Don't laugh. I work in the library, and when I get off, I tend to go to the bookstore - and read children's books there also.
Lulu and the Brontosaurus
Judith Viorst (author of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day)
ISBN: 9781416999621
Read February 8, 2014
Loved it. Lulu is a massive brat, the Brontosaurus is massively entitled and irritatingly patient, and the 'author' pokes her head in at random parenthetical intervals to explain, comment, or disparage the narrative.
Lulu is just now turning three, and she's decided that she wants a brontosaurus. She can decide this, you see, because her parents have spent her childhood to date giving in and giving Lulu anything she wants, just because she pitches truly massive fits. Unfortunately for Lulu, her parents think brontosauruses are extinct, and are proof against her pleas, so she heads out to the forest to find one herself.
Sadly for Lulu, this does not go according to plan. Wild animals try to eat her, and when she does find her brontosaurus, it decides that Lulu should be the pet in this relationship. A bit of hard-earned maturity later, Lulu returns home for a set of delightful endings (the author couldn't get it quite right the first few times, you see).
Nancy Clancy Sees the Future
Jane O'Connor, illustrsted by Robin Priess Glasser
ISBN: 9780062082978
Read February 8, 2014
These books are the chapter-book associates to the Fancy Nancy picture book series (which I adore) only now Nancy is a bit older, and involved in solving mysteries (Cam Jansen style). In this installment (the third of the chapter books), Nancy makes a series of astounding predictions, and becomes convinced that she has a sixth sense, and can predict the future. The story relies heavily on child-logic, which is amusing to read. It also stays heavily focused on previously-established characters - best friend Bree, magician classmate, adored babysitter. Nancy's illusions are shattered by learning about the words 'coincidence' and 'intuition,' a lesson that many adults could stand to revisit. Bonus points for a plot-driving mention of Locks of Love.
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