Lulu's Mysterious Mission
Gr 2–4—Spoiled little Lulu is back in a third book to tackle a new challenge: a babysitter. Despite Lulu's objection that "babysitters sit babies, and I'm no baby," her parents head off on vacation, leaving her in the care of the intimidating Ms. Solinsky. The little girl does her devious best to get rid of Ms. Solinsky, even preying on her one weakness, a cat allergy, but the babysitter always seems to be one step ahead of Lulu. When she discovers her babysitter's spy training, an intrigued Lulu offers her best behavior in exchange for a little covert training of her own, culminating in an "MM" or "Mysterious Mission." Over-the-top action and the narrator's dry voice balance out a slightly strained plot. Kevin Cornell steps in as illustrator, replacing Lane Smith, who only did this book's cover. Lulu now looks a little more like a regular girl, with a rounder nose and sneakers, but in the wide variety of diabolical facial expressions she wears, readers will recognize the same troublemaker they have come to know and love. Lulu's fans will be happy to read her next (mis)adventure.—Marian McLeod, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT