There are a few reasons I didn't love this book.
First, Lou has a very defeatist attitude. She doesn't even want to try. Opting out is OK, but it was very repetitive.
Next, do we really want to encourage kids to climb trees?
Lastly, she never conquered her fear. So... what was the point?

I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lou can do a lot of things, but there's one thing she can't do - climb trees. But one day, her friends want to climb the tree to play their game. Will Lou be able to join them? This cute and funny picture book teaches children to try new things, even if it is scary or they fail at first.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

Ashley Spires wrote/illustrated one of my all-time favorite picture books so I knew I wanted to check this one out as well. Young children often say they "can't do it". Spires book looks at Lou and her diverse group of friends to explore this topic. It starts with the many things Lou and her friends can do but transitions quickly to a problem that leaves Lou feeling unconfident and left out. It is typical of young children to encounter disagreements - both slight and great - as they organize their play. When the group consensus is to play pirates in the tree, Lou has a choice to make. She comes up with all sorts of reasons why she can't before acknowledging that she doesn't know how to climb a tree. Educators know how important it is that our students learn to tackle problems by looking for solutions and Lou models this as she brainstorms ways to get up in the tree.
As an educator, we focus quite a bit on how to build a growth mindset in our students. This book is an excellent addition to the classroom to help illustrate many of these concepts.

I received a dARC from the publisher via Netgalley*. Here is my honest review.
*expired. reviewed library book

Spires has done it again! This is such a great book for teaching perseverance. Love the realistic ending. A must read for kids.

This is a wonderful children's book. The story is well thought out and relevant to children who are scared to try something new. The illustrations are delightful, and I especially appreciate the racially diverse cast of friends. I recommend this book for boys and girls, and I recommend the parents read it, too. This would make a great family read-aloud story.

This an excellent picture book. Any child that is struggling can read this and feel a little less alone.

Well, the blurb tells the whole story. If the blurb had picture too, you'd be all set and wouldn't need to read the book.

Lou is brave, imaginative, and adventurous, and so are her friends. Then one day, her friends climb a tree and Lou can't. She comes up with numerous reason not to even try but eventually, the lure of her friends is too strong and she tries. She doesn't succeed but her friends have her back. They don't make fun of her fear, they try to help her climb the tree, and when she can't, they move the game. The story is not subtle, it's definitely a message story, but I think it's one that many children will enjoy nonetheless. They'll be able to relate to Lou, her fears and her worries and her joyful spirit. I liked that the book didn't end with Lou conquering her problem easily. Just as in real life, Lou will need to keep trying and working at it but we're left with the hope that she will do that. Too often, solutions in young children's books are pat and easy so props to Spires for not going the lazy route.

The artwork is expressive and joyful with little details that add to the story. I enjoyed the art more than I did the story honestly. I prefer more subtle stories for children but this is a decent one that's worth a look.

In this book, we meet Lou, a bright, courageous young girl. Lou is confident and does not shy away from difficult tasks. However, one day, she needs to climb a tree and becomes instantly paralyzed by the task. She has never climbed a tree before and she is not sure she can do it. She is afraid of falling and getting hurt. Will she be successful and attempt climbing the tree or not?

What I love about this book is that it teaches children about self-efficacy (a person's confidence in his/her ability to complete a task) with a task that is very approachable to young readers - climbing a tree. Self-efficacy is a distinguishing factor among successful and unsuccessful people, so it is important to develop in young children.

I also love that this book shows diverse characters! The children in the book all look different from each other and represent different ethnicities. This feature makes the book very approachable and appropriate for many readers.

I highly recommend this book for home reading and classroom use! I also encourage people who enjoy this book to pick up some of Ashley Spires' other titles - you will not be disappointed!

Happy Reading!

The best part about this story is that Lou doesn’t suddenly get over her fear. She works at it bit by bit, and even by the end of the story, she has not completely conquered it. The characters are of varied colors and appearances, and almost any child should be able to find someone like him or her.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Children play outside unsupervised and climb trees.

Who Might Like This Book:
Anyone dealing with a fear or phobia.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. This book also reviewed at http://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-panoply-of-picturebooks.html, Amazon, Goodreads, and Librarything.

This was a simple tale - so simple, for some reason it left me wanting more text but it was ok - of Lou, her friends, and how they could all climb a tree except Lou. As any kid can relate, Lou was a little nervous about trying and came up with every excuse not to try...but her faithful friends encouraged her. I loved that when she did finally try to climb the tree, she didn't make it...but she came back the next day to try again and got a little bit higher than on her first attempt. (I do wish it had kept going and shown her perseverance pay off, though!) I also loved that when she failed to climb the tree, her friends didn't pressure her but went off to play elsewhere where they could all be together. So many wonderful lessons for children! Also it would be remiss not to comment on the wonderful diversity of the children depicted!

From the author of 'The Most Magnificent Thing', Ashley Spires' latest picture book 'The Thing Lou Couldn't Do' cements her standing as one of today's exceptional children's authors. Refreshingly written using captivating and intelligent prose and beautiful, playful illustrations, the wonderful story of Lou (and her furry adventurous companion) promotes independence through imaginative play and the power of healthy, encouraging friendships. 'The Thing Lou Couldn't Do' is a wonderful tool for both parents and educators wishing to illustrate perseverance, resilience and courage to their children and students.

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do is a great book to read to children who don't believe in their own ability. It teaches them to embrace challenges and become resilient humans!
This book will definitely become one of our favorites in my classroom.

Thanks to netgally and the publishers who gave me the opportunity to read this.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Lou is a brave little girl who loves adventure but when her friends decide to climb a tree, Lou hesitates. She isn't sure she can climb a tree. She comes up with many excuses until she makes up her mind to at least try it.
This is a story about facing one's fears and how empowering it is to at least try to do the thing you think you can't do.
It's also about how friends can encourage each other in caring and gentle ways.
I enjoyed the story as well as the artwork

The story is great and very relatable for kids. I love the message of if at first you don't succeed try again and keep trying until you get it. I think the illustrations are great as well and I would definitely recommend this book.

In this story, Lou and her friends are brave adventurers who have big dreams and can do anything. Except that one day when they decide to play pirates, her friends suggest that the pirate ship be a tree and she has never climbed one before. Lou suggests other games, comes up with excuses why she can't climb the tree, and finally admits to her friends that she just doesn't know how. With a little help and encouragement, she decides that she will give it a try. What's even better? Spires doesn't actually show Lou getting up the tree. She gives it a go, still doesn't make it, but she will be back another day to attempt it again. We loved Spires' earlier book The Most Magnificent Thing, and this is a great addition to books about perseverance and determination.

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires is an interesting story because it is about what Lou couldn't do, rather than what she does do. I love that it is not all wrapped nice and neat by the end of the book, because sometimes doing things we fear takes us a little longer then one day to get through.

This is a great story that encourages kids to keep trying. Lou love adventures, but when her friends decide to climb a tree, she isn't so sure its the kind of adventure she enjoys, until she tries! This story is about having fun, and being confident, being brave, and trying new things.

Fun book, that is a good starting off to explain the above. Bright pictures, and simple story.

I received this ARC from Kids Can Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spears is a picturebook currently scheduled for release on May 2 2017. Lou and her friends are BRAVE adventurers. They run FASTER than airplanes. They build MIGHTY fortresses. They rescue WILD animals.” But one day, when they're looking for a ship to play pirates in, Lou's friend has an idea: “Up there! The tree can be our ship!” This is something new. Lou has never climbed a tree before, and she's sure she can't do it. So she tries to convince her friends to play a not-up-a-tree game. When that doesn't work, she comes up with reasons for not joining them --- her arm is sore, her cat needs a walk, you shouldn't climb so soon after eating. Finally, she tells herself she doesn't want to climb the tree. But is that true, or is this brave adventurer just too afraid to try?

The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do is another great picture book from Spears. Lou is a grand adventure, but she has a weakness. She as never climbed a tree before. When her friends scurry up the branches she can only think about how new it is, and how high. She struggles to come up with ways to avoid the need to climb, but ultimately has to face her fears or be left out of the fun. I like that Spears allowed Lou time to waffle about what she was going to do, and actually struggle with facing her fears. I also like that in the end Lou did not just climb the tree like a monkey. She has to learn how to climb the tree. It does not happen instantly, she has to work at it and fall. then she got up and tried again, with plans to keep practicing and trying. I think this is as important of a lesson as the being willing to face your fears or lack of knowledge. she has to learn something, and it is not easy. However, Lou keeps trying and even though she could not master the skill in a single day she is willing to keep working at it. Something that too many children (and adults) give up on learning new things too easily.

Another smash hit by Ashley Spires! A perfect read aloud for students PK-3, and an easy transition into conversations about growth mindset. This will be a big hit with most libraries and schools where social curriculum & grit are established and encouraged. The illustrations are vibrant and fun and a perfect compliment to the witty and engaging text.

Nice book but not as good as 'magnificent thing' - the problem is the unsatisfactory ending - she finally tries to climb and then falls down and then the reader is left with the idea that she will try again another day. Most kids I know wouldn't leave it, they'd want to go on and on until succeeding.