How many stories are there about a girl named Lola? No, really, how many? It just seems like a lot, and usually, they are not the nicest gals (after all What Lola Wants, Lola Gets is not a song about giving things away).
Well, in Lola Out Loud: Inspired by the Childhood of Activist Dolores Huerta having Lola getting what she wants is not necessarily a bad thing. Because what she wants is to have justice.
Jennifer Torres takes a little girl who helps her family by working in their hotel. She loves a good conversation, and to help. But when she sees something that is just not right, does she stay quiet or is she living up to her nickname of having seven tongues and all are going a mile a minute?
The concepts of compassion, social themes and using your voice for change are explored in a relatively quick story that has a lot packed into it. Sara Palacios continues the fun with their sweet illustrations that are not simple but are not overly “over the top” either. They capture the spirit of the people, places and the time the book is set. There is fun fashion and things going around that we might not see today. The story and art are inspired by the labor organizer Dolores Huerta who made waves all over, working with others looking for rights for their people and who would help found the National Farm Workers Association.
We might not know the story of Huerta, but we know stories about doing the right thing, speaking up, family and love, but this time it is fresh with new faces and a follow up that allows the reader to grow with the book (text for five and up, the afterwards for slightly older children).