Luella’s Library By Tara Lala – Presented By The Children’s Book Review

September 29, 2025 · by sybrinapublishing

Luella’s Library

Written by Tara Lala

Illustrated by Francesca Pesci

Ages: 8-10 | 38 Pages

Publisher: Mascot Kids (2025) | ISBN: 979-8891384798

Publisher’s Book Summary: Luella loves to read books, but her best friend, Lino, doesn’t.

What Lino soon discovers is that the books in Luella’s library are magical! When one of her books transports them to an enchanted land, they have to face unexpected obstacles and help new friends.

Will Luella and Lino complete their journeys along the way? Will they be able to help their new friend find his way back home? Or will Lino choose his phone over the adventures Luella’s library has in store?

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

Guest Post By Tara Lala

Screen Time vs Reading Time: A Gen Z Author’s Perspective

If someone asked you, “What do you do to wind down after a long day of work?” what would your response be? While most people used to say watching a movie, taking a long bath, meditating, reading a good book, or going on a walk, many now simply sit and endlessly scroll on their phones. Do you feel like you fall into that category?

Scrolling on your phone for a couple of hours a day can be relaxing—but what if a couple of hours turned into four? Six? Eight? Kids today spend about two to eight hours on their electronics each day… and it’s not just during “wind-down” time. It’s for communication, play, and imagination—or the lack thereof. Rather than picking up a new book to read, drawing a picture, or creating with building blocks, many kids spend their time tapping away on various apps on their iPads.

My friends are between 20 and 22 years old, and while social media is very prevalent in our generation, it doesn’t consume our entire lives. We make conscious efforts to put our phones down and enjoy activities, as well as each other’s company. But when I see younger children, including family members of my own, I notice that all they care about is how much longer they can play on their iPads. When they get together for playdates, they often just sit together playing games on their electronics.

My friends and I watch in shock and disappointment, recalling how, when we were young, we would spend our playdates playing with Barbie dolls, building with Legos, coloring, painting pottery, and going to parks. If we ever chose to use our iPads, it was to create movies—which used a big part of the imagination. Now, the games that children play often don’t require creativity or brainpower. This lack of engagement is becoming evident in their actions and social skills.

I began my writing journey at the age of fourteen simply because I loved to write fairytales and share them with others. After publishing my first four books, I began to realize that kids don’t have the same attention span they used to. If there isn’t something with flashing colors in front of them, they’re less likely to pick it up. That’s when I decided I wanted to make a book that would not only captivate kids’ attention, but also teach them an important lesson.

In my new picture book, Luella’s Library, I crafted a story that’s fast-paced and brightly colored—just like apps are. The main character, Luella, loves to read books, but her best friend, Lino, does not. Luella takes Lino into her magical library, and together they jump into a book. Lino soon learns about all the adventures a book can take you on. Whether it’s meeting mermaids or escaping pirates, I made sure to include plenty of detail so that kids with all interests would be captivated. By the end of the story, Lino puts his phone down and asks Luella to borrow a book, signaling to kids that using your imagination is far more exciting and enriching than using electronics.

My hope is that children will not only enjoy my book, but also be inspired to read more in general. Reading is important for growing young minds because it teaches them to think outside the box. Without innovative people thinking outside the box, where would our society be today?

I believe having iPad time is fine—after all, I enjoyed my three hours a week on my iPad when I was young—but overdoing it is where the problem lies.

It’s important to instill a love for creativity in children, one book at a time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tara Lala lives in Los Angeles, California. She has enjoyed writing since she was five years old, and is now attending the University of Southern California. She wrote Luella’s Library when she was twenty, and hopes that her readers will be inspired to put down their phones and pick up an exciting new book to read. You can check out her other books: Twincesses, Tails from Down Under, An Alani Adventure, and Minty the Mischievous Elf. Follow her on Instagram at @taralalaofficial for more!