Rousing dino adventure with enough tooth-to-claw fighting for an exciting climax.
A dino yo ho ho and away we go!
Having already covered cars, trucks, and rockets (Dinosaur Rocket, 2015, etc.), Dale ensnares preschooler’s hearts and minds with yet another irresistible combination: dinos + pirates. In this latest edition to the series, the scaly scalawags take to the high seas. They’re on the hunt for booty, and they’ve a map to lead them on. Told in rhythmic, not-quite-rhyming language, the simple storyline is punctuated by context-appropriate interjections repeated in threes: “Scrub! Scrub! Scrub!” (as the dinos swab the decks) or “Heave ho! Heave ho! Heave ho!” (as they haul a treasure chest out of the ground). Little listeners will certainly join in with scurvy aplomb. Things take a turn for the interesting when a band of scavenging pirates (appropriately cast as a pack of “rotten raptors”) boards our heroes’ vessel, eager to nick the hard-sought gold. A great battle ensues, and through clever trickery the raptors are defeated. Great merriment follows. While there is little here that is particularly original, Dale’s vibrant and elaborately detailed pencil-and-watercolor illustrations breathe new life into these long-extinct rogues. This is a book that knows its audience and will suit the needs of pirate and dinosaur fans alike.
Rousing dino adventure with enough tooth-to-claw fighting for an exciting climax. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 2, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9330-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: March 5, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2017
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
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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