Tyrannosaurus Wrecks!

by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen Narrated by L. J. Ganser

Overview

In this read-along picture book, a classroom full of young dinosaurs plays with toys, does art projects, and reads books. But each activity is another opportunity for the over-enthusiastic Tyrannosaurus Rex to wreak havoc. Parents and young children will love the call-and-response nature of the book, and young dinosaur fans will appreciate the listing (and pronunciation guide) for a dozen different dino species. The format is extra vertical in order to accommodate T. Rex's biggest messes. Praise for "Tyrannosaurus Wrecks" "Punchy writing, an equally in-your-face palette, and OHora's characteristically brash painting style make this as much a stompalong as a readaloud." --"Publishers Weekly ""Along with the pleasure of pronouncing those multisyllabic dino names, young audiences may find food for thought in the behavioral dynamics on display." --"Kirkus Reviews"

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

02/03/2014
Bardhan-Quallen and OHora may not have the monopoly on the pun around which this book is based, but that doesn’t stop them from having a blast with it. They take readers to a classroom where Apatosaurus colors a picture of a volcano, Gallimimus helps build a block tower, an overalls-wearing Iguanodon reads quietly, and Tyrannosaurus—well, you can probably guess. Ohora (No Fits, Nilson!) paints this antihero as a small orange terror in a striped shirt and sneakers, but his bad behavior quickly catches up with him, and his classmates shun him: “Tyrannosaurus leaving—/ Dinosaurs are glad./ Tyrannosaurus lonely,/ Miserable, and sad.” Bardhan-Quallen’s (Duck, Duck, Moose!) verse stomps along like T-Wrecks himself, but she makes it clear he’s not a bad guy; he tries hard to make amends, and the final scene proves he’s not the only tiny dino capable of making a mistake. Punchy writing, an equally in-your-face palette, and Ohora’s characteristically brash painting style make this as much a stompalong as a readaloud. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary Agency. (Apr.)

School Library Journal

05/01/2014
PreS-K—In the vein of many a picture book today, with a mischievous youngster in a starring role, this title features a classroom full of dinosaurs, all of whom work and play together nicely except for Tyrannosaurus, who destroys everything. (The Tyrannosaurus rex/wrecks wordplay should lead to some interesting discussions). With help from his classmates, he finally begins to behave, and in a surprise ending, a female Apatosaurus becomes the new wrecker. The brief rhyming text, which scans well, tells a story with child appeal. There is a good balance of two-to-three word sentences with large, uncluttered illustrations, making the book a good choice for reading aloud. In their simplicity, the brightly colored pictures have the look of children's art, but they enhance the classroom setting appropriately with interesting details. Many of the dinosaurs featured will be unfamiliar to young children, and curious readers may be motivated to learn more about the Stygimoloch, Gallimimus, and others.—Maralita L. Freeny, District of Columbia Public Library

Kirkus Reviews

2014-02-19
Primary socialization and cooperation in action—with dinosaurs, and no grown-ups in sight. Whether at the art table, doing work at the board or using blocks—"Stegosaurus stacks. / Triceratops erects. / Gallimimus builds it up"—the result is the same: "TYRANNOSAURUS… // WRECKS!" But not only does a room full of angry faces cause a change of heart in the hyperactive theropod, when his efforts to repair the damage founder on his own clumsiness, his classmates pitch in. They don't do the cleanup themselves, but they work to enable his success. That doesn't spell an end to disasters, as bulky Apatosaurus doesn't see contrite T. Rex carefully balancing a tray of juice cups and snacks…but at least this time it's not his fault. OHora adds digital color to simply drawn classroom scenes in ways that produce a flat, screen-printed look, depicting the dinos in human clothing but with recognizable attributes (they're also identified on the endpapers). Just for fun he also slips in a view of Styracosaurus practicing his "C"s by repeatedly writing "Climate Change" and a few other visual gags. Along with the pleasure of pronouncing those multisyllabic dino names, young audiences may find food for thought in the behavioral dynamics on display. (Picture book. 4-6)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171107918
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	07/04/2014
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

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