A sweet story readers are unlikely to forget.
Thanks to some kind words, Miyanishi’s Tyrannosaurus experiences an unexpected friendship.
A little Spinosaurus named Wimpy is poking about the seashore for red berries when a Tyrannosaurus appears looking for a meal. Just as the Tyrannosaurus is about to chow down on Wimpy, there is a giant earthquake. The ground cracks, the piece of land they are standing on breaks off, and the two dinosaurs drift away. As they spend more time together, they form an unexpected friendship. Wimpy shares that he was gathering red berries for his sick mother, and the Tyrannosaurus begins to empathize with him. When the Tyrannosaurs picks berries for them and protects Wimpy from a flying Tapejara, the Spinosaurus showers the Tyrannosaurus with compliments, calling him “cool” and “kind.” After another unexpected earthquake, the Tyrannosaurus makes an enormous sacrifice for his friend. In the end, the two friends can no longer be with each other, and Wimpy learns how to reflect on good memories and the kindness of his friend. Through this unusual circumstance, there are lessons of empathy, compassion, friendship, and self-sacrifice. The Tyrannosaurus’ response to Wimpy and subsequent behavior demonstrate how encouraging and powerful positive words can be. Miyanishi’s trademark artwork is very bold and vibrant, and the translation features great use of onomatopoeia throughout the story. (This book was reviewed digitally with 7-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at 48% of actual size.)
A sweet story readers are unlikely to forget. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: July 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-940842-44-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Museyon
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2020
Wins for compassion and for the refusal to let physical limitations hold one back.
With such short arms, how can Tiny T. Rex give a sad friend a hug?
Fleck goes for cute in the simple, minimally detailed illustrations, drawing the diminutive theropod with a chubby turquoise body and little nubs for limbs under a massive, squared-off head. Impelled by the sight of stegosaurian buddy Pointy looking glum, little Tiny sets out to attempt the seemingly impossible, a comforting hug. Having made the rounds seeking advice—the dino’s pea-green dad recommends math; purple, New Age aunt offers cucumber juice (“That is disgusting”); red mom tells him that it’s OK not to be able to hug (“You are tiny, but your heart is big!”), and blue and yellow older sibs suggest practice—Tiny takes up the last as the most immediately useful notion. Unfortunately, the “tree” the little reptile tries to hug turns out to be a pterodactyl’s leg. “Now I am falling,” Tiny notes in the consistently self-referential narrative. “I should not have let go.” Fortunately, Tiny lands on Pointy’s head, and the proclamation that though Rexes’ hugs may be tiny, “I will do my very best because you are my very best friend” proves just the mood-lightening ticket. “Thank you, Tiny. That was the biggest hug ever.” Young audiences always find the “clueless grown-ups” trope a knee-slapper, the overall tone never turns preachy, and Tiny’s instinctive kindness definitely puts him at (gentle) odds with the dinky dino star of Bob Shea’s Dinosaur Vs. series.
Wins for compassion and for the refusal to let physical limitations hold one back. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: March 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4521-7033-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An appealing approach, as ever filled with humor and common sense.
In the latest addition to the long-running, bestselling series, Yolen and Teague’s rascally dinosaurs learn to read and enjoy books despite their sometimes-inappropriate antics.
Yolen’s signature, inquiry-based rhyming text begins with the titular query, “How does a dinosaur / learn how to read?” In response, a series of rhetorical questions are posed, each indicating an unsuitable behavior or reaction when a new reader might be struggling, frustrated, and discouraged. “Does he use his new book / as a shovel or bat? // Play fetch with the dog? / Throw books at the cat?” Silly (“jump on the book”), sometimes rage-filled (“have a big hissy / when reading skills fail”) conduct eventually leads to the inevitable series of contradictions. “No—she’s kind to each book, / to the cover and pages. / She reads very carefully. / Never has rages.” Respectful care for books is emphasized so that reading a good story can be enjoyed again and again with calm, determined patience. Humorously exaggerated depictions of nine different angry, irritated, ill-tempered (and enormous) dinosaurs quickly revert to happy, willing, and satisfied expressions (highlighted in the endpapers) as new readers succeed to end the day peacefully, each falling asleep with a book in bed. A practical addendum offers sensible strategies for caregivers to coach their new readers following parental read-alouds, including learning letter sounds, sounding out words, using picture cues, repetition, and rhyming words.
An appealing approach, as ever filled with humor and common sense. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: June 26, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-338-23301-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Blue Sky/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2018
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