Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 06/01/2016 Toddler-PreS—Have you ever seen a Grumpasaurus? It's a rather small creature, but it's fearsome, especially when it's in distress. Hemingway's picture book explores how to spot a Grumpasaurus, a creature that most readers will easily recognize. After the narrator identifies a tragedy (a broken toy) and describing its behavior, readers are told to "approach with caution" and that it is "best to be curious about the Grumpasaurus from a safe distance." An adult attempts to calm the Grumpasaurus with a bath, but it's a mended toy that dissolves all tantrums and tears to reveal the human boy within. The art is set on a notebook layout, with yellowed lined paper. Oil-painted rain clouds and other domestic accents are provided to create a more homey setting. The typeface is small, and most of the storytelling is captured in the sidelines and captions, which further explain the creature's antics. While the message that it is "simply never a good idea to approach the Grumpasaurus unless…bearing gifts" is a somewhat faulty one, the repaired teddy does the trick, and Grumpasaurus's transformation from prickly to huggable is totally toddlerlike and satisfying. VERDICT Probably best for one-on-one sharing for those seeking a different kind of dinosaur story and those wanting to acknowledge and talk about strong emotions. This tale will surely resonate with young audiences.—Briana Moore, School Library Journal - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 08/01/2016 Who’s that stomping into the fold of disgruntled picture-book characters? Humorously presented in the style of a field guide, this book offers tips for identification of the Grumpasaurus (the dark cloud above its head is a dead giveaway); observations on behavior; and advice for placating the beast. In this instance, the presence of a broken toy summons the Grumpasaurus, who proceeds to tantrum in the vicinity of the nearest adult. This fearsome display earns it a bath, which only heightens its displeasure. How, then, to banish such an unpleasant creature? A quick repair of the broken toy puts things to rights, and soon the Grumpasaurus is replaced by a smiling little boy. Hemingway’s oil paintings effectively depict the range of a tot’s grumpiness through labeled diagrams—see the flaring nostrils, the hostilely folded arms. Though the final message, that poor behavior can be dispelled through gift giving, leaves something to be desired, there is a lot to enjoy about the joke that bad-tempered kids transform into mini beasts, especially for parents. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.

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