Lulu and the Brontosaurus

By Judith Viorst and Lane Smith

Now in paperback, an illustrated chapter book from industry legends Judith Viorst and Lane Smith!

I’m gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, gonna, get
a bronto-bronto-bronto-bronto-saurus for a pet!

Lulu is so accustomed to getting what she wants that when her parents deny her birthday request for a brontosaurus, she throws a four-day temper tantrum and then storms off into the forest in search of the dinosaur she clearly deserves. Lulu isn’t particularly impressed with the snake, tiger, and bear she encounters, but then she finds him—a beautiful, long-necked, graceful brontosaurus. Mr. B completely agrees with Lulu that having a pet would be a wonderful thing, and Lulu thinks she’s gotten her birthday wish at last. Until she realizes that Mr. Brontosaurus thinks that she would make an ideal pet for him!

How will Lulu ever get out of this sticky situation without throwing a fit (Mr. B does not respond well to those), or using force (Mr. B is much too tall to bonk on the head with her suitcase), or smushing her pickle sandwich? Beloved children’s author Judith Viorst and Caldecott-winning illustrator Lane Smith offer a fresh and funny tale with several surprise endings!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Release date: Sep 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9781416999638

Judith Viorst

Judith Viorst is the author of the beloved Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which has sold some four million copies; the Lulu books, including Lulu and the Brontosaurus; the New York Times bestseller Necessary Losses; four musicals; and poetry for children and young adults. Her most recent books of poetry include What Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About? and Nearing Ninety.

Book preview

ATHENEUM BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people,

or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents

are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events

or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Text copyright © 2010 by Judith Viorst

Illustrations copyright © 2010 by Lane Smith

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

ATHENEUM BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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The text for this book is set in Officina Sans.

The illustrations for this book are rendered in pencil on pastel paper.

Manufactured in the United States of America

0810 FFG

First Edition

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Viorst, Judith.

Lulu and the brontosaurus / Judith Viorst ; illustrated by Lane Smith. —1st ed.

p. cm.

Summary: Lulu’s parents refuse to give in when she demands a brontosaurus for her

birthday and so she sets out to find her own, but while the brontosaurus she finally

meets approves

Reviews for Lulu and the Brontosaurus

[howifeelaboutbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love the style of this book. It’s like a silly picture book grew up into an early chapter book. Very humorous, and that came through more than the story. Lulu is a great character.

[childrenslitpdx · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lulu and the Brontosaurus is a book about a little girl with very bad manners and who doesn't like to be told no, who wants a Brontosaurus for her birthday. When her parents tell her no, she packs a suitcase and runs off into the forest to find one. Along the way she meets several animals, and holds her own as they try to do her harm. When she finally does come across a Brontosaurus, he wants to make her his pet. After spending time with him and his calm, kind demeanor, Lulu breaks down and asks to return home. When he tells her no, she makes an escape plan, and has quite a different attitude when faced with the same animals that she had run into before. She is actually kind and polite!

[dipodomy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lulu is a spoiled child who gets everything she wants until she demands her parents get her a brontosaurus. When they refuse she goes on an adventure in the woods where she meets and beats several forest animals. But when she meets a brontosaurus things don't go quite as expected and Lulu learns some lessons about manners. Strange 4th wall humor including notes from the writer defending their work and multiple endings so the reader can choose the one they like best.

[rnelson12-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lulu wants a brontosaurs, She discovers many other important details.

[cocoannie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very funny! I am going to add this to my go-to list of books to recommend.

[michelleannlib · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a good transitional book for those leaving readers and moving into chapter books.

[jdwalker-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lulu is a girl that usually gets everything she wants. Her parents are scared of her fits and give in to all of Lulu's requests. That is until she demands to have a dinosaur for a pet. Lulu's parents decide that they have finally had enough of her demanding ways and let Lulu runaway. Lulu runs away in order to find her very own pet dinosaur since her mean parents won't give into her. While on her journey Lulu actually meets a dinosaur. The dinosaur decides to make Lulu his pet. Lulu does not like this one bit. She begs the dinosaur to let her go. The dinosaur decides that he will not let Lulu go. Lulu ends up escaping and learning a very valuable lesson from the experience. This is just a wonderful story to read aloud. My first graders really enjoyed it. There is song, rhyming, humor and great characters. I would highly recommend this as a early reader for children in 1st-3rd grade. I know I'll be reading it aloud to my new first grade class next year!

[oapostrophe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Super bratty Lulu does not like to hear the word 'No'. So when she is refused her request for a pet brontosaurus, she sets off to find one!When she does meet up with one, he has no interest in becoming her pet. In fact, he'd prefer her to be his pet!

[dms02 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a really fun story to read. The chapters were really short - made for a quick read. We loved hearing from the author through the story. The story had some laugh out loud quirky parts making this enjoyable for both parents and kids. The illustrations reminded me of our copy of My Father's Dragon.

[bookwormygirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lulu wants nothing other than a pet brontosaurus for her birthday. When her parents tell her that she won't be getting one. She gets very upset. She throws a fit, screams, yells, pounds the ground - does anything and everything for her parents to relent and get her her pet brontosaurus. But her parents are having none of it. They refuse to get her what she wants. Well Lulu is having none of that. She feels that if her parents won't bring her a pet brontosaurus then she'll just have to get her own pet brontosaurus. So she sets off on an adventure into the forest to find herself her new pet, all the way signing:I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, gonna, geta bronto-bronto-bronto-bronto-saurus for a pet!In the forest Lulu comes across a number of animals: a snake, a tiger, a bear but none of them particularly impress her. Until she finally finds him... her brontosaurus. But she soon realizes that Mr. Brontosaurus has his own plans... he thinks she'll make the perfect pet for him! What is Lulu to do?This is the perfect read-aloud for children 4 and up. With Ms. Viorst's witty storytelling and Lane Smith's charming illustrations you have a pleasant and clever story. I thought Ms. Viorst's attitude shone perfectly throughout Lulu's pages - on more than one occasion saying that since it's her story, it is more than perfect for a Brontosaurus to be living in the forest. Originally I read this for myself and then I read it to my children and I can't begin to describe the joy and wonder in their little faces as I read this to them. Not only is it a funny and clever story but it is also a story with a good moral. It teaches children that you can't always have what you want but especially to listen to your parents. What I truly loved was that it is told simply and enjoyably enough to where my 4year old understood its message. I love that! The best part of the book though - the alternate endings. I love that we got various endings to choose from - because yes, it's Ms. Viorst's book and she can do that if she wants. :)This was a very cute story that I recommend for parents to read to their children - or, if you're like me, for adults who enjoy picture books. A sweet tale, with a great moral and some fabulous illustrations.

[samseabornesq · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lulu is a more ornery Pipi with parents at home (who really don't pay attention anyway - so same dif). In this volume the imaginative, adventurous and rather fearless young heroine sets out alone to find a pet Brontosaurus, a natural companion. Along the way, she charms a snake, tames a tiger, and outwits a bear. Finding, in the end, not the pet she sought, but the friendship and respect of others she lacked at the start.A fine moral, surely. Its endings (yes there are three options) are a little lackluster and I like Lulu more when she's kicking and being snarky and not emphasizing the word "please" every other sentence. :)Lane Smith pulls off some dope illustrations, though. These will keep young readers engaged throughout.7 - 10

[heidijones · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a cute, clever story! Lulu is spoiled, and used to getting what she wants. She finally meets her match when the brontosaurus she wants for a pet, decides that Lulu would make a lovely pet herself! The sassy character is very likable, even though she is demanding!

[cheriedooryard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very funny, very quick early chapter book. I thought the dinosaur was a bit creepy in places, but the kids didn't so I'm just going to assume that I'm bringing the grown-up "Wow, doesn't this dinosaur sound a bit like it's grooming Lulu?" perspective and leave it at that. The kids loved it.

[kberryman44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a fun quick read that had me laughing the whole way through. Lulu is a realistic character and I can see many of my students relating to parts of her character. Moreover, I loved the rhyming, and think this would make a fantastic read aloud for grades k-2.

[Nana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved it so much it was do cute ?

[thedivineoomba · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked up this book based on the cover- And the book did not disappoint. While a children's book, the story will amuse adults - about a little girl who runs away to find herself a Brontosaurus for a pet, and when she finds it, its considerable more than she bargained for.The artwork is great, the story takes a different approach to the bratty kid who wants everything. Has just enough scariness (and can do attitude) that will make every kid smile. Highly recommended for those readers out of pictures books but getting into chapter books.

[meditationesmartini · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A lovely tale about how we go from thinking of ourselves to thinking about others and why, guest-starring brontosaurus.