Dad and the Dinosaur

Choldenko excels in creating believable characters whose empathy and emotional quotients match their other successes. . . This works as a story about bravery, as well as a paean to dads.

★ [Choldenko's] knowing, understated storytelling and Santat's warm, expressive spreads give full credence to the fears that weigh on kids, as well as the presences--both real and imagined--that can help alleviate them.

[T]he boy-friendliness of Choldenko's text is matched by Santat's robust paintings that give the tiny toy dinosaur life--and heft!--as he appears super-dino-style on the scene as needed. And while Dad is a reliable, strong presence, what we don't see is Dad's face (except for his beard), allowing young readers to imagine whatever father figure they need in his features.

Even though Nicholas's father, Big Nick, is "not afraid of anything," Nicholas is afraid of "the dark outside his door, the bushes where the giant bugs lived, and the undersides of manhole covers." A small plastic dinosaur Nick keeps in his pocket gives him courage, and Santat (Are We There Yet?) leaves no doubt about its power: in times of need--whether striding under a night sky, trying to climb a rock wall, or racing down the soccer field--Nicholas is seen accompanied by a giant, ghostlike tyrannosaurus that provides assistance and confidence. When Nicholas loses his lucky dinosaur, he and his father set out on a nighttime quest to find it: "It's guy stuff," Big Nick tells his wife. Choldenko's (Putting the Monkeys to Bed) poignant fantasy envisions a father who, like a certain tyrannosaur, looms large in his son's mind. Her knowing, understated storytelling and Santat's warm, expressive spreads give full credence to the fears that weigh on kids, as well as the presences--both real and imagined--that can help alleviate them. Ages 5-8. Author's agent: Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown. Illustrator's agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Mar.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--Nick is afraid of many things: giant bugs, the dark, manhole covers, and what lies beneath them. He longs to be brave like his dad. "His dad was not afraid of anything." Fortunately, Nick has a plastic dinosaur talisman that makes him fearless. When the dinosaur is safely in his pocket or tucked inside his soccer socks, Nick scales rock walls and scores amazing goals. Once the dinosaur is lost, however, Nick is filled with uncertainty and dread: "The night was as black as octopus ink, giant bugs were everywhere." After Nick confesses to his father that the dinosaur is the brave one, not him, he and Dad head out to search one more time. The toy is recovered, and Nick is relieved, especially after being reassured by his dad that "it's okay to be afraid. All guys are now and then." The mixed-media artwork by Caldecott winner Santat is sumptuous and full bleed. The nighttime scenes are particularly evocative, with Nick's imagined fears lurking around the edges. Slyly humorous as well as spooky, they keep the mood from getting too scary. This is a modern story reminiscent of Dumbo and his "magic" feather that readers will enjoy as they explore the ideas of bravery, ability, and what lies inside each of us. VERDICT A winning book sure to attract and delight a wide audience.--Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

★ "Intertwined with the themes of fear and bravery is a strong father-son relationship [. . . .] Teachers, librarians, and parents will find the book provides an opening for discussion about fears, security, and how their dads have loved and helped them."—School Library Connection, starred review