TeachingBooks
Lulu Is a Rhinoceros

Book Resume

for Lulu Is a Rhinoceros by Jason Flom, Allison Flom, and Sophie Corrigan

Professional book information and credentials for Lulu Is a Rhinoceros.

  • Booklist:
  • Pre-K - Grade 2
  • Kirkus:
  • Ages 4 - 8
  • TeachingBooks:*
  • Grades PK-2
  • Word Count:
  • 351
  • Lexile Level:
  • 390L
  • ATOS Reading Level:
  • 1.7
  • Year Published:
  • 2018

The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From Booklist

April 1, 2025
Preschool-Grade 2 Lulu may appear to be a bulldog, but she knows she is a rhinoceros. Disappointed by her soft fur and stubby tail, she sets off on a quest to find a horn that will prove her identity once and for all. When her efforts mistakenly land her in the zoo's rhinoceros enclosure, she is welcomed by Flom Flom, a tickbird who accepts that everyone in the rhino enclosure must be a rhino, regardless of appearances. Flom Flom needs a rhino to tend--and as a rhino, Lulu must be in need of a tickbird--and thus a partnership is born. The idea that what's inside matters most will not come as a great surprise to many readers, but fans of bulldogs will enjoy the lively illustrations showcasing Lulu's emotional highs and lows, and Lulu's attempts to find a horn that suits her will no doubt lead to some giggles. Overall, a slight but sweet tale of a character embracing her inner spirit and finding her community.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Booklist

From Kirkus

February 15, 2025
A little dog longs to unleash her true self. Lulu may appear to be a tan-and-white bulldog, but she knows who she really is deep down. While on the outside she has "soft, fuzzy fur" and a "little nub" of a tail, inside she has "thick gray rhino skin" and a "tail that whips and twirls." She also knows what she's missing: a rhino's horn. Lulu searches for a substitute on her walks through New York City. Could an ice cream cone do the trick? A sock? She happily settles for the next best thing: a banana peel! Or she would, until it's stolen by a wayward pigeon. In her haste to retrieve it, Lulu enters Central Park and finds herself in an unexpected but perfect spot--the rhino enclosure at the Central Park Zoo. This mildly amusing story meanders from plot point to plot point, following a manic puggie dream girl whose commitment to being herself is commendable but less than compelling. In the final pages, Lulu meets Flom Flom, a tickbird who tells her that "every rhino has a tickbird, and every tickbird has a rhino"--a meet-cute that explains nothing. Without information on the symbiotic relationship between rhinos and tickbirds, many will be mystified. The illustrations try their best but leave Lulu in an uncanny valley between cartoony and realistic. Sweet but unsatisfying. (authors' note)(Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Kirkus

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This Book Resume for Lulu Is a Rhinoceros is compiled from TeachingBooks, a library of professional resources about children's and young adult books. This page may be shared for educational purposes and must include copyright information. Reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers.

*Grade levels are determined by certified librarians utilizing editorial reviews and additional materials. Relevant age ranges vary depending on the learner, the setting, and the intended purpose of a book.

Retrieved from TeachingBooks on December 24, 2025. © 2001-2025 TeachingBooks.net, LLC. All rights reserved by rights holders.