Dinorella: A Prehistoric Fairytale [Paperback]

Pamela Duncan Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

This dreamy, alliterative and different Cinderella story will have readers doubling over with delight. Dinorella is dying to go to the dance, but her dreadful stepsisters, Doris and Dora, declare she's too dowdy and dull. Dinorella is stuck in the den--until Fairy-dactyl arrives and bedecks Dinorella with some dazzling diamonds, allowing her to depart for the dance. Full color.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3?If a dour weimaraner can portray Cinderella in William Wegman's book (Hyperion, 1993), why not a fuchsia dinosaur? Following the silly sibilants in Some Smug Slug (HarperCollins, 1996), Edwards takes her readers way back?it looks like the '50s?for a daffy "d" diversion where Dinorella, an apatosaurus, waits hand and foot (so to speak) on her two indolent, hadrosaur sisters. Fairydactyl saves the day and Dinorella heads off to Duke Dudley's Den. Once again, Cole's acrylics nearly guarantee that this picture book will be whisked off the shelves. The cartoon dinosaurs with human expressions are hilarious and the throwaways?one of the big-finned cars sports "X-TNKT/Pangea" vanity plates?will keep even adults on their toes. Edwards's dialogue is a bit trying, but she rewrites the Grimms' tale just enough to make it clever. Dinorella is a fun way to learn a little about fairy tales (with a delightful twist) and alliterative language.?John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

A one-note Cinderella--composed in the key of D--from Edwards, a devotee of alliteration (Some Smug Slug, also illustrated by Cole, 1996, etc.) who spins a dervish of D-words featuring dinosaurs in this fractured fairy tale and starring Dinorella and her stepsisters, Doris and Dora. Dinorella attends the Dinosaur Dance at Duke Dudley's Den, compliments of a Fairydactyl, and comes upon the endangered Duke, about to be devoured by a dastardly deinonychus. Dinorella to the rescue--she hurls a dirtball, then a diamond, at the desperado. The alliteration begins to get away from Edwards, dictating the storyline and resulting in dialogue and descriptions that prove distracting after the first few pages. The story deteriorates further with name-calling: ``dopey domestic,'' ``disgusting dummy,'' ``dimwit,'' ``dingbat,'' and ``dumbhead.'' Cole dazzles in this dumbed-down classic, which goes from hilarious to tedious in very short order. (Picture book. 4-7) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (January 1, 1900)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786811730
• ISBN-13: 978-0786811731
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,854,416 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Pamela Duncan Edwards grew up in the Wirral, but has spent most of her adult life in the USA. She worked as a children's librarian before becoming a writer and is now the bestselling author of over 30 children's books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dinorella, June 6, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Dinorella: A Prehistoric Fairytale (Paperback)

I read the book Dinorealla by Pamela Duncan Edwards illustrated by Henry Cole. This book is about Daniela who has two evil stepsisters who got invited to Duke's party and they won't let her go to the party. Then her fairydactayle mother came and gave her a beautiful dress and jewelry so, when
She got there Duke was out side getting his tale bit by a different Dinosaur so she threw a diamond so then he ran and Duke found Dinorella so they lived happily ever after.

I like this book because it has good vocabulary and when it uses names.

The message is what goes around comes around because the sister's are mean and then she ends up with better life.

I think the vocabulary is good because it has good details and description.

In this book the conflict is person vs. because it's people.

The illustrations are good because it adds extra details not in the story.


The characters are Dora, Doris, Dinorella, and Duke

This is my favorite version of Cinderella because it has good details.


This book is good for all people because it has a strong lesson.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous--Absolutely Beloved By Our 4 Year Old, November 28, 2003

By 

"njmom-of-2" (Bridgewater, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dinorella: A Prehistoric Fairytale (Hardcover)

I came upon this book when my daughter became interested in dinosaurs. I had been searching for books that use dinosaurs as interesting characters and with storylines, and this certainly fit the bill. But we found it had an even greater appeal--it very amusingly rewrites the classic Cinderella tale! Instead of the usual passive victim, Dinorella is the true heroine of the story and saves the male character, the Duke! Our kids all get enough of the Disney versions of fairy tales these days--I think this is a terrific way to demonstrate that a girl can be strong (and wear a pretty dress and jewels, too!). After a year of heavy use, and nearly daily requests for this to be read aloud, I had to order another copy because our beloved Dinorella book was practically in shreds. Trust me, girls ages 4-6 will LOVE this book! And boys seem to like it, too (plenty of action, and of couse, the dinosaurs)--I read this book aloud to my daughter's pre-kindergarten class a few weeks ago, and the boys were just as enthralled as the girls. I think it is nice to read boys books with strong female characters, so I will read our copy to my baby son when he is older. There is an extremely negative review of this book posted, which I find unbelievable . . . give this book a chance, especially if you and your kids have enjoyed any of the author's other books. It's a rollicking good read, and the illustrations are lots of fun. You can't go wrong, especially for the price of the paperback!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book is an excellent dinosaur fairytale!, September 28, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dinorella: A Prehistoric Fairytale (Paperback)

This book is an excellent fairytale about a dinosaur who portrays the life of Cinderella. My children could listen to this book everynight. One word of caution, there are a lot of "d" words that may leave you tongue tied!