PRINCESSES VERSUS DINOSAURS

Just whose book is this?

Pastel-clad princesses, parading against a backdrop of rainbows, crystals, and unicorns and other cute critters, contend for possession of this book with raging reptiles, rampaging amid exploding volcanoes and crashing meteors. “We eat princesses for breakfast,” declare the dinos. Damsels who vary in body size and skin tone, dressed in jewels, tiaras, and spectacles, confront grim, flame-streaked skies and toothy, snarling behemoths across alternate pages. It almost feels as though these two groups inhabit different books, but they trade nearly identically worded insults across the gutter (“Go suck an egg.” “No, YOU go suck an egg!”) and form separate but matching huddles to strategize. The dinos call in Dennis, a looming, toothy T. rex. But just as the Mesozoic monsters are triumphantly high-fiving, the princesses’ champion Shirley, an immense, fire-breathing purple dragon, flies dramatically across the page. Stalemate? Not at all! Subsequent events unfold at breakneck, satisfying speed as prima donnas and prehistoric beasts realize the error of their ways. Can’t dinosaurs wear ribbons and pearls? Couldn’t princesses ride a Parasaurolophus or sport a horned helmet? Isn’t it more fun to play together? The amusingly dissonant cartoon illustrations and saucy character comments (entirely in speech balloons) make for an absolute blast, with a clear yet never heavy-handed message of acceptance.

Fast-paced and hilarious hijinks, with a lesson of inclusion.