T. Runt! [Hardcover]

Derek McCulloch (Author), Jimmie Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Vegrandis was the runt of the litter and was always picked on by the larger tyrannosaurs...but everything changes once Vegrandis discovers he isn't the smallest animal - let alone dinosaur - in the world!

An all-ages Silverline Books hardcover with a gentle message...and DINOSAURS!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Vegrandis, the smallest dinosaur in a family of tyrannosaurs, "often felt overlooked." His two larger siblings beat him to dinner, regularly step or sit on him and exclude him. And his father, reading the "Old York Times" in his stone chair, only tells him, "Somebody's got to be smallest. It's the law of the jungle." But when Vegrandis saves a ratlike mammal from a group of bullies, he realizes, in a needlessly ponderous stretch of text, that although he is not the biggest, he is also not the smallest, and "he really didn't mind being the size he was." Robinson's action-filled illustrations take on a comic book feel with hashmarks to show movement, floating punctuation above characters' heads and speech bubbles. Likewise, the story's resolution is comic book swift-suddenly, "a funny thing happened. Vegrandis got bigger... a LOT bigger." Despite his enormous size, the hero treats his siblings "very nicely, just the way he'd always wanted them to treat him." While this didactic tale is heavy on exposition, the likeable characters and cartoons make it an enjoyable, if unmemorable, read. Ages 4-8.
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Review

Derek McCulloch, writer of the award-winning (and superb) study of folk music and racism Stagger Lee, and Jimmie Robinson, the comics artist famous for his work on stylistically excessive Bomb Queen, don t seem like the most natural pair to collaborate on a children s book, but with T RUNT!, that s exactly what they ve done.

Based on their previous work, it shouldn t be terribly surprising to learn that McCulloch and Robinson are sufficiently talented and professional to make the gambit work for them. T RUNT! is the story of Vegrandis, the smallest of three baby Tyrannosaurs, as he discovers that being the smallest of his litter doesn t mean that he s the smallest creature around. It s a simple moral, easily digested, but couched in a solid and well-crafted narrative.

Though there have been many wonderful all-ages comics, T RUNT! is truly a children s book, with big single-image pages, minimal text and a basic lesson in behavior. Readers of all ages with likely enjoy the energetic and colorful illustrations Robinson provides, and readers with children of their own (or child readers themselves) will undoubtedly love McCulloch s fun and precise narrative. --Newsarama, Michael C Lorah

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Image Comics (July 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1607060744
• ISBN-13: 978-1607060741
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,160,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT CLASSROOM ADDITION, August 15, 2009

By 

Timothy R. Peak "Tim Peak (Preschool Teacher)" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: T. Runt! (Hardcover)

T.Runt is a wonderful book that I continue to use in my classroom. It has a great life lesson that many children are familiar with and holds many teachable moments. One of its best aspects is that it's filled with characters that the children can relate to and love!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this book!, July 30, 2009

By 

S. Yang - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: T. Runt! (Hardcover)

This is a great story to read with your child. What I liked about this book was that it captured nicely the frustrations of feeling outsized from a child's perspective. But of course, Vegrandis -- a very clever name -- learns the important lesson that there are creatures of ALL sizes in this world. It's a fun read, and I highly recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent T. Runt, July 10, 2009

By 

Monique D. Inciarte (california) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: T. Runt! (Hardcover)

T.Runt is a wonderful children's book. Addresses the issue of bullying in a very satisfying way, from a parent's perspective; and full of fun and wonder, for the children. The day my son got the book he carried it around for hours, wanted it read multiple times, and took it with him to bed.