School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Forget the scared little girl who burgled the bear family, Lolly is an inventor with pluck, destined to create her own perfect porridge. She has befriended B. Bear, baby of the bear family, and together, with the help of a machine called the Porridge Perfecter, they plan to do just that. Their dreams are dashed when the Gingerbread Man tears through their operation, toppling the machine and running off without even helping to clean up the lumpy mess. "Lolly wasn't sad-she was mad." The Gingerbread Man eludes a number of traps but is finally apprehended with a failed batch of sticky porridge. Readers will be wary of what revenge Lolly wants to exact, but her anger is wisely directed at his behavior instead of at Gingerbread Man. Once he offers to help clean up, all is forgiven and a steaming bowl of porridge is everyone's reward. Chou's illustrations are like an animated rainbow, and his rendering of the duo's scientific process gives life to Livingtston's revisionist version of this classic story. The values of perseverance, forgiveness, and helpfulness are present but not heavy-handed. VERDICT Budding scientists might just be inspired by Lolly's tinkering to create their own master recipes.-Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.