Customer Reviews

T Is for Terrible

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the best book ever, the apex of English literature. I bought this book to read to my niece and nephews, but after reading it once I decided to keep it for myself. This book cracks me up. I live with a bunch of grad students, like myself, and we all agree that this is the best book ever. As we watched the Red Sox beat the Yankees and the Cards, we recited passages from this book each time David Ortiz stepped up to the plate. He cannot help that he is so enormous, and so enormously hungry. I guess what I am saying is, buy this book. Buy one for each small child that you love. Because denying them this book is like denying them shoes, or milk. It's a crime.

Everyone knows that the Tyrannosaurus Rex is a terrible dinosaur. But it's not really his fault. After all, the little Tyrannosaurus Rex had no control over how big he would grow, or what food he would crave. Sure, he stomps on things at times, and makes the ground shake, and sometimes even eats his very own next-door-neighbors, but if you ask the Tyrannosaurus Rex, he will tell you that it's not his fault. He just can't help it. It's his nature. After all, there is no such thing as a Tyrannosaurus Rex who is a vegetarian.

Peter McCarty has done a fabulous job of creating a children's book that is easy to read and understand, while keeping it enjoyable, and attention-grabbing at the same time. His many defensesfor the Tyrannosaurus Rex are adorable, and will teach children to not judge things - whether they are people or animals - by their mannerisms, for they can't always change their ways, sometimes they are born with the characteristics. Filled with delightful illustrations of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, as well as other dinosaurs on every page, T IS FOR TERRIBLE is sure to be loved by children of all ages.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

My 18-month old LOVES all of Peter McCarty's books. Even the ones that are for slightly older readers completely capture his attention. He loves everything about them--the pictures and the stories. When he was younger, they were the only books he would want to look at from cover to cover. And it's strange, because the drawings are quite artistic and are in muted colors, not the bold primary colors usually used in children's books. And a big plus -- the stories are so charming that even adults won't get sick of them (at least I haven't yet, after about 1,000 readings!).

I bought this book for my son for Christmas, I can't wait to give it to him. He is five and a budding paleontologist. He loves anything to do with dinosaurs. I know he is going to love this book. The pictures are beautiful, and the story is really cute. A great story about being yourself.

By the author of the beautiful book "Hondo and Fabian" (a cat and dog's story).
"T is for terrible" is a simple story, but the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous!! All the dinosaurs are so cute! I bought it for my 3 year old girls.
I wish I had bought the hardcover version of this beautiful book.
(A version with sound added would have also been great)

My nephews loves this book. If he picks a bed time book it's usually this one. I also love this book. As other reviewers mention, it's a cute, adorable story about a T-Rex who wishes he was a vegetarian. Very nice, funny way for children to see conflicting action/feelings. Even good T-Rex can't help be bad sometimes and just has to be himself. Great for kids who are into dinosaurs. First time i've seen T-Rex with some personality instead of being just a big monster. Also found the DVD at the library which is also very good. Grandma laughs every time she watches with the kids.

Again, very beautiful art with no story to back it up. The art is to be appreciated, however it's not as though the pictures are complex enough to grab the attention of the reader.

Each page contains (on average) less than ten words. I'm surprised it is so well-liked.

As for the subject of the TRex being a Carnivore, I think it's fine. Some things are the way they are, which is what the book is trying to convey. Acceptance of one's self. However, bizarre and lame ending.

I only gave it two stars due to the beautiful art. Otherwise, I'd pass on this one. If you like this art style, pick up TINKA or MY BEST SWEET POTATO by Rainy Dohaney. Similar (possibly better) art with much more of a story.

I loved the author's previous work (Hondo and Fabian are delightful characters in a sweet book) and I expected this book to be similar. What I found, however, was a book that was too simplistic AND it dealt with the nature of the T-Rex in a way I found disturbing. This book is meant for the younger set, and yet it almost forces you to deal with death in rather a callous way. The T-Rex wishes he could be a vegetarian, but then in the next page it shows him saying he's not and a bunch of other dinosaurs running away from him. My son, age 3, pipes up with "What DOES he eat?" and I answered "Meat", without realizing what was coming on the next page. Now we have to deal with the fact that he didn't quite understand that animals eat _other animals_ and he's too young to really get that in a meaningful way. I don't think that was necessary. I also found the ending of the book disappointing. Thank goodness we only checked it out of the library and didn't buy it! This is not going to be one we purchase and I cannot recommend it.