Lulu Walks the Dogs by Judith Viorst, Lane Smith, Paperback

September/October 2012 Horn Book Magazine

Lulu still has a world-class case of self-absorption, but her arguing skills have matured a bit since Lulu and the Brontosaurus…. This extended comic fable is rife with authorial intrusion: Viorst ensures that readers are having fun, getting the point, and noticing her fictional ploys (“In actual life this almost never could happen. In the stories I write, things like this happen a lot. Deal with it”). Fortunately, these asides really are funny. Smith is in fine form with his pencil illustrations, especially the caricatures of Lola’s three canine charges—“bigheaded, bad-breathed brute” Brutus, “teeny-tiny white fuzzball” Pookie, and elusive German-comprehending dachshund Cordelia—and the owners they resemble.

October 2012 School Library Journal

In this sequel to Lulu and the Brontosaurus (S & S, 2010), the incorrigible Lulu, oft indulged by her parents, is desperate for ways to make money to pay for a mysterious something that they absolutely cannot afford…hilarious narration with much editorial wisecracking and frequent asides directed to readers. The story moves along quickly, variations in page layout and typeface add interest, and Smith’s stylized black-and-white drawings are a big part of the fun. A perfect choice for transitional readers.

Children's Bookshelf, September 16, 2012 - New York Times Book Review

"Viorst’s narrator-heroine, enjoying a fresh turn after “Lulu and the Brontosaurus,” is full of ‘tude and doesn’t care if you don’t like it. A child of entitlement, Lulu is nonetheless told she needs to earn money for her latest heart’s desire. Dog walking teaches her a lesson. Lulu feels like a cousin of, and a step up the chapter book ladder in difficulty from, Junie B. Jones. Smith’s sharp-eyed charcoals add kick."

September/October 2012 - Horn Book Magazine

Lulu still has a world-class case of self-absorption, but her arguing skills have matured a bit since Lulu and the Brontosaurus…. This extended comic fable is rife with authorial intrusion: Viorst ensures that readers are having fun, getting the point, and noticing her fictional ploys (“In actual life this almost never could happen. In the stories I write, things like this happen a lot. Deal with it”). Fortunately, these asides really are funny. Smith is in fine form with his pencil illustrations, especially the caricatures of Lola’s three canine charges—“bigheaded, bad-breathed brute” Brutus, “teeny-tiny white fuzzball” Pookie, and elusive German-comprehending dachshund Cordelia—and the owners they resemble.

New York Times Book ReviewChildren's Bookshelf

New York Times Book Review Children's Bookshelf

From the Publisher

The second hilarious episode to feature feisty Lulu (Lulu and the Brontosaurus, 2010), who almost always gets what she wants…. Smith’s droll illustrations interspersed throughout the text add to the humor and developing conflict…the short, funny chapters, over-the-top characters and engaging artwork will give this one plenty of appeal, especially to kids just venturing into chapter-book territory.”

—Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2012

“Lulu still has a world-class case of self-absorption, but her arguing skills have matured a bit since Lulu and the Brontosaurus…. This extended comic fable is rife with authorial intrusion: Viorst ensures that readers are having fun, getting the point, and noticing her fictional ploys (“In actual life this almost never could happen. In the stories I write, things like this happen a lot. Deal with it”). Fortunately, these asides really are funny. Smith is in fine form with his pencil illustrations, especially the caricatures of Lola’s three canine charges—“bigheaded, bad-breathed brute” Brutus, “teeny-tiny white fuzzball” Pookie, and elusive German-comprehending dachshund Cordelia—and the owners they resemble.”

—Horn Book Magazine, September/October 2012

Children's Literature - Barbara L. Talcroft

Kids who loved Viorst’s Lulu And the Brontosaurus will rejoice that Lulu’s back (with her lacquered bob and prison-striped dress), a bit politer than before—but not much. Now she is determined to make money for something mysterious that she really wants, but her beleaguered parents cannot afford. When she advertises as a dog walker (knowing nothing about dogs), she is offered some advice by a neighbor, Fleischman, who is so sweet-natured, efficient, and helpful that everyone loves him—he even gets the best grades in school. Naturally, Lulu hates him, warns him off dog walking, and scorns his help. Acquiring three unmanageable charges—Brutus, an enormous snarling bulldog; Pookie, a tiny white puffball; and a disappearing dachshund named Cordelia—Lulu quickly finds herself in trouble. Guess who shows up? Fleischman, of course—eager to help and very clever with dogs. Though Fleischman gets Lulu out of trouble more than once, bad-tempered Lulu snarls and growls at him till finally, Fleischman has had enough. How Lulu learns a useful lesson and, in the end, comes to terms with herself and Fleischman makes an appealing story full of outrageous dogs, eccentric owners, and two kids who could not be more different. The twenty-three chapters are short, some only one line, while the author frequently (perhaps too frequently) speaks directly to the reader, asserting herself as the one in charge of the story. Smith’s exaggerated, ebullient illustrations are done in pencil on heavily textured paper, creating shadings, smudges, and sharp lines as well. He has outdone himself with a spread depicting a dilapidated Victorian house with a yard full of junk and a half-page portrait of Fleischman playing his flute like Orpheus charming birds and beasts. Oh, yes, readers do find out what amazing project Lulu is saving for. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft; Ages 6 to 10.

School Library Journal

Gr 3–5—In this sequel to Lulu and the Brontosaurus (S & S, 2010), the incorrigible Lulu, oft indulged by her parents, is desperate for ways to make money to pay for a mysterious something that they absolutely cannot afford. Rejecting their suggestions to do helpful chores for people as their annoyingly well-behaved neighbor Fleischman does, Lulu settles on dog walking and quickly gathers three customers. But she hasn't anticipated that walking Brutus, Pookie, and Cordelia together is not the cinch she thought it would be, and she reluctantly accepts help from Fleischman. As these polar opposites devise strategies to bring the canines under control, they also take steps to overcome their mutual animosity, and a sort-of friendship develops. When Lulu's secret desire is revealed in a Q & A at story's end, it's clear they'll need to work together for a long time to come. The predictable plot takes a backseat to the hilarious narration with much editorial wisecracking and frequent asides directed to readers. The story moves along quickly, variations in page layout and typeface add interest, and Smith's stylized black-and-white drawings are a big part of the fun. A perfect choice for transitional readers.—Marie Orlando, fomerly at Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Kirkus Reviews

The second hilarious episode to feature feisty Lulu (Lulu and the Brontosaurus, 2010), who almost always gets what she wants. This time, what Lulu wants is so outrageous that her mother and father tell her she is going to have to earn the money for it herself, so Lulu hatches a business plan to earn the money by walking dogs. It turns out, however, that Lulu is a dismal failure at dog walking. Enter Fleischman, Lulu's goody-goody, smarty-pants, neat-as-a-button, uber-helpful and incredibly annoying neighbor. He can certainly help Lulu with her dog-walking scheme. The question is whether spoiled, prideful Lulu can stand him long enough to let him. Smith's droll illustrations interspersed throughout the text add to the humor and developing conflict by playfully emphasizing the differences between Lulu and Fleischman and creatively dramatizing their most interesting moments. Unfortunately, Viorst's numerous authorial asides--in which the narrator insists on control of the storyline and stops for brief question-and-answer sessions with readers--come across as more confusing than clever because the voice and personality of the narrator are almost indistinguishable from Lulu's. Nonetheless, the short, funny chapters, over-the-top characters and engaging artwork will give this one plenty of appeal, especially to kids just venturing into chapter-book territory. (Fiction. 6-10)

Lulu Walks the Dogs

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