We're Back! a Dinosaur's Story (Dragonfly Books) [Paperback]

Hudson Talbott (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dragonfly Books

Illus. in full color. "What happens when scientists from outer space test a new brain-developing product on dinosaurs, educate them, and drop them off in the middle of Manhattan's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Those five and up will adore the off-beat humor of this prehistoric tour de force."--Parents Magazine.  

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Vorb hangs down from a flying saucer and offers some dinosaurs the break of a lifetime; he's from Mega-Mind Inc. and is test-marketing a new product, Brain Grainwith an extra special bonus prize and free snacks. With Brain Grain, a dinosaur first experiences a "new me" and, eventually, a "new us." The prize? A drop into midtown Manhattan in the 20th century. Destination: Dr. Bleeb's Museum of Natural History. The gang parades in a Thanksgiving celebration but soon they're discovered to be real out-of-towners and are chased all the way to the museum, where they're saved by Dr. Bleeb. Those who think original dinosaur books are extinct are going to change their minds with this one. A very welcome bunch of monsters has landed in kids' laps; Talbot's prehistoric characters exhibit real stage presence, from the glint in their eyes to the way they slather over those snacks. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2 Outer space creatures test market their new product Brain Grain, an IQ enhancer, on dinosaurs. They educate the beasts and ship them to the United States, where the dinosaurs land in New York just in time for the Thanksgiving Day parade. After wreaking havoc with the balloons and spectators, the dinosaurs are taken in by a kindly museum curator at the Natural History Museum, Dr. Bleeb. She helps them escape the wrath of the police by posing the dinosaurs as a museum exhibit. When the police leave, the dinosaurs decide to stay, and fall asleep listening to Dr. Bleeb's bedtime stories. Readers may also be put to sleep by this book's feeble plot, which is packed with Supersaurus-sized holes. Who are these outer space creatures anyhow, and what dinosaur-populated planet do they come from? Why do they ship the creatures to the U.S.? And why do they disappear totally from the book after dumping the dinosaurs in New York? The rather nice watercolors are interrupted by mundane cartoon dialogue, which unfortunately only adds to the pointless meanderings of the text. Better books are Carrick's Patrick's Dinosaurs (Houghton, 1983) or Bernard Most's If the Dinosaurs Came Back (HBJ, 1978); let this one fossilize. Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 355 pages
• Publisher: Dragonfly Books (October 12, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517589850
• ISBN-13: 978-0517589854
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,530,553 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 fascinating for kids, entertaining for parents, July 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: We're Back! a Dinosaur's Story (Dragonfly Books) (Paperback)

My five year old son loves this book and I've read it to him many times. It's about a group of dinosaurs transported to modern New York and their adventures in the city.

What I especially like about the book is that the humor makes an adult smile and I don't mind reading it repeatedly.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A roarin' good time, June 29, 2011

By 

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

This review is from: We'Re Back! (Paperback)

This is a great tale told by a T-Rex in the first person of his unforgettable adventure. It all begins with his encounter with an alien named Vorb who recruits him (and other dinos) for a trial of a a special "vitamin" that makes the dinosaurs intellectuals, thus rendering their lives completely changed from thereon. Ultimately they are transported to the modern day world, in the city, and chaos ensues. It is a scream to see their interactions in the big city and you will most likely get many giggles out of your kids. Ultimately T-Rex and his dino companions make it to the museum of natural history - their intended destination - where they are safe and protected from the city-folk who have been unhinged by their presence. The book ends rather abruptly and awkwardly; it almost seems as though there should be a follow-up book (which I have yet to look into if that is the case). All in all, you and your kids will enjoy the story, the humorous antics, and attractive illustrations in this dino-mite tale. Especially if your kids are as crazy about dinos as my five- and four-year-old are!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We're Back, August 23, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: We're Back a Dinosaur's Story (Hardcover)

In 1993 We're Back was in theaters. It is my favorite book also , my favorite movie. It was funny and I laughed ,when I read it. It was just great ,everyone should read it. I like the part when all the Dinasaurs screamed, cause they didn't want to get in trouble.