A simple, charming story about dinosaurs, adventure, and friendship.
A normal day turns positively Jurassic with the appearance of four dinosaurs.
Luke and his dog, Bobo, are digging in their backyard sandbox when they encounter an unexpected surprise—a full-size T. rex! They’re barely able to introduce themselves to Rex before Luke’s friend Noah arrives with a brachiosaurus and invites the three of them to the playground. Dinosaurs can’t use the monkey bars, though, so they invent their own games. Emma and Mikey, along with their triceratops and pterodactyl, join the fun. “Today was officially the best-osaurus day ever!” Hide-and-seek goes very well, but as they launch into other games, Luke and his friends notice Rex struggling to participate. He becomes so disheartened that he wants to leave. They remind him of all the adaptations they’ve already made to better accommodate him and encourage him to modify and practice the new activities until he improves. Rex, now inspired, absorbs the lesson of support and perseverance. This follow-up to The Day I Had a Bulldozer (2023) is likely to hit home with the dinosaur-loving preschool crowd. While we don’t learn much about dinosaurs, Wall’s lesson of accommodation and resilience is crystal-clear.Duck portrays a diverse group of friends, including Asian, white, and Black children. The kids have cartoonishly large heads, and the illustrator uses a bright palette of blue, green, purple, and orange.
A simple, charming story about dinosaurs, adventure, and friendship.Pub Date: June 11, 2024
ISBN: 9781960616111
Page Count: 36
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Aug. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans.
It’s time to look for the elusive Daddysaurus.
In this latest installment in the seemingly never-ending series about a group of diverse kids attempting to trap mythical creatures, the youngsters are now on the lookout for a big mauve dinosaur with an emblazoned D on his stomach and a superhero cape. The fast-moving Daddysaurus is always on the go; he will be difficult to catch. Armed with blueprints of possible ideas, the kids decide which traps to set. As in previous works, ones of the sticky variety seem popular. They cover barbells with fly paper (Daddysaurus like to exercise) and spread glue on the handle of a shovel (Daddysaurus also likes to garden). One clever trick involves tempting Daddysaurus with a drawing of a hole, taped to the wall, because he fixes everything that breaks. Daddysaurus is certainly engaged in the children’s lives, not a workaholic or absent, but he does fall into some standard tropes associated with fathers. The rhyming quatrains stumble at times but for the most part bounce along. Overall, though, text and art feel somewhat formulaic and likely will tempt only devotees of the series. The final page of the book (after Daddysaurus is caught with love) has a space for readers to write a note or draw a picture of their own Daddysaurus. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-72826-618-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
