Fun for dinosaur mavens and brave young explorers who want to test their mettle.
A small animal tries to defy expectations.
Regina, a diminutive theropod, yearns to be a fearsome predator, but Mama tells her she’s too little to join the hunt. Phooey, Regina thinks. She’s not that little: She can roar and make scary faces, and she knows how to hide. She attempts to prove Mama wrong. First, Regina spies a tasty-looking morsel to chomp on—the tail of an enormous triceratops who, luckily, is a forgiving sort who merely scowls at her in displeasure. Next, she encounters a bulky ankylosaurus, who patiently (and a bit insultingly) humors her. Just when she’s ready to give up and consider an herbivorous life, Regina sees a promising, smaller possibility—and a mammal to boot. Problem is, it hisses and chases the would-be predator. Fortunately, Mama appears, heads off disaster, and teaches Regina what’s safe to hunt. A comic final twist upends Mama’s solution somewhat. This cute story told with wry humor roars loudly to youngsters who want to step—tentatively—out of their parents’ safe nests and test life’s hunting grounds alone. The conclusion reassures kids that parents will always be there to welcome wanderers back and guide and comfort them whenever needed. The energetic, solid-lined ink illustrations are boldly colored, evoking the prehistoric landscape, and feature a big-eyed, ridiculously adorable protagonist with a lively personality. Occasional onomatopoeia and sound effects set in larger type enliven visuals and add humor. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 27.7% of actual size.)
Fun for dinosaur mavens and brave young explorers who want to test their mettle. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 13, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12728-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
Count on construction die-hards falling in love, but discerning readers would be wise to look elsewhere for their...
Less ambitious than Chris Gall’s widely known Dinotrux (2009) and sequels, this British import systematically relegates each dinosaur/construction-equipment hybrid to its most logical job.
The title figures are introduced as bigger than both diggers and dinosaurs, and rhyming text and two construction-helmeted kids show just what these creatures are capable of. Each diggersaur has a specific job to do and a distinct sound effect. The dozersaurus moves rocks with a “SCRAAAAPE!!!” while the rollersaurus flattens lumps with a cheery “TOOT TOOT!!” Each diggersaur is numbered, with 12 in all, allowing this to be a counting book on the sly. As the diggersaurs (not all of which dig) perform jobs that regular construction equipment can do, albeit on a larger scale, there is no particular reason why any of them should have dinosaurlike looks other than just ’cause. Peppy computer art tries valiantly to attract attention away from the singularly unoriginal text. “Diggersaurs dig with bites so BIG, / each SCOOP creates a crater. // They’re TOUGH and STRONG / with necks so long— / they’re super EXCAVATORS!” Far more interesting are the two human characters, a white girl and a black boy, that flit about the pictures offering commentary and action. Much of the fun of the book can be found in trying to spot them on every two-page spread.
Count on construction die-hards falling in love, but discerning readers would be wise to look elsewhere for their dino/construction kicks. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-9848-4779-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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