Harry and the Dinosaurs Go To School [Hardcover]

Ian Whybrow (Author), Adrian Reynolds (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Harry and the Dinosaurs

It's the first day of school! Harry is nervous because he isn't sure what to expect. Triceratops is even more nervous, especially when Harry must leave the dinosaurs in the coatroom. But soon Harry sees another boy who is the most nervous of all. He clings to his toy bulldozer and won't talk to anyone in the class. Harry wonders what he can do. Perhaps the new boy will talk to dinosaurs. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—Harry is excited about starting school, but his dinosaurs are nervous. A misunderstanding (the teacher thinks that the bucket in which they reside is his lunch) leads to Harry becoming separated from his toys, so he is unhappy in his new classroom. He takes pity on Jack, another boy who is even unhappier. Harry shares his dinosaurs after he gets them back, and the boys learn to enjoy school and become friends. The watercolor and line illustrations have more life than the story, but they seem to have only two expressions with which to reveal many emotions. The theme of overcoming difficulties through reaching out to others is well done, but some stray story threads give the book a disjointed feel. A gratuitous sibling rivalry scene adds nothing but the word "stupid" and a display of Harry's temper. His friend Charlie is mentioned on the first page and again on the last, but not in between. (Charlie is pictured but, as readers don't learn that the friend is a girl until the end, it is not immediately obvious.) The text on the playground page reads, "Harry sort of liked the playground….But it wasn't much fun," which muddies the story.—June Wolfe, Bushnell-Sage Library, Sheffield, MA
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About the Author

Ian Whybrow loved everything about his first school. He particularly enjoyed the taste of ink and the precious minutes spent in Mrs. Latymer's office having an orange crayon removed from his nostril. Since then he has written numerous books for children, ranging from picture books to poetry to novels. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Herefordshire, England.

Adrian Reynolds was born in Castell-nedd, South Wales, and he wasn't too impressed with school on the first day. When the bell rang for lunch, he walked back home on his own. (He was four.) He was very disappointed to find himself being returned for the afternoon. Later he studied at the Swansea College of Art and at Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology. He lives in Cambridge.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (May 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375841806
• ISBN-13: 978-0375841804
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,454,223 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle picturebook tale of a difficult first day., September 6, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harry and the Dinosaurs Go To School (Hardcover)

Jan Whybrow and Adrian Reynolds' HARRY AND THE DINOSAURS GO TO SCHOOL tells of Harry's first (scary) day of school. Not only is he afraid, but Stegosaurus is even more scared because they have to be left in the hall with the coats. When Harry discovers someone even more afraid he finds some of his fears vanishing in this gentle picturebook tale of a difficult first day.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RAHHHHHH, May 26, 2007

By 

Gwynne C. Spencer (Mancos, Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Harry and the Dinosaurs Go To School (Hardcover)

You gotta love Harry. He carries his bucket of dinosaurs to school, but leaves it in the hall where it comes in handy when he takes the "new silent kid" to the bathroom. On their return transit, Harry introduces Charlie the Silent to Stegosaurus who wants to ride in Charlie's digger. Then they take the whole bucket of dinos to the classroom where the kids and teacher say, "Oh, good! I love dinosaurs. Do they "raaaah"? which of course they do, as they have done in the equally wonderful previous Harry and the Dinosaurs books. Harry is a no-nonsense, no tears kinda guy, and you gotta love him. The end papers of the book are decorated with all of Harry's dinosaurs (and some pronunciation for those of you who are not five). It's a great going to school book, a great dinosaur RAAAAHHHHH book, and a great friendship story for guys. No kissing. And of course, like all good picture books it has FOOD. In thebeginning when Harry RAAAHHHS his sister drops her jelly toast, so your young readers could gobble up the story by making their own jelly toast but not dropping it on the floor!

5.0 out of 5 stars Harry and the Dinosaurs bool review, May 24, 2011

By 

Darcy Dorwart - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: HARRY AND THE DINOSAURS GO TO SCHOOL (Paperback)

My two-year old grandson just loves these "Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs" books! He will sit for them over and over. They are the first books he chooses when it is reading time. I love the illustrations. The dinos have precious expressions! I enjoy reading these books as much as my grandson enjoys hearing them!