  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 03/01/2013 “Yes, the dinosaurs are dead,” Dad says to his son, Dave, as the pair head into a museum exhibit. At each display, the pedantic dad points out features to observe (“Look at the fabulous armor plating and bony eyelids”), and with each turn of the page, the dino in question defies the dictum that they’re dead by winking at or reaching for or picking up happy little Dave. Asks Dave, “Why is it trying to eat my burger?” Answers Dad, “It’s just your imagination.” Ayto’s off-kilter pen, ink, watercolor, and collage illustrations turn each dinosaur into a highly exaggerated beast featuring a boulder-sized head or mile-long talons or truck-proportioned nose. Children will enjoy the small museum warning signs (“Mind the tail,” “Mind the teeth,” etc.), the droll humor, and most of all, the surprise ending, wherein Dad finds out that Dave is worth listening to a little more closely. Great for kids who like to tell their parents a thing or two about dinosaurs. - Copyright 2013 Booklist. School Library Journal - 03/01/2013 K-Gr 2—A comedic treat, this story follows Dave and his dad to a natural history museum, where dinosaurs on exhibit come alive when Dad's back is turned, winking at Dave, tickling him, and attempting to snag a bite of his burger. Dave's dad dismisses questions like, "Why is it grinning at me?" with the classic parental response, "It's just your imagination." But when a Tyrannosaurus rex follows the pair out of the exhibit and lets loose with an ear-splitting roar, Dad changes his mind at a dead run. Kids will love the suspense of wondering if the clueless parent will ever turn around to see what Dave sees, and they'll shriek with laughter when he finally does. The dialogue between father and son is delightfully conducive to a read-aloud, and Ayto's artwork adds rich, rib-tickling layers to the book's humor. The dinosaurs are the superstars with hilariously oddball heads, bodies, and limbs and giggle-inducing grimaces. The massive critters loom over little bitty Dave, and tiny comical details make poring over the pages even more fun. Minuscule signs warn visitors to "mind the teeth," "mind the arms," etc., but the best is a sign next to the T. rex that simply (and ominously) says, "MIND," with bite marks on the corner. A highly entertaining selection that is sure to be a big hit.—Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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