Customer Reviews

If You Give a T-Rex a Bone

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My son, who is almost 5, adores this book. He got it for his last birthday and he chose it as THE present to give at the last 3 birthdays we've been to. What makes it a hit is the very conversational narrative tone. It sounds like an enthusiastic, smart 8 year old just talking about dinosaurs. It's not cutesy but COOL. Always sparks a discussion about meat-eaters and the relative size of each dinosaur. Will be a keeper on our bookshelf for years.

REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker, reviewer with Stories for Children Magazine



What do you think a Tyrannosaurus rex would do if you if you offered it a bone? Author Tim Myers explains that the T-rex would be mad because it wouldn't be proper nourishment, so you'd have to run into the underbrush and hide. But there, you might meet a Dimetrodon, so you'd have to jump into a nearby bay. But there, you might see a Kronosaurus, so you'd have to swim into a river. But there, you might be spotted by a Dakosaurus, so you'd have to climb a ridge. But there, a Quetzalcoatlus might dive at you, so you'd have to fling yourself into the ocean. But there, you might run into a Shonisaurus, so you'd have to swim to the beach. But there, you might happen upon a Dilophosaurus, so you'd have to return to the bushes. But there--well, you get the idea. And where is that pesky T-rex?



Children seem to be fascinated by reading and learning about dinosaurs. With a "tip o' the hat" to Laura Numeroff, If You Give a T-Rex a Bone, which was a finalist for the ForeWord Best Children's Picture Book, is a really neat story that youngsters will enjoy reading and that will teach them information about various kinds of dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles, which Anise Claire Hovemann's full-color illustrations will help them to visualize. In the back of the book, there are two pages entitled "Tim Talks Dinos," which provides additional material about each of the creatures in the story. There is also another page of "Dino Fun" that features interactive exercises and a list of "Some Great Dino Books and Websites" for further research. Any child who loves dinosaurs will love this book.

My family loves this book. My girls (ages 9 and 5) were not into dinosaurs - until we read this book together. It's entertaining and educational.