NIBBLES

A voracious “bookivore” leaves ragged holes behind as it chews its way through an introduction to dinosaurs.

A T. Rex peering hungrily through the large die-cut hole in the front cover hints at what’s in store for yellow, Pikachu-like Nibbles. Not that the diminutive book monster cares that much, as he chews his way through quick introductions to Triceratops (“big bums and large stompy feet too”), Diplodocus (“I’m the Prince of PARPS!”), and Velociraptor—keeping just ahead of the outraged dinos and indignant narrator by lurking beneath flaps or gnawing his way through to the next page. Along with jokes, poop references, and quick snacks of dinosaur facts, Yarlett supplies loose cartoon portraits of pale-toned prehistoric creatures in simplified settings. Speaking of snacks, Nibbles almost becomes one…before the big T. Rex that snatches him up spits him out hard enough to propel him right through the rear cover. “It’s a comet!” ventures a saurian witness. “What’s a comet?” Ominously: “We’ll find out soon.”

A delicious escapade that young librivores (to use a more logical coinage) will snap up.