Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Edna the Very First Chicken

Roaring to the forest at large that he's after his breakfast, Tyrannosaurus sends Ankylosaurus, Parasaurolophus, and the rest of the heavily armored dinos fleeing in panic. But not Edna. . . . Readers will join the chorus of grateful herbivores in proclaiming that Edna is 'awesome.'

This is alternative paleontological history played strictly for laughs. Rees (the Uncle Pirate books) and Henry (Time for Cranberries) imagine that a T-rex that terrorized the Cretaceous is finally bested by a petite, doe-eyed hen named Edna. "I am big and fierce and you should be afraid of me," says Tyrannosaurus. "I am small and brave and you should be afraid of me," retorts Edna, literally eye-to-eye with him. But Edna is more than just talk: as a savvy underdog, she knows that the right tools, strategically employed--sharp beak and claws, sneeze-inducing feathers, airborne nimbleness--can rout a lumbering lout. Henry's digitally tweaked watercolors, which have an approachable vividness reminiscent of the Land Before Time films, are rendered in radiant hues and punctuated with crowd-pleasing proclamations ("Beware my pointy claws and many feathers," says Edna) and interjections ("Schnorch!" is the sound of a T-rex sneeze). Emily Dickinson called hope "the thing with feathers"; Rees and Henry prove that "fierce" can have feathers, too. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Laurie McLean, Fuse Literary. Illustrator's agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Associates. (Sept.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 1-- This prehistoric romp opens with Tyrannosaurus Rex throwing his weight around as usual, terrifying other dinosaurs as he searches of a suitable breakfast. As the other dinos flee in terror, Edna, the very first chicken, stands her ground, and when the "lord of the forest" tries to eat her, he gets a nasty surprise. This title is a delight. Edna adds a quirky element to the usual dinosaur book fare, and the voices of the various characters here--especially the T. rex after Edna sinks her pointy claws into his tongue--will make for a hilarious choice for bedtime read-alouds and library storytimes. The audience will also appreciate the colorful visual gags such as Edna's feathered behind disappearing off the page as she torpedoes from the T. rex's mouth. VERDICT Funny, colorful, and different. Try this with Rachael Mortimer's The Three Billy Goats Fluff for a pairing featuring wily animals that save the day.-- Henrietta Verma, National Information Standards Organization, Baltimore

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.