Cover Image: Lulu Is A Rhinoceros

Lulu Is A Rhinoceros

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This is great children’s book for kids who may be struggling to be in the group they are assigned, by parents, teachers, or society as a whole, to identity with the group that best fits them. Excellent book.

Was this review helpful?

I got an ARC of this book.

Little known fact about me, I was part of a team that wrote a queer picture book full of rhymes and characters learning to love and accept others. One of those characters was Harry the Horny Hippo. He was a hippo that wore an ice cream cone on his nose, because he was really a rhino. All of his friends understood, but the bullies did not. So I have a total soft spot for characters that know exactly who they are no matter what others see.

Lulu is a rhinoceros. It is simple. She should be grey, she should have a longer tail, she should have a horn. All of this makes perfect sense to her, because she knows exactly who she is. The book follows her adventures trying to find the most suitable horn. She tries an ice cream cone with the ice cream still inside, which made me smile. This whole book is just so wholesome. 

It very clearly read as trans which is beyond exciting for me. Seeing myself in a picture book was like a dream come true. If I had been allowed to read this when I was 4 or 5, then maybe I wouldn't have thought I was such a freak growing up. Maybe I would have just realized I was Lulu and Lulu was right. I have already started sending the recommendation around to everyone I know with young children. This is a must read for the family that wants to teach acceptance and love to their children. 

The art was cute, the story had some very silly points, it was pretty much the perfect picture book for me. I want and need more Lulu adventures. I want Lulu to be able to be her rhino self so her story isn't solely fighting others to be herself. I would love her to just be able to go out and be. I don't think I will be disappointed with this series.

Was this review helpful?

Lulu looks like a bulldog, but knows she’s a rhinoceros. She only needs a horn to make everyone else realize that, too.
The illustrations were just adorable and the story was cute.

Was this review helpful?

To everyone around her, Lulu looks like a bulldog. However, when Lulu looks in the mirror, she doesn't see herself as a dog. She is convinced she is a rhinoceros. Thus opens the book Lulu is a Rhinoceros. The following pages show Lulu trying to convince animals around her that she is who she feels she is inside, not as she looks from external appearances.

Lulu even explores ways to get a horn, suspecting that might be what she needs to convince those around her. When she ends up in a zoo in the rhino enclosure, she feels she is finally home and accepted.

I can't help but think the authors had a bigger goal in mind with this book than a silly story to entertain young children. I see this being a resource for the transgender community, or for parents wanting their children to understand transgenderism. It can foster meaningful discussion about who we are and how we find our true selves.

(I received a digital ARC fromNetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)

Was this review helpful?

This story is nearly perfect. The illustrations are charming, and the reading rhythm is smooth. It deals with being one thing physically and looking in the mirror and seeing yourself as something else, and wanting to be accepted as what you see. The only nitpicky thing I have to say is I think the transition to being with the rhinos was a bit wobbly. I will be buying this book for my Someday Grandchildren's library.

Was this review helpful?

So cute! I love the illustrations of the little bulldog and everything he does trying to convince everyone he really is a rhino! Cute story about being true to yourself. I think it would make a sweet story for littles. I love that the Lulu finally find a friend who believes she what she says she is!

Was this review helpful?

Lulu is a Rhinoceros is a picturebook written by Jason Flom and Allison Flom and illustrated by Sophie Corrigan. Everyone thinks Lulu is a bulldog, but she knows that can't be true, because Lulu is a Rhinoceros. That is what she sees staring back at her when she looks in the mirror. But sometimes, being yourself can be a difficult road to walk. And just when all hope seems lost, Lulu finds a small friend that makes a big difference in her life when she realizes that the courage to be herself has been inside of her all along.

Lulu is a Rhinoceros is a story about a bulldog that feels like a rhino. Lulu has fur, rather than the gray skin she thinks she should, so everyone thinks she is a dog. She hunts for something that will help others see her as the rhino she is- a horn! She has quite the adventure, and in the end finds a friend that helps her feel like her true self. I love the feel of the story and the illustrations are charming and sweet. I enjoyed the read and think animal lovers will enjoy the read. One of my favorite things about about this book is that part of the proceeds will be donated to the African Wildlife Foundation to help protect Africa's endangered wildlife.

Was this review helpful?

A sweet story about being true to who you feel you are. Lulu is depicted in soft, appealing colors. Could be used to introduce the concept of gender fluidity to children. I think it works better as a silly story about a dog who wants a horn. This would work especially well paired with Andrea Loney's Bunnybear.

Was this review helpful?

Ahhhh. Lulu may look like a bulldog but deep down she is really a rhino. This could almost be a simile for transgender kids, or helping to explain transgender to kids. I said almost because the end. But that could even work as well, because it only took one person to see that Lulu was a rhino. Even if you don’t go in for the transgender simile the story is still adorable. The illustrations are on point, and bring the story to life.

(4.5 stars)

Was this review helpful?

I wasn't a big fan of this story. It felt like an under-developed take on explaining gender diversity through the use of animals. This illustrations are cute and visually appealing, but the actual written story didn't sit well with me and I feel that it did not meet its intended goal of discussing diversity.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lulu knows she isn't a bulldog. Lulu is too cute. The illustrations are bright and colorful. The text is simple. This is a great book and kids will learn that if they believe, they can be whoever and whatever they want to be.

Was this review helpful?

Lulu Is A Rhinoceros by Jason Flom, Allison Flom is a cute, silly story of a dog who thinks she is a rhino, even though the world sees her as a bull dog.

Lulu is a bulldog who sees herself as a rhino and only if she had a horn, then everyone would know it. The illustrations are adorable and the story is affirming to anyone who has felt different. The book is a silly story with cute pictures. No one is fooled by Lulu thinking she is a rhinoceros, but the lengths she goes to are sure to bring on the giggles with young readers.

I give this book 3.5/5 stars

I received an e-book copy from Diamond Book Distributors and Wicked Cow Studios via NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

Though Lulu looks like a bulldog on the outside, she knows she's a rhinoceros on the inside! Lulu's journey can be read in two ways, either as a children's story about a dog's adventure to be herself or as a metaphor for people who are transgendered. Either way, there are clear messages: stay true to yourself, don't judge other people by their looks, and be yourself no matter what others say.

Was this review helpful?

'Lulu Is a Rhinoceros' by Jason Flom with illustrations by Allison Flom is a book about a cute dog with big dreams.

Lulu looks like a bulldog, but that's not what Lulu sees in the mirror. In Lulu's mind, she is a rhinoceros. Lulu decides that if she were to look more like a rhinoceros that might help. Lulu needs a horn! So Lulu sets about to add various things to her head to look more like her dream.

The book is a silly story with cute pictures. No one is fooled by Lulu thinking she is a rhinoceros, but the lengths she goes to are sure to bring on the giggles with young readers.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Wicked Cow Studios, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Was this review helpful?

Fun book. Somethings you see yourself as something else and that is ok. Others may not understand but it is ok to feel that way. Good read with kids. Great illistrations! Would recommend!

Was this review helpful?

This is a short little picture book that lets us all know that Lulu Is A Rhinoceros. What you see on the outside is not always what is on the inside. Lulu may look like a bulldog, but she is really a rhinoceros. This is a good story for everybody, but especially for anyone with gender identity issues. It may not be the what the author was going for, but it was what I took away from the book. While others may not see the real you one day someone will come along that sees you. The real you.

Was this review helpful?

Lulu apparently has quite a social media presence. I was unaware of this.

Everyone believes that Lulu is a bulldog, but Lulu knows the truth: she is a rhinoceros. No one quite believes that she is what she says, so she sets out on a quest to get something that will let everyone know she is indeed a rhinoceros: a horn.

Finally, her outside matches the way she feels on the inside, and she even gets a companion bird like a rhinoceros should have!

An adorable book with very nice illustrations.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this story. The adorable pictures help to say things the words don't say and give perfect opportunities to develop inference skills talking about how Lulu might feel at different points. As the little bulldog continues her quest to be seen as the rhinoceros she believes she is, she encounters characters who laugh at her and tell her she can't be who she wants to be because she doesn't have the right look. I like that this story tells the reader that it doesn't matter how small you are, you can be whoever you dream to be.

Was this review helpful?

This heartwarming book inspires and brings hope to those who feel that their feelings inside of them don't match up with what people see on the outside of them.

Lucy is a beautiful bulldog on the outside but when she looks into the mirror she sees herself as a rhineoceros. Deep down that is what she believes herself to be. It is so apparent to her that she is a rhinoceros that she goes off to find a horn to authenticate those deep feelings.

Although those around her mock and ridicule her she doesn't give up believing that she really is.... a rhinoceros. She tries on an ice cream cone for size... no that doesn't work, it gives her a brain freeze. She thinks a traffic cone might be just the thing... wahhh it's way too big and slips over her eyes so she can't see...no... that's no good. She then spots a banana peel. That might be a perfect horn. She sticks it on her nose and proudly trots off. A pesky pigeon calls her out on her banana-horn choice and poor Lucy feels humiliated, angry and then just looses it!!!!!

"That's enough!
I've had it with pigeons:
I've had it with dogs!
I'VE HAD IT WITH EVERYONE! "

Oh my!! Nobody will believe that she is really a rhino. She's had enough already.

She angrily chases after that pigeon bully trying to recoup her banana horn that he stole and she ends up in the local zoo where another type of bird, a tick bird, changes the whole trajectory of her dilemma. I wonder what that little bird proposes to her to make that change and affirm to Lulu that she is indeed a rhinoceros. Ahhhhh! Those magic words he utters brings peace to Lulu at long last! This inspiring tale has a very happy ending.

The illustrations are wonderfully done with a soft colour pallet and lots of action and expression. Lulu is an adorable, loveable character that will have you cheering her on. She confirms in her heart once and for all that her true identity is being a wonderful rhinoceros just like she believed she was all along. I highly recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

Cute, well-illustrated picture book that explains why Lulu is a Rhinoceros.

Lulu looks like a bulldog to everyone but herself. She knows deep inside that she is a rhinoceros. To fix her lack of horn, Lulu tries on a banana peel and an upside-down ice cream cone. It is only when she meets a community that accepts her perception that she feels at home in her own skin.

It is the perfect little picture book for our gender-fluid times. Lulu is a Rhinoceros would be a good way to introduce the idea that the way you look may not match how you feel. While this is labeled a middle-school reader, it seems for younger children. It is recommended for families, like mine, that include transgender members or for children who might have their own gender dysphoria issues. 4 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Wicked Cow Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Was this review helpful?