Boo's Dinosaur [Hardcover]

Betsy Byars (Author), Erik Brooks (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

An early chapter book from Newbery Medal winner Betsy Byars

 

When Boo brings home a dinosaur that only she can see, her brother Sammy, doesn’t want to encourage her antics. Boo and her dinosaur are inseparable until Boo says good-bye to the dino quite suddenly.

When Sammy sees how sad his sister is, he understands Boo’s need for her dinosaur more than he wants to admit. So much so that he almost believes it . . . almost.

Betsy Byars has written many chapter books, including Little Horse and Little Horse on His Own. Her language, perfectly tailored to beginning readers, combines with Erik Brooks’s charming illustrations to make a delightful book for children who are just starting to read.

 

Boo's Dinosaur is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3–This charming early chapter book tells the story of a girl who finds a dinosaur when she goes outside to play. Boo insists that she needs a particular book from the library to read to it, and then that she and her older brother, Sammy, must jump on her bed so that the dinosaur can see them through the window. In true older-sibling fashion, the boy at first tries to deter her but is eventually forced to give in or come to some sort of compromise. Brookss illustrations show the action as well as Boos flights of fancy. Byars takes full advantage of short words and sentences, helping readers to see themselves both in Boos plays for attention and Sammys desire for some peace and quiet. In the end, when Boo has to give up her dinosaur, she and Sammy share a lovely moment of mutual understanding. A natural recommendation for graduates of Syd Hoffs Danny and the Dinosaur (HarperCollins, 1958), this book is a welcome addition.–Adrienne Furness, Webster Public Library, NY
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About the Author

Betsy Byars, a Newbery Medal winner for The Summer of the Swans, is the author of many popular books for children. She and her husband live in South Carolina.

Erik Brooks illustrated Monkey Business, by Shirley Climo, among other books. He lives with his wife and daughter in Winthrop, Washington.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (September 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805079580
• ISBN-13: 978-0805079586
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warmth, humor, real life and pretend play, January 5, 2009

By 

In The Woods (No. Calif.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boo's Dinosaur (Hardcover)

BIG HIT with my 7yo DS and 3yo DD, whose favorite dinosaur, like the little sister in the book, is a parasorolophus. Wonderful that the sister repeatedly asks her older bro to play with her and that twice he declines because he's reading--that choice enthralled my son (who is a reluctant reader himself). This story just rang true for us: very sweet, not a mean bone in it, and was entirely too short. Sequel, please!

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, April 16, 2011

By 

mommyofone - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boo's Dinosaur (Hardcover)

My 4 year old hung on every word of this book--and I loved it, too. It manages to present an engaging story without the use of conflict, it illustrates an ideal sibling relationship, it is sweet and charming without being syrupy, and the words flow so naturally that it is quite pleasant to read aloud despite the "beginning reader" nature of the book. The illustrations are adorable--full of life and whimsy without straying into the cartoonish. The two-page-spread illustrations at the end of each chapter invite further discussion of the plot.

My daughter isn't big into dinosaurs, but she does love pretend play and imaginary friends, so she really related to this book. The text was simple and easy to understand, so she only requested one reading...but we will definitely get this out again in a few months when she's ready to read it on her own.

The sequel, Boo's Surprise, is just as good as Boo's Dinosaur. I will definitely be looking for more from both Byars and Brooks.