A tongue-in-cheek tribute to the spirit, not to mention the occasionally life-saving value, of sharing.
A class outing to the deep past nearly ends in disaster after a flying reptile steals a student’s lunchbox.
Riding a next-generation version of the Magic School Bus that not only travels in time but also sprouts very tall legs when it arrives, the students and teacher are so enthralled by the prehistoric setting rolling past that they don’t notice when one child tumbles out. Fortunately, the peckish local dinosaurs prove more willing to feed on the reclaimed lunchbox’s contents than its owner—at least just long enough to allow a last-second rescue. Unlike the classic field trip led by Ms. Frizzle, this one is more recreational than informational in character, but young readers shouldn’t have much trouble either following the storyline or identifying the brightly hued, wide-eyed dinos chowing down on pretzels, pizza, and other culinary treats in Hare’s wordless scenes. The students, at first anonymously swaddled in body suits and dark glasses, reveal themselves to be a racially diverse bunch at the end as they walk off, generously passing items from their own lunches to their errant classmate. Fans of this tale should be sure to embark on other journeys with Hare; previous outings include Field Trip to the Moon (2019) and Field Trip to the Ocean Deep (2020).
A tongue-in-cheek tribute to the spirit, not to mention the occasionally life-saving value, of sharing. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780823459575
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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
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BOOK REVIEW
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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