
Reach for this book when your child feels discouraged because they are not naturally good at everything, or when they struggle with the focus required to see a task through to the end. It is a perfect choice for kids who get easily distracted or feel 'left behind' by peers who seem to find success effortlessly. The story follows Lola during her school's Field Day as she searches for an activity that fits her unique strengths. While her friends Charlie, Marv, and Lotta find their niches quickly, Lola has to work through feelings of frustration and comparison. She eventually chooses the egg and spoon race, discovering that success comes not from speed, but from the power of deep concentration. This gentle, humorous story models resilience and the importance of finding one's own pace, making it an excellent tool for building self-confidence and patience in preschoolers and early elementary students.





















Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewThe book is entirely secular and realistic. It deals with the minor but developmentally significant 'crisis' of social comparison and the fear of failure in a school setting. The resolution is hopeful and grounded in personal effort rather than luck.
A 4 or 5-year-old who is starting organized sports or school activities and feels 'wobbly' or self-conscious. It is also an excellent fit for a child who struggles with focus and needs a positive example of how concentration can lead to success.
This book can be read cold. The mixed-media collage art style is very busy, so parents might want to take a moment on each page to let the child's eyes settle on the main action. A parent might choose this after hearing their child say, 'I'm not good at anything' or 'I want to quit' because a task didn't come easily on the first try.
Younger children (3-4) will enjoy the humor of the race and the sibling dynamic. Older children (5-7) will better internalize the message about the relationship between concentration and success.
Unlike many 'sports' books that emphasize winning through speed or strength, Lauren Child emphasizes the internal, psychological state of concentration as a superpower. """
It is Field Day at school. Charlie is a fast runner, Marv is great at the long jump, and Lotta is a hopping expert. Lola, however, feels out of place as she realizes she isn't the 'best' at these traditional athletic feats. After some trial and error, she enters the egg and spoon race. The core of the book focuses on her internal mantra of 'really, really concentrating' to keep her egg balanced while others rush past her.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.