Lou Lou is a children's story written by Safia Guerras and illustrated by Mai S. Kemble. Lou Lou has always lived with her parents and grandparents on beautiful Kayla's Island in the Maldives. Climate change meant the change of everything for Lou Lou and her family when Kayla's Island was declared unsafe for habitation. Lou Lou and her parents are sad and worried as they set off on the rescue ship. Lou Lou misses her grandparents terribly. She is thinking about the mermaid stories her grandmother told her when she suddenly spies a mermaid looking in at her through the ship's window. Her parents also have a pleasant surprise -- they've been told they'll have a new place to live soon. Lou Lou starts to feel hopeful and to look forward to the new adventures she will have.

Safia Guerras' children's book, Lou Lou, is a beautifully written and illustrated story that brings home the effects of climate change in a way that is neither preachy and condescending nor overly scientific. The illustrations by Mai Kemble are fabulous, filled with jewel-like colors and island scenes, and they work perfectly with the story. Lou Lou is not a fluffy kid's book -- it discusses serious topics that are relevant to kids: having to move, missing your grandparents, and not knowing what will happen next. Lou Lou goes from being frightened and sad to feeling hopeful and enthusiastic about a future filled with adventure. Lou Lou is a quality children's story and is highly recommended.

Lou Lou by Safia Guerras tells the tale of a young girl who lives on an island in the Maldives that is being evacuated due to problems resulting from climate change. As she leaves her beautiful tropical home, she thinks about the stories her grandparents had told her about the wide variety of ecosystems. She also remembers the friendliness of the people and is saddened even more by her parents’ tears as they travel on board a ship away from their home. Excited by seeing a mermaid, Lou Lou rushes to tell her parents, who instead tell her some wonderful news – a rescue organization will help them find a new place to call home. Lou Lou is filled with hope as she remembers her grandmother’s words about things happening for a reason. Now, she is prepared to face her adventures with a smile and invites all her readers to join her as she travels the world.

Safia Guerras has created a charming children’s story that is positive and hopeful. Lou Lou is well written and shares wonderful insights into the benefits of love and happiness and how they can be discovered in unexpected ways. Along with a cautionary note about the frail nature of some of the world’s most beautiful places, the stage is set for discovering more about different places around the world as Lou Lou and her family search for a new home. Lou Lou offers children an invitation to join her in exploring and uncovering mysteries and interesting facts as she stops off at many countries during her family’s quest.

In Lou Lou by Safia Guerras, we follow a six-year-old girl named Lou Lou on her new adventure to her new home. She has grown up on a tropical island in the Maldives. Sadly, due to climate changes and global warming, she and her family are forced to move away. As she is on the rescue ship that is taking her into the unknown, she thinks about her home and her grandparents left behind. With a little bit of hope and a little bit of magic, Lou Lou soon realizes that maybe things aren’t as bad as she thought.

Safia Guerras does a wonderful job of introducing us to Lou Lou as she prepares for her new journey. Not only is the book well-written, but it is filled with beautiful illustrations. The picture within a picture format is very creative and well done; I had never seen illustrations done like this, and I was thoroughly impressed with its uniqueness and how it turned out. I also think that the story is relatable to kids. Many children have to experience the difficulty of moving away and leaving the only home that they know. With this story, kids can see the brighter side of things and see that they are not alone; Lou Lou and many other children have to go through the same thing. My one issue with the story was the mermaid because it seemed random and unnecessary. The story would have been completely fine without it. However, the story overall was great and has an important message for kids. I would definitely recommend this to young children to read with their parents. I will certainly be reading this to my daughter as she gets older.

LouLou, by Safia Guerras, is a sweet book about hope that springs even in the midst of loss. With love and hope, even the fear of the unknown can be turned into an adventure. LouLou is a young girl from a tropical island in the Maldives. Due to global warming, the reefs have died and the water is rising, forcing the girl and her parents to find a new home. But what place could possibly be home for LouLou, who feels she already lives in paradise? Armed with her map of the world, a beloved shell necklace from her grandmother, and the fantastical stories her grandfather told her, LouLou sets off with her parents to find a new home. What adventures will LouLou find along the way, and will she find a place as grand as her lost island to call her new home?

Safia Guerras’s children’s book, LouLou, promises to be the beginning of a fun series of adventures. While I had hoped to see more of the journey, Guerras has instead decided to tease readers with hints of things to come, but that does not stop this tale from being thoroughly enjoyable. LouLou is a girl with a lot of love in her heart and a vivid imagination that is sure to delight readers in stories to come. With beautiful watercolor pictures, illustrator Mai S. Kemble brings the story and the world of LouLou to life. This is a sweet book that is sure to delight younger readers and warn older readers of the impact of global warming. It would be an excellent book to incorporate into elementary classrooms. I look forward to finding out where LouLou’s journey will take her next.