TIMOTHY DINOMAN SAVES THE CAT

Can a villain use a weather satellite to hold the world captive? Not on this dinosaur’s watch.

When Mr. Bowman and his henchmen, Brams and Quaid—all light-skinned—steal and launch the satellite, agents Timothy Dinoman, an iguanodon who wears an eyepatch, and Jen Robins, a light-skinned human, work to foil the plot. They’re helped by Abraham, Bowman’s white cat (a nod to the feline petted by the Bond villain in From Russia With Love), whom good-hearted Timothy saves when Bowman’s lair goes up in flames. In an underlying plot thread, the release of Space Beam, a so-bad-it’s-good movie, foreshadows the real impending danger. Bursting with visual energy that leaps off the page, the artwork brings to life vivid action scenes, including an elaborate fight sequence in and then on top of a speeding train and an extended footrace and vehicular chase that would impress even Wile E. Coyote. There are laugh-out-loud moments aplenty: Timothy and a henchman pause midfight after knocking over a shelf of first-edition books (Timothy even stops to browse). Readers will enjoy the James Bond–esque gadgets, like a data transmitter hidden inside a container of dental floss. This tale has heart, too: Timothy and Jen’s bond is a strong one, and Timothy’s kindness toward Abraham is repaid at critical moments, leading to a satisfying conclusion.

Action-packed, save-the-world drama mixed with humor and heart.