Learn How to Be Yourself with Lulu the Beaver
Ever since I started Dad Suggests in 2018, one of my favorite topics has been “being yourself.” During my experience teaching in public school and being a dad, it has become something of an obsession of mine. And I absolutely love it when books teach kids to follow their dreams.
I’ve written book lists about being yourself, and about following your dreams. And I’ve highlighted important books like All the Ways to Be Smart and Khalida and the Most Beautiful Song. And it’s all because of one thing - I absolutely despise the fact that we overemphasize certain subjects and systematically discourage kids from pursuing their interests.
It sounds like such a cliché to follow your dreams and pursue your interests - almost like it doesn’t even need to be said. But, I assure you, it absolutely does need to be said - over and over again. It’s depressing to me how our school system is seemingly set up to actively steer kids away from the things they enjoy - and kids simply need to be told point blank: dancing, painting, writing, coding, foreign languages, and thousands of other things are just as important, if not more so, than standardized test scores.
Kids need to see characters in picture books doing what they love - despite all of the obstacles they face. Even if the obstacles seem insurmountable - even if the obstacles are their teachers or sometimes even their own parents - the message needs to be repeated: be yourself and do not quit doing what you love to do.
And it’s not just for kids that these books are written. Every time a parent reads a book like this to their child, the message will sink in a little bit more for them as well. Every time a teacher reads a book like this aloud to their class, the message will sink in a little bit more. We all need to be reminded how important it is to be ourselves and do what we love - and adults in particular need to be reminded of the crucial role that they play in the process.
And, since I’m a bit obsessed with the topic, I am a real softy when it comes to a new picture book about chasing your dreams. And I was very excited to get my hands on Lulu the Beaver and see how special and thoughtful it really is. I could instantly see that it would be another valuable tool in the war on squashing dreams.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored article from The Children’s Book Review and Bethany Gano. All thoughts, opinions, and recommendations remain our own.
Lulu wants to be an artist - but beavers are supposed to chomp trees and build lodges. And Lulu is very much plagued by this constant feeling of guilt - placed on her by the expectations of society. She even goes so far as to destroy her art so nobody sees it. And I think that author Bethany Gano sums this sad phenomenon up quite well:
And, one by one, all of Lulu’s “coulds” are swallowed up by “shoulds.”
Isn’t that eloquent and depressing? It’s certainly one of the bleakest pages in the book, and it’s a sad reminder that societal expectations and guilt are not only incredibly restricting for children, but also potentially soul-crushing. Nothing makes me sadder than the idea of losing our childhood curiosity and passion, and I’ve always considered it my fatherly duty to keep that spark of interest alive in my kids.
Interestingly, the book is actually devoid of any antagonists. Unlike other stories such as this, there aren’t any adults telling Lulu she's not allowed to paint or sculpt. The antagonist is really just the sad way children internalize society’s expectations. Lulu ends up putting the restriction on herself - in what turns out to be perhaps the most realistic depiction of this sadly familiar story of disappearing “coulds.”
But, as I’m sure you can guess, Lulu does come around and see the importance of doing what she loves. She even very wisely shouts into the void - “Stories matter!” - which I thought was a nice touch. Almost a throwback to everyone’s favorite little story-telling mouse from Leo Lionni, Frederick.
Lulu is actually very lucky to be surrounded by good friends, and they all encourage her to be herself. And, in the end, she ends up being the very best beaver she can be - which is what I hope all of us are lucky enough to strive for. And may we all be so lucky to have friends like hers.
It might be the understatement of the year to say that I’m a fan of Lulu the Beaver’s message, but, since this is a picture book we’re talking about, it’s equally important to talk about how well the message is delivered. In other words, what about the art? Well I’m very happy to say that Gano’s art is really an absolute delight, and a very effective vehicle for delivering this meaningful message.
The first time we flipped through the pages, I was actually taken off guard how inventive and playful the art is in Lulu the Beaver. The style is very original and creative - at times resembling a comic strip and at other times a paper collage. In fact, the quirkiness and inventiveness is the perfect style for a story that’s equal parts “the importance of art” and “the importance of discovering yourself.”
I like to think that every little library out there - both in classrooms and in homes - needs a collection of books about being yourself. Even with the very best intentions of every adult in their life, kids can still internalize the restricting expectations of society. It’s simply not a message we can take for granted - but rather something we need to actively shout every day. Art matters!
What’s your favorite picture book about being yourself? Have you read Lulu the Beaver yet? Let us know in the comments!
