TERRY THE DINOSAUR

A little pterodactyl is teased by his wingless peers.

The titular young pterodactyl, who “just want[s]to be normal,” is mocked by bullies who “[think] his wings [are] strange and weird,” snubbed when he tries to throw a party and then, following a bit of parental comfort, assaulted with snowballs. After all this, one of the onlookers, Bailey the Brachiosaurus, apologizes for his inaction, and the two go off to dance around “in the prehistoric sun.” Notwithstanding a reference to “vast snowy plains,” the brightly colored cartoon figures seem to live in sunny, woodland glades—and a good thing too, as reptiles are not known to thrive in snow. They rock stiffly back and forth or move a little, disappear or otherwise respond reluctantly to persistent taps and swipes. Children have the option of listening to a wooden reading of the awkwardly written narrative, choosing “Read Myself” mode (which also cuts off the background music) or dispensing with visible text entirely to make party balloons pop, scribble on a coloring page, or play with the rudimentary, slow-to-reload pinball game and two other simple appended activities.

Low-rent graphics and interactive effects perfectly complement a stultifyingly bland prehistoric tale