Little Danny Dinosaur (First-Start Easy Reader)

Smaller than the rest of his family, Danny tries hard to be big and strong--until one day his size proves to be just right.

ea. vol: unpaged. (First-Start Easy Reader Series). CIP. Troll. 1987. PLB $5.41; pap. $1.50. PreSchool-Grade 1 This series claims to use a basic vocabulary which is ``repeated often to help the young reader develop word recognition and interest in read ing.'' Recognition, yes, but the ability of the series to provoke any real inter est seems questionable. Each formulaic title has a controlled vocabulary of ap proximately 35 to 40 words, culminat ing in an easily-resolved conflict. Little Danny Dinosaur is the story of a dino saur who learns the value of being small; Muffy and Fluffy explores the theme of cooperation; Rub-a-Dub Suds tells of a pig who uses too many suds when she bathes. While the idea behind each of these tales has potential, the execution of that idea is sadly lacking, for the stories prove to be both predict able and trite, and the characters are completely one-dimensional. The two- color cartoon drawings that accompany the text are average at best. With gems such as Lobel's ``Frog and Toad'' (Harper) and Minarik's ``Little Bear'' (Harper) books readily available, there's no need to bother with these. Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, Wheeler School, Providence, R.I.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.