From Publishers Weekly
This somewhat pedestrian bedtime story from a British team offers little in the way of surprises, but still packs a measure of appeal for dinosaur fans. Hearing a noise one night, Bobby peeks outside and spies "a huge enormous dinosaur!" He puts on his bathrobe and follows the creature downtown, where "DINOSAURS WERE EVERYWHERE!" At first, the dinos seem bent on making Bobby a midnight snack ("Snatch him! Catch him! Munch him! Crunch him! Before he runs and tells on us!"), but when he promises to keep their secret, they let him join in the fun. The revelry continues until there's time for just one last game of hide-and-seek, and a scary one at that ("You can hide, and we will seek you,/ but if we find you, we might eat you!"), but in the end instead of eating Bobby the dinosaurs carry him home to bed. Emmett's uneven blend of prose and rhyme is offset by the exuberance of the cartoony artwork, which should entertain youngsters (some, however, may find the hide-and-seek scenario a tad unsettling, despite the happy ending). Jobling's background as an animator informs the simple lines and large, chunky shapes, unified with a smart use of color; the shade of Bobby's bathrobe, for instance, matches the green scales of the main dinosaur. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
reSchool-Dino stories have huge appeal and Emmett's offering is no exception. The cover art of a pajama-clad child in the arms of a large dinosaur will encourage parents and their preschoolers to thumb through this picture book. Inside, readers will find well-designed, attractive pages where cartoonlike artwork serves to complement the whimsical, rhythmic text. Colorful characters romp through a night-blue landscape, and the stars of the show-the dinosaurs-are highlighted in vibrant double-page illustrations. The story line is simple: It's late at night and everyone but young Bobby is fast asleep. He is wide-awake, and hears a strange sound down in the street. He investigates and discovers a huge dinosaur creeping past his house. Bobby and his bemused black kitten decide to follow it, through quiet streets to the city hall, where they find a whole herd of playful dinosaurs and join in on their late-night jaunt. These prehistoric beasts are largely generic; they are not overly ferocious, and at the same time are not too cute, striking a balance that toddlers and preschoolers will certainly appreciate at bedtime.
Carol L. MacKay, Camrose Public Library, Alberta, CanadaCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
