator of the series.
The title is what happens when Lola cries: Help! I really mean it! and doesn't get the result she wanted.
My Take
Starkey plays off the allegory about the boy who cried wolf. It's a cute reprisal of the ramifications of "crying wolf", but it was too simple for me. And, yes, I can definitely see kids pranking this.
I like the funky use of fonts to emphasize word usage.
The graphics are simplistic and sweet. I like the colored pages used behind the text.
The Story
While babysitting Granny and Grandpa's kitty, Lola puts poor Caspar through the wringer. One that no self-respecting kitty would stomach.
So Caspar does the only thing that self-respecting cat could do…
The Characters
Charlie is the straight "man" to his younger sister's, Lola's, actions. Caspar is Granny and Grandpa's orange striped cat.
Lotta and Marv are Lola's and Charlie's friends, respectively.
The Cover and Title
The cover is banded in a light colonial blue with the title in black and poor Caspar skulking off. The series information is in a white oval on the left. The angled middle band is the main graphic with a deep pink thistle-figure against a white background acting as wallpaper. Charlie is in an orange shirt, his arms crossed, looking quite doubtful as Lola, in a red and green plaid dress, pleads her case. The bottom band is a strip of light wood flooring with credit to the creator of the series.
The title is what happens when Lola cries: Help! I really mean it! and doesn't get the result she wanted.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews