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IT'S SHOW AND TELL, DEXTER!

Name: IT'S SHOW AND TELL, DEXTER!
Author: Lindsay Ward
ISBN: 978-1-5039-0137-7

From the Dexter T. Rexter series

by Lindsay Ward ; illustrated by Lindsay Ward ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 17, 2018

In this sequel, Dexter’s still funny, but he is in danger of becoming a one-note joke.

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Dexter is as anxious as in his debut, Don’t Forget Dexter! (2017), and he’s worked himself into a frenzy over the fact that Jack’s show-and-tell day is tomorrow.

The orange T. Rex toy is beside himself with excitement and has been preparing for weeks. But then the nerves set in, fears that will be familiar to many a child: “What if no one likes me?” What cool talent could he possibly show off? What if Jack chooses to take someone else instead? Dexter regularly breaks the fourth wall to address readers, responding to their implied criticisms. Regarding the bunny costume: “I know it’s a little tight, but…Really? Not even the cute fluffy tail?” Discarded costumes and possible talents mount up, Dexter’s panic increasing exponentially until a double-page spread “TOTAL FREAKOUT!” leads to the suggestion (from readers, of course) that he just go as himself. The final two spreads portray his show-and-tell debut and its aftermath, but after the extensive lead-up, the finale seems too brief. Ward’s illustrations, made with printmaking ink, colored pencil, and cut paper, wonderfully capture Dexter’s every emotion and over-the-top ideas. Dexter’s owner, Jack, a black boy, appears only at the beginning and end, the dino’s outsized personality taking up all the space in between.

In this sequel, Dexter’s still funny, but he is in danger of becoming a one-note joke. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: July 17, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5039-0137-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Two Lions

Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S DINOSAURS & PREHISTORIC CREATURES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WHITE HOUSE
by Lindsay Ward ; illustrated by Lindsay Ward

- BOOK REVIEW
SCOOPER AND DUMPER
by Lindsay Ward ; illustrated by Lindsay Ward

- BOOK REVIEW
OUR SPOT
by Lindsay Ward ; illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard

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WHERE'S THE DINOSAUR?

by Keith Moseley illustrated by Keith Moseley ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2012

Young dino-hunters, on the other hand, never had it so good.

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Mr. Magoo has nothing on young George’s grandfather, who manages to miss nearly 100 dinosaurs concealed (or not) in the pictures illustrating this visit to a remote volcanic island.

In broadly brushed watercolors, Moseley depicts the two explorers (and George’s basset, Meg) taking a quick trip in a hot-air balloon and wandering through woodsy settings. Throughout, they are surrounded by dinosaurs of various recognizable but unidentified sorts that either stand in plain view or are slightly concealed within the lines of rocks, tree trunks and other natural features. An Apatosaurus, for instance, is hidden in the curving lines of a mountain range; less trickily, a flock of pterosaurs escorts them on their approach to the island. Many of the creatures are also embossed or outlined in a slightly raised plastic overlay that can be felt or spotted by tilting the page to catch shiny reflections. Though George and Meg have no trouble spotting dinosaur sign, Grandpa misses it all and makes a disappointed comment as the three visitors sail homeward.

Young dino-hunters, on the other hand, never had it so good. (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: May 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-1-4027-8894-9

Page Count: 26

Publisher: Sterling

Review Posted Online: March 13, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2012

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S DINOSAURS & PREHISTORIC CREATURES

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DINOSAURS DON'T, DINOSAURS DO

From the I Like To Read series

by Steve Bjorkman & illustrated by Steve Bjorkman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 15, 2011

Illustrating his points with pairs of bright, informally drawn and colored cartoons featuring recognizable dinos in modern...

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Straightforward behavior modeling for newly fledged independent readers.

Illustrating his points with pairs of bright, informally drawn and colored cartoons featuring recognizable dinos in modern playgrounds and other familiar settings, Björkman contrasts bad manners with better ones. “Dinosaurs don’t eat like this. Dinosaurs eat like this.” (A marmalade T. Rex tosses syrupy pancakes into his mouth, spattering goo everywhere, while at the other end of the table, a hadrosaur politely offers the syrup to a pterodactyl; both have bite-sized pieces of pancake poised on forks.) “Dinosaurs don’t hit or bite. When they are mad, dinosaurs use words.” (That troublesome T. Rex pounds a purple, horned dinosaur, having already bitten off its tail; meanwhile, a green Dimetrodon mildly points out to an apologetic, brown Ankylosaurus that the latter broke his toy.) Summing up his message with a version of the Golden Rule (“Dinosaurs treat others as they want to be treated. That is why everyone loves dinosaurs!”) and steering clear of any direct or indirect reference to the possibility of punishment, the author leaves it to readers to make their choices on a moral or ethical basis. Though unlikely on its own to spark any revolutionary changes in behavior, this approach does at least provide a starting point for reflection or discussion.