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Angelina Neatolini is a cute little girl with long, messy pigtails and stained red overalls. She doesn’t follow in the steps of her squeaky-clean family, who move from the sooty city to the clean house at the end of Ladybug Lane.
Angelina is miserable and bored in the immaculate little house and asks her parents if she can have a dog. They say “No” to Angelina, telling her that “pets are not neat!”
One night, Angelina wishes again that she had a pet, and this time her wish is heard by a kind ladybug—with not-so-great hearing. The ladybug grants Angelina a wish, giving her a PEST which causes chaos in the house as it makes a big mess while creating cakes and cookies.
Angelina explains that she didn’t ask for a ‘pest’, but a PET, “like a non-biting viper.” The ladybug mishears again and soon a pink widow spider appears. The misunderstandings occur again, but not until there is a mess in the house, much to the chagrin of Angelina’s parents, who tell her that the pets/pests must go. Angelina manages to make the case for one pet/pest to stay.
This imaginative and enchanting story is made even more delightful by the bright, bold and vibrant illustrations. There are lots of different angles and close ups of the various stages of upheaval as the pets/pests take over the house, offering a myriad of things for children to investigate in each illustration.
The House at the End of Ladybug Lane is a stunning book and a sweet story. Highly recommended for children ages 3 and up. Five stars.
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The House at the End of Ladybug Lane