Brontorina [Hardcover]

James Howe (Author), Randy Cecil (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 10, 2010 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

From the sure-footed duo of James Howe and Randy Cecil comes a hugely endearing new character — in a humorous, heart-warming tale about holding on to your dreams.

Brontorina has a dream. She wants to dance. But Brontorina is rather large — too large to fit in Madame Lucille’s dance studio. Brontorina does not have the right shoes, and everyone knows you can’t dance without the proper footwear. Still, Brontorina knows, deep in her heart, that she is meant to be a ballerina. James Howe introduces a lovable dinosaur whose size is outmatched only by her determination, and whose talent is outmatched only by her charm. Accompanied by Randy Cecil’s beguiling illustrations, here is an irresistible story that proves that no problem is too big when the heart and imagination know no bounds.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2010: From Syd Hoff’s Danny and the Dinosaur (1958) to Jane Yolen’s How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight (2000), very early readers have long befriended dinosaurs between the pages of a book. The interaction of these enormous creatures rendered as lovable, comic characters has proven to be irresistible among the pre-K to Grade 1 set.  Therefore, it will come as no surprise when young readers fall hard for James Howe and Randy Cecil’s very funny and endearing new picture book, Brontorina, which stars Brontorina Apatosaurus, an enthusiastic and surprisingly agile dino who is determined to become a ballerina. She arrives at the doorstep of Madame Lucille’s Dance Academy for Girls and Boys, exclaiming “I want to dance!” Although Brontorina is certainly graceful, there are some concerns about her large size and her apparent inability to “fit in” among the smaller dancers, let alone in a pair of ballet slippers, the studio, or the arms of her male partner. With warmth and humor, Madame Lucille and her young students discover that if they step outside the (rosin) box, solutions may be found to some of the biggest problems imaginable. --Lauren Nemroff

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2 Howe weaves a well-spun tale about acceptance and pursuing one's dream. When Brontorina Apatosaurus appears at the door of Madame Lucille's Dance Academy for Boys and Girls, she faces what could be sure rejection. Young Clara and Jack tug at Madame to accept her, while naysayers jeer at her lack of proper shoes. Finally, Madame admits Brontorina, and humorous scenes show little boys and girls doing arabesques, relevés, and jetés, while enormous Brontorina gracefully crashes into the ceiling. Madame concludes that the new pupil is just too big. Brontorina turns to leave, a dinosaur-size tear falling from her eye. Then the teacher has a realization: The problem is not that you are too big. The problem is that my studio is too small, and the academy gets relocated and renamed. A quiet fusion of pathos, comedy, and passion is echoed in the painterly, softly textured, muted oil illustrations. The final picture of the orange dinosaur perched like a bird atop a dancing triceratops, silhouetted against the setting sun, is priceless. Sara Lissa Paulson, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City
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Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (August 10, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763644374
• ISBN-13: 978-0763644376
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 0.4 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE ARE WAYS September 18, 2010

By Gail Cooke HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

James Howe, the popular children's book author of some 80 books for young readers, has crafted a captivating tale that reminds us of what may happen when we hold fast to our dream.

Brontorina wants to dance, she wants to become a ballerina. Well, she has all the enthusiasm and determination in the world but not much else. She's way too tall, too big, and too heavy - she's a dinosaur. Where in the world could a dinosaur even find toe shoes?

Nonetheless, Madame Lucille, proprietor of Madame Lucille's Dance Academy for Boys and Girls, immediately recognizes that Brontorina is a ballerina in her heart and invites her to join the class.

Well, despite Brontorina's best efforts you can imagine the effect this had on other class members and, goodness, when Brontorina leaped she hit the ceiling. Obviously, the dance studio space was way too small.

However, as we know for every problem very often there's a solution. Young readers will be delighted to discover how with the help of Madame Lucille and her friends Brontorina is able to make her dream come true.

Highly recommended.

- Gail Cooke

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from Books That Heal Kids October 27, 2010

By Books That Heal Kids

Format:Hardcover

Brontorina covers acceptance, rejection, being yourself, differences, and following your dreams quite beautifully. When Brontorina enters Madame Lucille's Dance Academy she is met with warmth and curiosity. But she's also met with a little bit of an attitude by two girls who just can't seem to find anything nice to say. It's like they want her to fail. They have a very minor role but I pointed out their put-downs. A kiddo said, "They are trying to stand in front of her dream!" Luckily, there are two other dancers, Clara and Jack, who want nothing more then to help her succeed. We need to lift each other up - not cut each other down. This was a well received message thanks to Brontorina. Major kudos to the author for picking a dinosaur to be a ballerina. This kept both boys and girls engaged. The last illustration got a heartwarming "AHHHHHH" from all the students. Oh, and from me too! As an elementary school counselor, it's refreshing to find books like Brontorina.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun story with a great lesson August 14, 2010

By J. Prather TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I loved this story! Brontorina Apatosaurus is a dinosaur who just has to dance. After all,she has the name of a ballerina doesn't she? I loved Madame Lucille's attitude of acceptance and Brontorina's steadfast refusal to give up on her dream. I even liked the snarky girls on the sidelines that kept commenting on how she didn't have the right shoes. The illustrations are simple and adorable, giving Brontorina just the perfect amount of innocence and charm that will have every reader rooting for her. The ending, which shows just how far Madame Lucille was willing to go to make sure that Brontorina could dance, is a testament to inclusiveness. In the end, she even gets the right shoes. This is a perfect choice for preschool and kindergarten groups as a read aloud, and can be used effectively to promote discussions about acceptance. Recommended