Trouble With Tyrannosaurus Rex [Library Binding]

Lorinda Bryan Cauley (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Ankylosaurus and Duckbill devise a plan with the other peaceful dinosaurs in their neighborhood to outwit and humiliate Tyrannosaurus Rex before he eats them all.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cauley's latest picture book is an imaginative departure from the more traditional, factual genre of books on dinosaurs. She has written a story in which dinosaurs are depicted not as sterile, lifeless reptiles from the past but instead as engaging personalities possessing human characteristics and concerns. The neighborhood bully, Tyrannosaurus Rex, is terrorizing the smaller dinosaurs, making them feel helpless and miserable. But with a combination of courage, brains and teamwork, they scheme to teach Tyrannosaurus Rex a lesson. The dinosaurs catch Rex off guard and take advantage of his clumsiness, knocking him down and hurling mud in his eyes. Shamed, Rex retreats into the woods and is never seen by the other dinosaurs again. The colorful, muted pastel illustrations feature dinosaurs with animated facial expressions. The last page provides simple dinosaur illustrations, accompanied by phonetic spellings of each name. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2 All pictures and no story does not a good picture book make. Cauley's book comes on all ablaze with big, full-color illustrations of dinosaurs. Her drawings are clear, animated, believable, and well-executed. No problem with the pictures; the trouble lies with the plot, which limps along like a brontosaurus with a broken leg. Two dinosaur friends, Ankylosaurus and Duckbill, are tired of living under the violent shadow of T. Rex, so they come up with a plot to stop his bullying: they trip him and throw mud in his face. Then they and their friends dodge him until he is so exhausted at the dizzying prospect of being surrounded by so many possible things to eat that he collapses in a tired heap. That night, the triumphant vegetarians party, while the humiliated carnivore slinks off, never to be seen again. The plot never delivers the expected wit and punch that folktale underdogs in like situations wield so well against tyrants. Despite their humbler trappings, Bernard Most's If the Dinosaurs Came Back (HBJ, 1978) and Liza Donnelly's Dinosaur Day (Scholastic, 1987) deliver more plot. Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books (J); 1st edition (March 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152908803
• ISBN-13: 978-0152908805
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,763,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Young Listeners Adore this Book, September 12, 2009

By 

Mary E. Robbins "voice" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Trouble with Tyrannosaurus Rex (Paperback)

My grandson loves this book because the bully who loses face is much like the bullies he has experienced on the playground. He is only three years old, but he immediately relates to those other dinosaurs who must come up with a plan to stop their intimidation. The characters (dinosaurs) are wonderful for tiny people who must deal with the world. They're authentic and they're funny; he laughs and laughs. This is probably one of the first books he'll want to learn to read for himself.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fiction and Fact, fabulous vocabulary!, March 21, 2003

By 

Juliana M. Mccalpin "Greenpalm" (McKinney, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trouble with Tyrannosaurus Rex (School & Library Binding)

My two and a half year old son loves this book. I think I read it to him seven times just today. He has always been a dinosaur fan, but this book really brings the characters to life for him. He loves pointing out each dinosaur in each illustration and telling me their names. When we are not reading the book, he asks us to act out the roles of the dinos in the story. For some reason, I always get to be Tyrannosaurus Rex! I'm thrilled with the book because it is a fun story that also happens to offer factual information about the dinosaurs in it. It's been a great help to our discussion about which dinosaurs were herbivores and which were carnivores. Finally, the vocabulary is amazing, when I hear my son using words like "tantalize" and "serene" I know that the magic of reading aloud is working its wonders! Great book!