Van Allsburg–like magic infuses this fantastic tale.
An unavoidable disappointment becomes a marvelous Mesozoic memory.
Jake plans his whole birthday party around his obsession with dinosaurs: “dino games, dino balloons, dino cake. Dino everything!” But when his flu-stricken guests cancel, that “STUPENDOUS” sleepover must be rescheduled. Jake sadly goes to bed in his dino-themed room—until a snort in the night awakens him. Instead of his three friends, a trio of prehistoric pals are snacking in front of his TV. He’s stunned, but, ever the expert, he still easily identifies them: Dryosaurus, Leptoceratops, and Pachycephalosaurus. He squashes in among them to watch the movie and eat cheese curls. The party is a roaring success as Jake teaches the friendly but clueless reptiles how to play games (except pin-the-tail-on-the-dinosaur; they’re afraid of getting pricked). The party spills out into the yard and then the neighborhood as more dino guests arrive; they then visit each of the sick kids. Carnivorous T. rex hasn’t been invited—but of course she quietly shows up, shyly admitting that she’s often overlooked. Grateful to be included, she plays goalie in a climactic soccer game, which is dubbed “STUPENDOUS.” Was it all a dream? The final page is convincingly conclusive, even for skeptical adults. In the ebullient, realistic illustrations, the dinosaurs are striped and spotted; Jake’s light-skinned, and his human pals vary in skin tone. The night atmosphere is enthrallingly dim and star-spangled, and Jake’s emotions are compellingly conveyed.
Van Allsburg–like magic infuses this fantastic tale. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 8, 2025
ISBN: 9780735269231
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
A young owl achieves his grand ambition.
Owl, an adorably earnest and gallant little owlet, dreams of being a knight. He imagines himself defeating dragons and winning favor far and wide through his brave exploits. When a record number of knights go missing, Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has “a habit of nodding off during the day.” Nevertheless, he graduates and is assigned to the Knight Night Watch. While patrolling the castle walls one night, a hungry dragon shows up and Owl must use his wits to avoid meeting a terrible end. The result is both humorous and heartwarming, offering an affirmation of courage and clear thinking no matter one’s size…and demonstrating the power of a midnight snack. The story never directly addresses the question of the missing knights, but it is hinted that they became the dragon’s fodder, leaving readers to question Owl’s decision to befriend the beast. Humor is supplied by the characters’ facial expressions and accented by the fact that Owl is the only animal in his order of big, burly human knights. Denise’s accomplished digital illustrations—many of which are full bleeds—often use a warm sepia palette that evokes a feeling of antiquity, and some spreads feature a pleasing play of chiaroscuro that creates suspense and drama.
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
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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