Lulu’s Mysterious Mission
Written by Judith Viorst, Illustrated by Kevin Cornell

Summary:
When Lulu’s parents go on vacation, the formidable Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky comes to babysit and Lulu behaves as badly as possible to get her to leave until Ms. Solinsky reveals her secret.

Primary Source Pairing:
For this primary source pairing, two illustrations from the book are used to spark discussion and critical thinking. The images are from an excerpt of the book on Simon and Schuster’s website. Taking time to study the images in transitional chapter books, like the books in the Lulu series, is valuable for students as they practice the skills of visualizing while reading.

Questions for Discussion:

• Describe what you see.
• What do you notice first?
• What people and objects are shown?
• What is the physical setting?
• What other details can you see?
• Compare and contrast the two versions of Ms. Solinsky from the story.
• How does Lulu react to each version of Ms. Solinsky?

Credits:
Book Cover and Summary: Follett
Ms. Solinsky images: Spy Outfit, In Disguise  (image collage created by JMarek)