ARCHIBALD AND THE FURRY DINOSAURS

This hairy tale has been a long time coming.

Dinosaurs used to be covered in hair: “There were short-haired dinosaurs and long-haired dinosaurs. Fluffy, curly, bearded, dreadlocked, and shaggy dinosaurs.” Except one. Archibald, a red bipedal dino, had hair once, but he’s now “as bald as a boulder.” Where did his tresses go? Archibald sets out on a quest to find his lost locks. Along the way, his lack of hair comes in handy. Pursued by the fierce Woollyciraptors, he escapes by dashing through a thicket of brambles (the raptors’ wool gets them tangled up). Sunlight gleaming on his smooth top blinds the hungry Haironodons eager to make a meal out of him, and a voracious but hirsute Furannosaurus becomes overheated while chasing him. Archibald even saves a few new friends along the way. These actions begin a hair-shaving trend among his furry contemporaries. The story’s dry humor and intricate digital illustrations work in harmony to deliver a charming story that will amuse budding paleontologists. From stocky, sweetly guileless Archibald to his preening peers to the predators with their gaping maws, the caricaturelike depictions of the dinos will delight. While some details and colors may be a hair too subtle for large-group storytimes, the book is a fine choice for lap reads anywhere—especially barbershops.

Hair-raising fun that will leave readers combing bookshelves for more.