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I AM A TYRANNOSAURUS

From the Tyrannosaurus series

Once again, prehistoric creatures point the way to our most highly evolved selves.

Jolted awake by a volcanic eruption, a baby Pteranodon is faced with a moral dilemma.

Having taught their beloved son all the life skills he needs to be successfully launched, Pteranodon’s parents fly away in the night, leaving him asleep in their nest. Peering down, he now sees, beneath a pile of rubble, a wounded Tyrannosaurus, suffering vision loss, perhaps as a result of concussion. Pteranodon remembers his parents’ lessons: He should be strong, kind, wary of the dangerous Tyrannosaurus—and he must help those in need. After pondering how to apply their advice to this particularly sticky situation, Pteranodon tenderly cares for Tyrannosaurus, clearing away rocks, blanketing him in leaves when it rains, and feeding him berries. When Tyrannosaurus recovers and regains his sight, the story takes a refreshingly surprising (and deeply poignant) twist, sure to provoke sophisticated conversations about our motivations for charitable behavior. The fifth entry in a series from Japan, this title features the trademark intensely saturated, bold colors and simple shapes rendered in thick black lines. Tyrannosaurus manages to appear both frightening and sympathetic, while plucky little Pteranodon embodies grit. An open, ambiguous ending allows readers to speculate about whether and how Tyrannosaurus may have been changed by this experience—a welcome contrast to books that deliver a potted message.

Once again, prehistoric creatures point the way to our most highly evolved selves. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-940842-24-0

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Museyon

Review Posted Online: July 29, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018

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HOW TO CATCH A DADDYSAURUS

From the How To Catch… series

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

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THE HUGASAURUS

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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