Allison Hill

Will Lolly the Lobster find her way home?

There is a big storm in the ocean and Lolly the Lobster is scooped up by the waves. She is whisked around in the turbulent sea, before being washed up on shore. Lolly finds herself in a strange forest. She is lost, alone and very frightened. Lolly finds a house and meets a squirrel, but when she asks the squirrel for help, he runs away. She meets a turkey and explains she is lost, but the turkey will not help her either. Just when Lolly has given up hope of seeing her mom again, she meets a pack of dogs. At first Lolly is scared of the strange creatures, but the dogs are fun, friendly and offer to help her. The dogs – Billie, Alex, Ruby, Luna, and Izzy – help Lolly back to the ocean, where she is finally reunited with her family.

Lolly the Left Out Lobster by author Allison Hill is a charming and thoughtful, illustrated picture book for younger children about an adorable little lobster who finds herself lost in a forest. But when Lolly asks for help, the other forest creatures are wary and scared of her. They have never met a lobster before, and she looks different from anything they have ever seen. When a pack of friendly dogs come to the rescue, the other forest creatures soon realise Lolly is not so scary after all. The different creatures put aside their differences and become good friends. The book teaches young children about diversity, and the importance of showing kindness and accepting others just the way they are. A great resource for parents and educators to gently introduce young children to these complex topics. Lolly’s journey from isolation to acceptance and belonging is one that many children will relate to.

The illustrations by Sandie Sonke are super-sweet, vibrant and full of character.

Star rating: 5 Stars 

Summary: A charming and thoughtful picture book, with an unusual but adorable protagonist, and a powerful message about diversity and inclusion.