Loula panics when she overhears Mama saying, "I can't live with that ... that MONSTER anymore!" She knows Mama must be talking about Mister, Loula's beloved dog, who can be "a little too messy, a little too clumsy and a little too hungry ... a LOT of the time." Loula tells Mister, "If you don't stop with the bad manners, Mama will throw you out, like an old pair of shoes!" And what would Loula do without Mister? She's just going to have to find a way to transform Mister the monster "into the most perfect little dog no mama can resist." But will lessons at Loula's School of Good Manners be enough? Or will the job prove to be too big, even for Loula? This endearing picture book from award-winning creator Anne Villeneuve is the third story about Loula, a charming and spirited little girl destined to be a classic heroine. The warm and witty narrative combined with the emotion, energy and clever details packed into the ink and watercolour illustrations make for a perfect read-aloud. Loula's unique blend of imagination and enthusiasm in response to her problems offers an empowering model for children. This title would be an excellent choice for character education lessons on taking initiative and exhibiting resilience in facing up to difficulties. Also, the sweet relationship between Loula and the ever-patient Gilbert --- the family chauffeur, who assists with her dog training --- is a tribute to the power of positive adult attention. AGES: 3-7 AUTHOR: As far as she can recall, Anne Villeneuve has always held a crayon or a brush in her hands. Her passion for images and storytelling was the starting point for her career as author and illustrator, which she has been fulfilling for over 25 years. Anne has written and illustrated close to 40 books, created games for magazines, illustrated for newspapers and designed cake boxes for a bakery. She's also worked on "scenography" for Cirque du Soleil shows, murals for soft drinks and posters for the Dairy Farmers of Canada. Over the years, her work has earned her many distinguished recognitions, such as the Governor General's Literary Award and the Québec/Wallonie-Bruxelles Literary Award in 2000, the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award in 2005 and 2009, and the Mr. Christie's Book Award in 1998. She's met with hundreds of kids across Canada, with whom she's shared her passion for literature and art. She now teaches watercolour and drawing at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The artists she looks up to are Matisse, Klee, Riopelle and Basquiat.
