Lola Loves Animals

Imapla's American debut does something genuinely inventive: the accordion-fold design means Lola's zoo day unfolds in full color against white on one side, while flip it over and her animal dream blooms against black with a stand-up fold-out scene. No words, two visual narratives, one little girl imitating every creature she sees. School Library Journal praised it on US release, and that response makes sense — the format rewards multiple readings, and children who encounter it tend to want to open and close it repeatedly. The practical caveat is durability: accordion folds in the hands of young children take wear, and the unusual structure may not hold up to everyday rough use. The wordless format also limits read-aloud interaction for those who like to build conversation around text. But as an art object and imaginative experience, this one is special.