Lou - by Breanna Carzoo (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Don't miss this humorous and heartwarming picture book by debut creator Breanna Carzoo about an unlikely everyday hero: a fire hydrant! Perfect for fans of The Good Egg and The Bad Seed.

Meet Lou. Lou has an important job . . . as the neighborhood toilet for dogs on their walks.

Useful as he may be, he gets the feeling that deep down inside, there might be more to him than that. He just doesn't seem to know exactly what yet. When disaster strikes, will Lou find out what he's made of and save the day?

From debut creator Breanna Carzoo comes a charming and funny story that reminds us to never let anyone--including yourself--hold you back from sharing your gifts with the world.

Kids will fall in love with Lou and his journey of self-discovery as he saves the day from a fire that breaks out in an apartment building nearby. You'll never be able to look at a fire hydrant the same way again!

A BARNES & NOBLE CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDS SHORTLIST PICK!A KIRKUS BEST PICTURE BOOK OF 2022!A 2024 COLORADO CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD NOMINEE! A 2023 GRAND CANYON READER AWARD NOMINEE! THE NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023!A MISSOURI BUILDING BLOCK PICTURE BOOK AWARD NOMINEE!CHOSEN FOR THE 2022 SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS ORIGINAL ART SHOW! A 2024 DONNA NORVELL OKLAHOMA BOOK AWARD NOMINEE!A BLUE CRAB YOUNG READER AWARD HONOR BOOK!A 2024-2025 LOUISIANA YOUNG READERS AWARD NOMINEE!AN OKLAHOMA REDBUD READ-ALOUD AWARD NOMINEE!A 2023 MICHIGAN LIBRARIAN ASSOCIATION TOP ELEVEN MITTEN AWARD FINALIST!

Review Quotes

Carzoo's hilarious debut marries a clever conceit with irresistible character design (an object with big eyes and little mouth) to charm readers and impart a nice story of self-discovery. Sharp cut-paper collage brings Lou's street to life, with a variety of pups in amusing poses and bright colors set off by white backdrops. Great fun, sure to make a splash at story time. - Booklist

Carzoo uses direct, heartfelt prose and toylike images to infuse a quotidian object with winning personality and genuine poignancy--it won't be a stretch for readers to identify with this small, put-upon character who discovers a bigger sense of purpose. - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Beyond the obvious and sweet message that everyone contains more potential for greatness than meets the eye, viewers may think twice about life-saving infrastructure that blends into the sidelines when out on a walk with their pups. - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

A truly exceptional read. Children, librarians, educators, and caregivers will love returning to this book over and over. Gee whiz, this book is No. 1! - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)