TINY T. REX AND THE FIRST DAY OOPSIES

A young dinosaur bravely navigates the first day of school.

Tiny T. Rex, an irresistibly sweet green dino with two upturned teeth, a pair of itty-bitty arms, and a fetching red bow tie, sets off with a positive outlook and a disproportionately huge backpack. Though eager to start school, Tiny makes a series of discouraging mistakes (“oopsies”), from playing the wrong note during music class to spilling paint while working on a self-portrait. Bolstered by some reassurance from Teacher and an encouraging note from Mom (tucked into Tiny’s lunch), our chipper hero makes it through the day and heads home, excited to come back tomorrow. Fleck’s illustrations play up the protagonist’s diminutive stature at every turn, to humorous effect. The other dinos tower comically over Tiny, and even the young dinosaur’s possessions (fork, toothbrush, musical instrument) are much too large. While Tiny’s world is at times overwhelming, it’s also vibrant and welcoming, filled with brightly colored, kindly dinosaurs, like BFF Pointy. Eschewing contractions in Stutzman’s text, Tiny’s sweetly earnest first-person narration sets the perfect tone for readers transitioning into preschool or kindergarten. Tiny models resilience, relying on the support of loved ones and finding creative ways to cope with a too-big environment. It’s a comforting reminder that new experiences aren’t always easy, but they’re certainly worth it.

Small but mighty, like its determined protagonist.