Speaking of Loud Voices, Perfect Picture Book Friday looks at Loud Lula.

Perfect Picture Book Friday (PPBF) Looks at Loud Lula by Katy S. Duffield, illustrated by Mike Boldt. But first, a little story from my past that ties into this book.

Back in my college days, I called home once a week to talk to my parents and catch up with my favorite aunt who sent me care packages my friends drooled over. Tante Helen sent such delights as dangly earrings, painted jeans, and fresh baked cookies. Once, she sent a purple, suede jacket with fringe under the sleeves. (It was the late 80’s, and I was a hip art major.) I also called home to talk to my Uncle Joe. Now, Uncle Joe had a slight hearing problem at 80 years and wouldn’t admit he needed a hearing aid because, and I quote, “Those #*%@ things are for old folks!” So, when he came on the phone, I had to yell.

“I HEARD YOU GOT A COLD, UNCLE JOE.”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s cold here. Any colder and I’ll have to double up my long underwear!”

“I DIDN’T MEAN THE WEATHER, UNCLE JOE, (which happened to be unseasonable warm for May) I WAS ASKING ABOUT YOUR COLD. HOW IS IT?”

“How is it? I told you how it is! You young kids never listen. It’s COLD here!”

After years of calling home, I developed, aside from laryngitis, a tendency to talk LOUD for the remainder of the day after yelling to Uncle Joe. Most of my friends noticed.

“HI, MICHELLE! HOW WAS LATIN CLASS?”

“Fine. How’s your uncle, Leslie?”

“HE’S GOT A COLD. WHY DO YOU ASK?”

Many years passed. My dear Uncle Joe made it to the ripe age of 90, and shortly after losing him, my loud voice left, too.

This brief story from my college years brings me to today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday review, LOUD LULA by Katy S. Duffield.

Title – Loud Lula

Written by  – Katy S. Duffield

and illustrated by – Mike Boldt

Published by – Two Lions – 2015

Suitable for ages – 3-8

Theme – Sometimes, what appears to be a problem can turn out to be a blessing.

Opening –  Lula was born smack-dab in the middle of one of the biggest twisters Pryor County had ever seen. Winds howled. Trees snapped. It was bust-your-eardrums loud. But…

Amazon Review –  View it HERE.  Since her birth, Lula’s LOUD voice has wreaked ten kinds of havoc across Pryor County, disrupting humans and animals alike. Lula’s parents are worried: What’s going to happen when Lula starts school? Will Lula ever learn to use her “inside voice”? But when Lula spots something sinister making its way toward town, it seems that she may have found just the right use for that BIG ol’ voice after all. With a text chock-full of Southern charm and silly digital illustrations that bring this tall tale to life, kids will giggle at the antics of the unforgettable LOUD Lula.

Why do I like this book? Katy S. Duffield has a gift for using better than perfect words to tell this story. Sure twisters are loud. In fact, they’re seriously loud. But to help readers understand the volume difference between the roar of the twister and Lula’s loud voice, she writes that the storm sounded like nothing more than a chicken feather hitting the henhouse floor. In addition to enjoying this truly funny, tall tale, I was drawn to Mike Boldt’s, colorful and bold illustrations. Mr. Boldt not only shows the story in a humorous way, he cranks it up a few notches. Seriously, if you’re looking for a picture book to tickle your funny bone, or as Lula says, “Got any books that’ll turn over my tickle box? read Loud Lula.

Learn more about Katy s. Duffield HERE.

Learn more about Mike Boldt HERE.

Find more “Perfect Picture Book Friday” reviews at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog HERE.

The Not So Lonely Life Of This Writer

My parents were what I would call organized, tidy, hoarders. Definitely not the clinical hoarders you might have seen on TV. You know the ones… they scramble over a precarious stack of broken electronic devices balanced at the back door. Empty boxes of macaroni and cheese stuffed between piles of worn-out shoes sit beside garbage bags filled with dated clothes ready to cushion the impact should someone stumble.

No. This does not describe my parents…

Organized, tidy hoarders are people who keep everything of importance (not immediate importance, mind you, but eventual or possible importance.) These individuals know where everything is months and years after filing them away.

It was after my father passed away that the family had to go through the household items, making piles labeled donate, garbage, and keep. My keep stack grew to a ridiculous height in a clinical attempt to preserve my memories of my parents. I have since returned to my senses and donated some of the items.

Back to my parent’s home…

My mother kept a box filled with every Valentine card she ever received next to a box of every birthday card she ever received. (Continue filling the virtual shelf with one box per card-giving holiday.)  My father kept magazines of interest filed with correspondences to editors, asking for more particulars. (About one and a half tons according to the haul-away man’s scale.)

SO WHAT HAS THIS GOT TO DO WITH WRITING? I’m getting to that…

So it didn’t surprise me to find a box filled with my old report cards, starting with kindergarten through high school.  What did surprise me was a comment which appeared year after year by different teachers.

Leslie doesn’t play with other children. She prefers to be by herself.

Can anyone say writer?

Some people use the word, lonely, to describe the life of a writer. And from the repeating comment on those old report cards, it sure sounds like I was lonely, but I’m one of those writers who doesn’t feel that way. Okay, okay…you’ve got me. Yes, I’m here at my computer, sharing my thoughts with you while my husband is at work and my daughter is at school. And no, besides my needy dog, a chatty parakeet, a baby Cockatiel, 5 croaking tree frogs, a bucket of chirping crickets to feed the croaking frogs, and a tank of quiet (and sometimes dead) fish, I am alone.

Alone but not lonely. (Seriously NOT LONELY.)

When I’m writing, I’m closest to my inner voice. I’m free to tap into myself for ideas, inspirations, childhood memories, and moments I want to explore through words.

When I’m working on a story, I’m spending time with my friends. Sure, they’re my imaginary human and animal companions, but as they are characters I brought to life, let life happen to, and spent months or years with, they’re real to me.

How many of you have created a character, brought him/her to life, had to make something happen to him/her (throw rocks but don’t kill) and found yourself aching over his/her pain?

And now… a brilliant quote from Robert Frost:

It isn’t the location that brings tears or surprises to the writer or reader, those tears and surprises come from our characters actions, reactions, and decisions to situations we place in their path.

Sure, we are alone when we’re writing, but I’d guess that there are many writers who feel as I do.

Do you have a favorite character you created? Why do you like that character so much? Are they like you? Are they similar to a close family member or friend? Or are they one of those villainous sorts so addicting to include in our writing?

I’d love to hear from you!