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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Expound Publicity. All opinions are my own.
Book Information
Luella’s Library
Written by Tara Lala Illustrated by Francesca Pesci Ages: 8-10 | 38 Pages Publisher: Mascot Kids (2025) | ISBN: 979-8891384798 Luella loves to read books, but her best friend, Lino, doesn’t. What Lino soon discovers is that the books in Luella’s library are magical! When one of her books transports them to an enchanted land, they have to face unexpected obstacles and help new friends. Will Luella and Lino complete their journeys along the way? Will they be able to help their new friend find his way back home? Or will Lino choose his phone over the adventures Luella’s library has in store? Author Interview
Where did you get the inspiration for Luella's Library?
In the past few years, I’ve seen a major shift in how young kids spend their free time. Rather than using their imaginations to play games, read a book, or enjoy the outdoors, I’ve noticed that their play-time is heavily spent on their iPads and phones. It’s become less reading, and more tapping. If this trend continues, kids won’t know the experience of getting lost in a book anymore and expanding their imagination. Will kids even be creative if they’re always told what to believe through their iPads and never form opinions of their own? Getting lost in a book gives kids the opportunity to connect with characters, go on wild adventures, and make choices and opinions based on the plot. So, I decided to write Luella’s Library to show kids the magic of reading a book. Children will be able to follow Luella and Lino on the many adventures their book takes them on. Lino is inspired by one of my own cousins who loves to spend time playing games on his iPad, and Luella has traits of my sister, who has a library of books in her bedroom. Adults will be able to see that the message is to put down the electronics and pick up a new book. My goal is to show children in a fun, interactive, and relatable way that picking up a book can be more of an exciting experience than picking up an iPad. What was your writing process like for this book? The writing process for this book was actually the easiest compared to my others books. My first three books are chapter books, and those require a lot more detail and time. My fourth book was my first picture book, so it took me a long time to learn how to write a short book…it was tougher than I thought to compact all my ideas into a simple story with a few pages! By the time I wrote Luella’s Library, I found it quite easy because my previous book had taught me to write concisely. My mind was filled with several ideas of where my main characters could travel, so it was a fun process to write this book during my sophomore year of university. What is your favorite part about writing books for kids? Growing up, I loved watching Disney and Barbie movies…and I still do! It’s a magical escape into places where characters can go on adventures that humans can’t. They don’t have to face real-world problems, but teach real-world lessons. I’ve always loved lighthearted stories and happily-ever-afters, which is why I chose to write for children. I hope to evoke that same sense of imagination and wonder in them that these films and books once evoked in me. What are you working on now? I am currently a student at the University of Southern California and have been taking a lot of screenwriting classes, which is a newfound interest. I am currently working on a princess fantasy-romance screenplay for family audiences. What is your favorite book? Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy! It’s a perfect mix of fantasy, mystery, and romance. Her world-building is incredible and she does an excellent job of keeping you turning the page and wanting to find out what’s next. Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a complete set of Tara Lala’s magical books, including Luella’s Library!
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