by Hannah Bonner ; illustrated by Hannah Bonner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 20, 2016
Five-star fare for librovores.
From T. rex and like “mega carnivores” down to bacterial “trashivores,” everyone is a guest—and also on the menu—at this paleo-pantry.
With a chatty microraptor on her forearm, the white, bespectacled Bonner (When Dinos Dawned, Mammals Got Munched, and Pterosaurs Took Flight, 2012, etc.) squires readers through teeming scenes of dino diners, with pauses for quick Q-and-A’s with paleontologists about fossil evidence, revealing close-ups of teeth and jaw structures, and other informative sidelights. Properly noting that dinosaurs shared their era with reptiles, mammals, and even true birds (plus amphibians like the evocatively named Beelzebufo) who all had appetites too, she presents her subjects in painted collectives by preferred diet. Where the usual “-vore” terminology doesn’t serve, she coins her own to give “sunivores” (aka “plants”), “dinovores” (including humans: Happy Thanksgiving!), and “detritivores” like fungi and earthworms their due. She also hides 18 tiny peanut-butter–and-jelly sandwiches for seek-and-find fun and adds visits to a “grossery store” stocked with carrion and a lush veggie market (“New! Flowering Plants!”). There are plenty of natural views of active but not gory chowing down. Following answers to the cogent if grammatically suspect question “Who Eats Who Today?” comes a full dessert, including a food web in a cake-shaped infographic, a “recipe” for photosynthesis, and a full tray of end matter aperitifs.
Five-star fare for librovores. (index, timelines, glossary) (Informational picture book. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4263-2339-3
Page Count: 48
Publisher: National Geographic Kids
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
Share your opinion of this book
More by Hannah Bonner
BOOK REVIEW
by Hannah Bonner & illustrated by Hannah Bonner
BOOK REVIEW
by Hannah Bonner & illustrated by Hannah Bonner
BOOK REVIEW
by Hannah Bonner & illustrated by Hannah Bonner
by Doug TenNapel ; illustrated by Doug TenNapel ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2013
An enjoyable mixed bag of potty humor, insightfulness and the powerful bonds between a pet and its owner
A young boy loses his beloved dog, only to have him return as a feisty and lovable T-Rex.
Ely and Tommy are inseparable. Tommy might not be the best-behaved dog—he digs up Ely’s mother’s garden and steals bacon from the breakfast table—but he is loyal to Ely, and their bond is palpable. When Tommy meets a tragic end, Ely decides to spend the summer working at his grandfather’s farm. After being chased by a bully named Randy, he stumbles upon a gentle (and full-sized) T-Rex who reminds him of a certain dog he used to know. While Ely’s love for the prehistoric creature is immediate, the other townsfolk must be persuaded. When a plea to win their affections goes terribly wrong, Ely must again face the possibility of losing a friend. This colorized reprint of TenNapel’s 2004 indie graphic novel lacks some of the sophistication of his more recent works, relying more on crude humor to drive aspects of the story forward than on subtler techniques. However, his trademark inventiveness and depth are still present, making this an excellent offering for any dog lover or for anyone looking for a tale of friendship.
Pub Date: June 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-545-48382-7
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013
Share your opinion of this book
More by Doug TenNapel
BOOK REVIEW
by Doug TenNapel ; illustrated by Doug TenNapel
BOOK REVIEW
by Doug TenNapel & illustrated by Doug TenNapel
BOOK REVIEW
by Doug TenNapel & illustrated by Doug TenNapel
by Grimaldi ; illustrated by Bannister ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2014
A fluffy comic bonbon—what kid wouldn’t want a dinosaur as a best friend? (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)
Prehistoric cavekid Tib and his dinosaur buddy, Tumtum, return for more antics in this sweet, episodic charmer.
Jumping right in where Welcome to the Tribe (2013) left off, the story opens with the tribe deciding how they feel about having a dinosaur among them. They don’t trust Tumtum, whom they see as a wild animal and a threat. Tib’s mom thinks that the dinosaur might be too dangerous to be a companion for him and wants him to stop playing with Tumtum. She encourages him to play with the other kids, but they relentlessly bully him and mock his prominent red facial birthmark. Lucky for Tib, he already has a best friend in Tumtum, and the two pals have nonstop fun as they cavort among the rocks and vegetation, playing with sticks or just enjoying a game of hide-and-seek. The vignettes are loosely strung together, though they do have enough of an overarching narrative for cohesion and to keep readers interested. Bright colors, silly jokes about poop and slapstick antics make this a cute, quick read. Jokes aside, Tib is incessantly bullied, and hopefully in later volumes, one of the adults will actually help, rather than just brush off his protestations.
A fluffy comic bonbon—what kid wouldn’t want a dinosaur as a best friend? (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: May 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4677-2181-3
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2014
Share your opinion of this book
More by Grimaldi
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.