PIZZASAURUS

Dinosaurs are awesome, pizza is delicious, and the combination? A prehistoric treat!

Tailor-made for an audience of dinosaur-loving pizza aficionados—in other words, nearly all kids—this title kicks off with an inviting “You look like someone who knows a lot about dinosaurs.” The unseen narrator conspiratorially notes that readers likely are well acquainted with the likes of Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Apatosaurus, Ankylosaurus, and Velociraptor. “But there’s another dinosaur who really delivers”—the “supremely special” Pizzasaurus. The other dinosaurs, resentful of the newcomer, jockey for readers’ attention (Apatosaurus can sport 96 scarves at once! And Triceratops is “practically a prehistoric unicorn!”), but Pizzasaurus, who lives in a pizza-themed home and gobbles pie after pie, is the star of the show. Until he goes missing. Was he eaten (we’re looking at you, Tyrannosaurus)? Caught in an erupting volcano? Nope! He’s back with pizza for everyone! The dinos agree: “He’s a very special dinosaur indeed.” Dinosaur books are plentiful, and though this one’s light on plot, it’s heavy on humor. Beckett’s bright, cheery illustrations feature rubber-faced dinos frequently breaking the fourth wall to stare at readers with eyebrows arched in disbelief. The pizza-themed puns and wordplay ramp up the read-aloud potential.

Cheesy in all the best ways.