Red and Lulu

Reviewed by: Karen Spiliopoulos - Parsons Memorial Library, Alfred, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 6, 2017

Review

Matt Tavares has created a Christmas story for the ages. Red and Lulu are cardinals nesting very contentedly in their lovely fir tree. It is their home and they are happy there until one day while Red is away from the tree, men come with heavy equipment to remove the beautiful evergreen tree and drive off with Lulu still in the branches. Red flies home just in time to see the truck leaving. Red tell Lulu to stay and he follows as the truck heads toward the highway. Red follows until he becomes too exhausted and looses sight of the truck. Disheartened but not giving up Red travels for miles before he hears singing. Following the sound until he sees the beautiful lit Christmas tree at Rockefella Center in New York City. He flies strait to his favorite branch and LULU! Reunited at last and in their tree. When men come again to remove the tree, Red and Lulu decide to stay behind in Central Park where they live happily and every Christmas when they hear the singing they join the crowd to celebrate the lighting of a very special tree.

Beautifully written and illustrated this is a real treasure.

Overall Book Score: excellent