"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."

Judith Viorst is the bestselling author of SUDDENLY SIXTY, FOREVER FIFTY, NECESSARY LOSSES and several other works. She is also the author of the classic children's book ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY. She lives in Washington D.C. with her husband. Lane Smith is the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. He also wrote and illustrated Madam President and John, Paul, George & Ben which were both New York Times and Publishers Weekly best-sellers. He lives with book designer Molly Leach in rural Connecticut and can be visited at lanesmithbooks.com.