Book Review: Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Lane Smith

Lulu and the Brontosaurus
by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Lane Smith
9781416999614, Simon & Schuster, $15.99

I just bought this book today, but fell in love with it to the extent that I had to blog about it immediately.

Lulu and the Brontosaurus is a picture book perfect for that in-between 5-8 year-old age group that is learning to read but still loves to be read to, can handle chapter books but still loves looking at pictures, and has a more developed but still distinctly kid sense of humor.

Lulu is an only child and used to getting her way in everything. So when she decides she wants a Brontosaurus, she doesn't care that dinosaurs don't exist anymore, she doesn't care that scientists declared a dinosaur known as a Brontosaurus never existed, and she doesn't care that her parents, for once, said no. All she cares about is getting a Brontosaurus for a pet on her birthday.

And so she goes out to find one. Through the forest, she drags her suitcase, waking all the sleeping animals with her song:
"I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, gonna get,
A bronto-bronto-bronto Brontosaurus for a pet."

When Lulu finally does find a Brontosaurs, not all goes according to plan, because the Brontosaurus thinks that Lulu would make a great pet for him. How's Lulu going to get out of that one? A temper tantrum, her usual shrieking, and even *gasp* saying "please" for the first time ever doesn't seem to help. Is there a solution to make both Lulu and Brontosaurus happy? Well, with three endings to choose from, you get to decide!

Short chapters, interactive text, black-and-grey illustrations that are delightful for finding the hidden forest animals, all beg for hours spent reading and rereading this book to the delight of the young and the slightly older picture book reader. A perfect storytime book for a large older audience, or just one-on-one where each picture's details can be closely examined. Definitely a keeper for years to come (and perfect for the holidays!).