DINKY THE TINYSAUR

Lofty expectations lead to dinosauric disappointment.

The siblings at the heart of this tale aren’t like other kids. Other children, the pair scoff, dream pedestrian dreams, fantasizing about pet unicorns and personal dragons; we, they boast, yearn for a Tinysaur, a precious, pint-size creature that’s almost certainly outside the bounds of paleontological reality. But miraculously, when the Dino Adoption Fair rolls through town, they’re in luck! One such critter peers timidly from her enclosure, a cardboard box with the totally reassuring, not-suspicious-at-all label “100% Definitely a Tinysaur.” Cue the delightful montage that captures life with Dinky: trips to the beach, bike rides, and games of dress-up. Everything is enhanced by the Tinysaur’s presence until one day, Dinky transforms, no longer a teeny Tinysaur, but a behemoth. Disappointed by this surprising development but loving Dinky all the same, the kids grapple with what it really takes to cultivate unconditional friendship. Edkins Willis’ first-person account offers sweet, light insight into what it feels like to set expectations—and see them upended. Her narrative underscores the value of adaptability and acceptance in the face of change, and her art lends an accessible, authentically childlike aesthetic to the effort. Extensive details in the artwork, including endpapers evocative of a kid-assembled collage, lend a whimsical touch. The protagonists have light-tan skin, and one sibling uses a wheelchair; secondary characters are relatively diverse.

A quirky balm for life’s minor letdowns.