Little Grunt and the Big Egg: A Prehistoric Fairytale [Hardcover]

Tomie dePaola (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

When a dinosaur hatches from the egg that Little Grunt brought home for dinner, Mama and Papa Grunt let him keep it as a pet until it grows too big for their cave.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The whole Grunt tribe is looking forward to a giant omelet when Little Grunt's egg hunt unearths a huge specimen. Their smiles of anticipation turn to frowns when the potential brunch source blossoms into a freshly hatched dinosaur. George is a lovable little fellow, then a lovable big fellow, then the disgruntled Grunts kick him out. He's not housebroken, and his immense size and strength create other annoyances, such as blowing away the relatives with a single sneeze. Little Grunt is broken-hearted until George proves his worth by rescuing the family from certain doom, and receives suitable approbation--and a final surprise. DePaola's books possess his inimitable stamp, and this prehistoric romp is no exception: the round-faced Grunt clan is unmistakably his, as are the many comical touches such as Chief Rockhead's green banana headdress and the ladies' costume jewelry. This lively twist on the familiar tale of a boy and his pet is sure to provoke giggles. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- Little Grunt, the youngest of the prehistoric Grunt tribe, is sent out one morning to gather two dozen eggs for Sunday brunch. Although he searches and searches, he has no luck until, at last, he happens onto the biggest egg he's ever seen. That night, the egg hatches and out comes--(you guessed it)--a dinosaur. Naming it George, Little Grunt keeps it as a pet until its size and habits (it's not housebroken) cause the annoyed tribe to banish it from their cave. Luckily for the Grunts, George holds no grudge, and when disaster strikes (in the form of a volcano), he rescues the whole family and carries them all away to safety and a new home--next door to her nest full of eggs. George becomes Georgina and all live happily ever after. On the surface, this looks like a typical dePaola picture book--colorful and cheery in nature. But both story and illustrations are lackluster, with no surprises or unexpected twists, and none of the sly, gentle humor that have made his "Bill and Pete" stories (Putnam) so much fun. Granny Grunt's suggestion that a cockroach might make a better pet than a dinosaur is about as funny as it gets. What could have been a winning combination, dePaola and dinosaurs, is bland and boring--a disappointing performance. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823407306
• ISBN-13: 978-0823407309
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,944,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.
It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.
He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his ""singular attainment in children's literature,"" the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his ""continued distinguished contribution,"" and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.
Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.
- He has been published for over 30 years.
- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.
- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.
- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition for his books in the children's book world, including:
- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association
- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association
- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution
- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association

"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, December 14, 2011

By 

dresses - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Little Grunt and the Big Egg: A Prehistoric Fairy Tale (Paperback)

This was one of my daughters first favorite books. She was quite young when we started reading it. Maybe 2 or so. And all of my children continue to enjoy this book. I am purchasing it again for my nephew who is 5. I think he will really like it Great bedtime story!

4.0 out of 5 stars LOVE Tomie dePaola, December 23, 2009

By 

J. Patterson "school teacher" (Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Little Grunt and the Big Egg: A Prehistoric Fairy Tale (Paperback)

I really enjoyed the childlike viewpoint. The little cave boy is sent by his mother to find eggs for Sunday brunch. He finds a whopper! He brings it home for the big meal, only to have it hatch. Off course he wants to keep the small dinosaur for a pet. The predictable thing happens as the dinosaur grows. Dad says it must go. It is such sadness to say goodbye to a beloved pet. Later, a large problem occurs and the dinosaur comes back to save the day. There is a happy little twist at the end.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable book for kids, June 5, 2007

By 

mmeqian (Massachusetts, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Grunt and the Big Egg (Hardcover)

This is a great story. It's creative yet simple with the essential elements a good kids' book needs. This book would be especially fun for the kid fascinated by dinosaurs. We learned of the book from our local library as we have checked out Tomie DePaola books before and enjoyed them. My daughter loves it as do I. I highly recommend it!