"And then you could keep a dragon in it, and he could look after all the books for you when you're not here..."

This week, at the bookshop, I have mostly been loving the wonderful things that children say.

A few quotes from 'More Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshop's - out April 2013.

--

Girl (pointing to a cupboard under one of the bookshelves): Can you get to Narnia through there?

Me: Unfortunately, I don’t think you can. 

Girl: Oh. Our wardrobe at home doesn’t work for getting to Narnia, either. 

Me: No?

Girl: No. Dad says it’s because mum bought it at IKEA. 

--

Child: Mummy, who was Hitler?

Mother: Hitler?

Child: Yeah. Who was he?

Mother: Erm, he was a very bad man from a long time ago. 

Child: Oh. How bad?

Mother: He was like... he was like Voldemort. 

Child: Oh! That’s really, really bad. 

Mother: Yes. 

Child: (Pause) So... did Harry Potter kill Hitler, too?

--

(A young girl is looking at some pony books)

Me: Do you like horses?

Young girl:  Yes. When I grow up I’m going to have a pony. 

Me: That sounds like fun. 

Young girl: Yes. And it will be better than all the other ponies. 

Me: How come?

Young girl: Because mine will have a purple tail. And roller-skates. 

--

Young boy: You should put a basement in your bookshop. 

Me: You think so?

Young boy: Yeah. And then you could keep a dragon in it, and he could look after all the books for you when you're not here. 

Me: That's a pretty cool idea. Dragons breathe fire, though. Do you think he might accidentally burn the books?

Young boy: He might, but you could get one who'd passed a test in bookshop-guarding. Then you'd be ok. 

Me: ...You know, I think you're on to something there. 

--

More Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops

'Weird Things...' facebook page.