FIND-A-SAURUS

Marty’s mom has told him all about dinosaurs and now he wants to find one to be his pal in Sperring’s highly imaginative picture book debut. Not buying mom’s explanation that dinosaurs are long gone, Marty starts a fanciful search driven by a staunch belief that dinosaurs are simply good hiders. He looks under the bed, in the laundry basket, and up in the attic among other places, only to be disappointed with silly monsters, elves, aliens, and a host of additional make-believe or extinct creatures. Steele-Morgan’s wonderful illustrations add to the magic of the story, depicting the fantastic discoveries in bold colors and textures that leave the reader eagerly anticipating Marty’s next move. Especially pleasing are the fold-out dragon in the toy closet and the extra-large giant. Sure to be a hit with young children, but fun for adults as well. (Picture book. 2-5)