A rawr-ing good depiction of being the new kid.
On his first day of school in a new country, a young boy discovers a dino-mite way to make friends.
Santiago is starting school in the United States after moving from Mexico. He readies his dinosaur-themed backpack with all of his dinosaur school supplies, including his favorite dinosaur book. Worries, nonetheless, plague him. “¿Cómo haré nuevos amigos?” he wonders (“How will I make new friends?”), particularly because he doesn’t speak or understand English yet. When Mrs. Taylor introduces Santiago to the rest of the class, he recoils from all the attention. Though the boy sitting next to him greets him, Santiago can’t find the words beyond sharing his name in Spanish—and he worries that he “has a Brachiosaurus-sized problem.” Library time introduces more language barriers. However, the day improves when Santiago goes to music class, where a classmate flashes a thumbs-up at Santiago’s cool dinosaur shirt. Now, “Santiago’s problem might only be Iguanodon-sized.” With compassion and insight, Ríos Ramírez chronicles the anxieties that many children feel upon attending school in a new country. The use of dinosaurs to measure Santiago’s apprehensions works well (further underscored with the dinosaur-stamped endpapers). Unitalicized Spanish words and phrases slip in throughout the tale, with translations tucked away at the bottoms of pages. Mrs. Taylor is Black; Lugo’s vibrant, smile-filled illustrations feature a diverse group of students. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A rawr-ing good depiction of being the new kid. (dinosaur glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-8075-7230-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans.
It’s time to look for the elusive Daddysaurus.
In this latest installment in the seemingly never-ending series about a group of diverse kids attempting to trap mythical creatures, the youngsters are now on the lookout for a big mauve dinosaur with an emblazoned D on his stomach and a superhero cape. The fast-moving Daddysaurus is always on the go; he will be difficult to catch. Armed with blueprints of possible ideas, the kids decide which traps to set. As in previous works, ones of the sticky variety seem popular. They cover barbells with fly paper (Daddysaurus like to exercise) and spread glue on the handle of a shovel (Daddysaurus also likes to garden). One clever trick involves tempting Daddysaurus with a drawing of a hole, taped to the wall, because he fixes everything that breaks. Daddysaurus is certainly engaged in the children’s lives, not a workaholic or absent, but he does fall into some standard tropes associated with fathers. The rhyming quatrains stumble at times but for the most part bounce along. Overall, though, text and art feel somewhat formulaic and likely will tempt only devotees of the series. The final page of the book (after Daddysaurus is caught with love) has a space for readers to write a note or draw a picture of their own Daddysaurus. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-72826-618-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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