Douglas Rees

Yes, four stars. I was surprised, too. This is a terrific, and terrifically funny, book. The premise really grew on me. The humor managed to keep up a brisk pace in a story that really is a story -- with, like, issues and character development and stuff. Plus, I embarrassed myself while waiting outside my son's Lego class by laughing out loud several times during the penultimate chapter. Which is right near the end, and won't make any sense unless you've read the chapters leading up to it. show more So get cracking. show less

Heh. This is a funny book.

A giant tyrannosaurus terrorizes the jungle, snapping at dinosaurs, looking for breakfast. He's big! He's scary! He's about to meet something even more terrifying...

EDNA, the very first chicken.

She doesn't see why she should run away from this big bully! She's got her own breakfast to get. "BEWARE MY DEADLY STOMP AND LONG, SHARP TEETH." Bellows Tyrannosaurus. "Beware my pointy claws and many feathers," snaps back Edna. Alas, the dinosaur pays no heed to the warning show more and snaps up what he thinks will be a tasty mouthful... only to discover that Edna isn't fooling around! She may be small, but she's tough, clever, and brave and no tyrannosaurus will get the best of her!

Henry's colorful pictures show a herd of brightly colored dinosaur, and an adorable, big-eyed chicken who's got spirit to match the biggest dinosaur!

Verdict: A funny story about how size doesn't matter! Also of note is that Edna is female and T. Rex is a guy (-:) I plan to thoroughly enjoy reading this one to audiences, complete with roaring and trying to talk over a mouthful of feathers. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781627795104; Published 2017 by Henry Holt; Borrowed from another library in my consortium show less

Oh my god. This book was so dang cute! A little girl loves to howl on her roof at night and her mom tells her she can't do it because she's too loud. She goes into the woods and finds bigfoot. They become fast friends but her mom wants her back home... whatever shall she do? Love the story and the artwork.

Mr. Death comes by to ask Grandy if she is ready for him to "carry her away" but she says she's not finished with her work yet. If he will lend her a hand she can leave sooner. With all the children she has to care for and the all the intense chores necessary to keep house in the pre-Victorian era she as too much to do to leave. This would be an excellent book to read aloud to middle grade students or older for Dia de Muerte (Mexican Day of the Dead) or Halloween as it would make a great show more creative writing project. Students could predict the ending or write another one. It may be a bit too scary for some children but others will delight in the creepiness of the death theme in this upbeat picture book. show less