PreSchool-Grade 1—In this ninth outing in the series, the naughty behaviors of young dinosaurs are followed by an endearing act that reminds their human parents why they love their offspring. The situations are familiar: "Out in the sandbox/you threw lots of sand./You ran from the slide,/after slapping my hand." Fans can follow the 10 dinosaurs by starting with their names and pictures on the endpapers. Expressions are expertly painted for humorous effect, including the defiant Tsintaosaurus letting water overflow onto the floor and the rollicking Pachycephalosaurus kicking the seat while mother is driving the car. The large, colorful spreads and rhyming text that is still a joy to listen to after repeated readings make this a successful storytime selection. Well-designed pictures and skillfully arranged words will entice newly independent readers, who will be challenged to find the dinosaur name hand-lettered in the illustration where the creature is introduced. The familiar format will produce laughs, kisses, and cuddles during or after an exhausting day of many of the same events.—Debbie S. Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI�END

The ninth dinosaur title in the best-selling series follows the previous books’ winning formula, zeroing in this time on the anxiety little kids feel when they mess up and their subsequent relief when they realize that they are loved no matter what they do. Here, though, it’s the children (or dinos) who offer active gestures of love to the parents, rather than the other way around, providing an interesting twist. As in the other series titles, the huge, bumbling, childlike dinos are a comic delight, and kids will see themselves in the familiar scenarios and emotions. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Gillian Engberg