Here Comes Destructosaurus!

by Aaron Reynolds, Jeremy Tankard

Overview

Someone’s heading for a time-out in this clever picture book that “translates a ‘terrible twos’-style tantrum into a movie-monster rampage” (Kirkus Reviews).
 
Watch the unstoppable destructive force of a raging temper tantrum! Tremble at the enormous mess and disrespectful roaring! Despair as no amount of scolding can stem the heedless fury! Someone is heading for a time-out, Mister!
 
Anyone who has witnessed (or been) a toddler in the throes of a full-blown fit will delight in this clever book’s movie-monster rampage, and may just come away from it with a bit more sympathy for both toddler and caregiver.
 
“Dinosaurs are pretty much the ideal picture-book stand-in for a toddler’s rampaging id. . . . Reynolds makes the connection explicitly and hilariously.” —The Wall Street Journal
 
“This over-the-top tale that pushes the limits of the narrator’s authority will delight readers.” —School Library Journal
 
“Very funny.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452130323
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	03/22/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,000,171
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	3 Months to 11 Years

About the Author

Aaron Reynolds works full time as a speaker/presenter and teacher. He has written many great books for kids, including Carnivores. He lives in Fox River, Illinois.

Jeremy Tankard is the author and illustrator of wonderful and silly books for children. He grew up in South Africa, the United States, and Canada. He currently resides in Vancouver, Canada.

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/27/2014
In this very funny mash-up of Dr. Spock and Godzilla, a dragonlike monster who also looks an awful lot like a rampaging toddler (its big round head is a giveaway) is wreaking havoc in New York City—and the narrator is fed up: “Stop throwing around buildings that don’t belong to you. You’ve been brought up better than that, you naughty monster! Look with your eyes, not with your claws.” But the narrator feels a little more sympathetic—and guilty, of course—when the monster’s source of fury is pinpointed: a misplaced teddy bear (“Wait, what’s that in your hand? No, I know that’s a train station. I mean, in your other hand”). This fresh spin on the “Will my rage consume me and everyone I love?” genre has something for everyone. Tankard’s (It’s a Tiger!) scary-funny cartooning, with its bold outlines and flammable colors, should be catnip to young eyeballs, while grownups will appreciate Reynolds’s (Carnivores) spot-on imitation of every frustrated, momentarily ineffectual parent in, well, the history of parenthood. Ages 2–4. Author’s agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. Illustrator’s agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Primitive and volatile, dinosaurs are pretty much the ideal picture-book stand-in for a toddler's rampaging id. Aaron Reynolds makes the connection explicitly and hilariously in Here Comes Destructosaurus!"-The Wall Street Journal

"Primitive and volatile, dinosaurs are pretty much the ideal picture-book stand-in for a toddler's rampaging id. Aaron Reynolds makes the connection explicitly and hilariously in Here Comes Destructosaurus!"-The Wall Street Journal

"Primitive and volatile, dinosaurs are pretty much the ideal picture-book stand-in for a toddler's rampaging id. Aaron Reynolds makes the connection explicitly and hilariously in Here Comes Destructosaurus!"-The Wall Street Journal

"Will strike a chord with older preschoolers and their caregivers who are experienced with these tirades."—Booklist

"Will strike a chord with older preschoolers and their caregivers who are experienced with these tirades."—Booklist

"Will strike a chord with older preschoolers and their caregivers who are experienced with these tirades."—Booklist

"I actually laughed out loud when reading this, and I don't always do that. Awesome."—Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library Collections Specialist

"I actually laughed out loud when reading this, and I don't always do that. Awesome."—Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library Collections Specialist

"I actually laughed out loud when reading this, and I don't always do that. Awesome."—Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library Collections Specialist

"Very funny mash-up of Dr. Spock and Godzilla."—Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Very funny mash-up of Dr. Spock and Godzilla."—Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Very funny mash-up of Dr. Spock and Godzilla."—Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Translates a 'terrible twos'-style tantrum into a movie-monster rampage."-Kirkus Reviews

"Translates a 'terrible twos'-style tantrum into a movie-monster rampage."-Kirkus Reviews

"Translates a 'terrible twos'-style tantrum into a movie-monster rampage."-Kirkus Reviews

"This over-the-top tale that pushes the limits of the narrator's authority will delight readers."-School Library Journal

"This over-the-top tale that pushes the limits of the narrator's authority will delight readers."-School Library Journal

"This over-the-top tale that pushes the limits of the narrator's authority will delight readers."-School Library Journal

"Both toddlers and mothers can laugh at the inevitable behavior all kids and parents go through."—Kid Lit Reviews

"Both toddlers and mothers can laugh at the inevitable behavior all kids and parents go through."—Kid Lit Reviews

"Both toddlers and mothers can laugh at the inevitable behavior all kids and parents go through."—Kid Lit Reviews

From the Publisher

04/01/2014
K-Gr 2—A baby dinosaur emerges from the sea and goes on a rampage across New York City, tracking seaweed and dead fish all over the tourists and setting fire to every ship in the harbor. His tail the size of a small planet, Destructosauraus is chastised by the narrator for his lack of self-control and for his sassy attitude, much like a mother would speak to a wild child. And in the end, readers discover that the lonely creature is simply looking for his teddy bear. Once he finds it, he retreats to the sea, softening the tone of the narrator and even hugging her. But while the narrator instructs Destructosauraus to help clean up the mess he's made, the creature just heads back to the sea from where he came. Enter King Kluck, a giant chicken, and, much to the narrator's surprise, instead of helping, the destruction continues. Big bright art outlined in bold black lines brings the young dinosaur's search for his toy to life, and his expressions clearly display his determination and frustration. This over-the-top tale that pushes the limits of the narrator's authority will delight readers.—Jennifer Miskec, Longwood University, Farmville, VA

School Library Journal

2014-01-15
A parent/caregiver—unseen after a glimpse at the beginning—translates a "terrible twos"–style tantrum into a movie-monster rampage. As it turns out, it's all just a failure to communicate. As a Godzilla-like monster emerges from the ocean in Tankard's thick-lined cartoon scenes and proceeds to wreak havoc amid skyscrapers, the now-unseen narrator scolds every action. The amused tone of the narrative—"Wipe your feet, Destructosaurus! For crying out loud, you're tracking seaweed and dead fish all over the tourists"—turns annoyed as the rampage continues: "Stop throwing around buildings that don't belong to you. You've been brought up better than that, you naughty monster!" But when the uproar turns out to have been just a search for a misplaced teddy bear, the scolding changes to repentance ("You could have used your words. But, still. Sorry I yelled") and ends with a hug. Also, after a "GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW," a general tidying up. The silliness of the premise is nicely amplified by the mixed-media illustrations, which feature disaster-movie perspectives and lots of rubble. A familiar interchange, featuring a less-ferocious-looking cousin of the tempestuous T. Rex of Bob Shea's Dinosaur vs. Bedtime (2008) and its sequels. (Picture book. 2-4)

Kirkus Reviews