A Dinosaur Ate My Homework (Flying Rhinoceros Books)

Facts about different kinds of dinosaurs accompany a story about a boy who brings various prehistoric animals to school for show-and-tell

Kindergarten-Grade 2. A slapstick story in verse about a boy whose alibi for not turning in his homework leads to an invitation to bring his collection of dinosaurs to school for show and tell. The dinos take over the school and create havoc, winding up in detention in the principal's office. Cartoon illustrations on cluttered pages accompany the frenzied story, which is interspersed with facts about dinosaurs. Children would be better served by the numerous high-quality nonfiction titles available for this age group rather than by this failed attempt at an educational adventure in picture-book format.?Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This entry in the Flying Rhinoceros series (Wooden Teeth and Jelly Beans, 1995, etc.) presents factual material about dinosaurs through a cast of cartoon characters that includes Earl P. Sidebottom, Jr., who claims that a T. rex ate his homework. When his teacher asks him to bring the evidence for Show-and-Tell, he turns the school upside down with an array of dino-friends. Earl's story, told in doggerel, frames assorted factoids about dinosaurs. A confusing layout and use of typeface, and the anthropomorphism of dinosaurs, would undermine the story if the premise weren't already so weak--i.e., that children will sit still for information only if it's sugar-coated with bright colors and silly characters. Steer clear of this one. (First printing of 50,000) (Picture book. 6-12) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.