  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 04/01/2015 PreS-Gr 1—A high-spirited gang of dinosaurs, first seen in Tea Rex (2013) and Camp Rex (2014, both Viking), accompany their elegant friend Cordelia, her brother, and his ever-present teddy bear to the beach in this new adventure. In concise instructions, the proper young girl offers advice on how to best enjoy a "carefree day of fun in the sun." She recommends sitting near a lifeguard, using plenty of sunscreen, and waiting to go into the water after eating the picnic lunch. In addition to catching the waves, searching for treasures on shore is also an ideal way to spend the afternoon. "Even the smallest shell can contain the ocean's mighty roar." As the sun sinks below the horizon, the most important thing to keep in mind is "When you're surrounded by friends… life's a day at the beach." Beginning and ending with clever endpapers, the colored-pencil illustrations jauntily chronicle the memorable day at the seaside. Each precisely drawn picture captures a key moment in the dinosaurs' fun-filled day. On one spread, the T-rex gleefully rides the waves and a few pages later looks on in surprise as a flock of bold sea gulls flies off with the picnic basket. VERDICT Beach lovers will bask in the warmth of this witty homage to summertime.—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2015 Cordelia and her beloved T. rex, Rex, take to the beach in this latest installment of Idle’s unfailingly charming Rex series (Camp Rex, BCCB 5/14, etc.). Continuing the ironic relationship between gently guiding prose and whimsical images that subvert textual advice, Idle provides plenty of humor, with, for instance, a giggle-inducing view of Rex sporting a pool float around his waist and a tiny sailor’s hat on his head amidst the hijinks caused by seagulls, cannonball jumps, and little brothers. The dynamic illustrations, rendered in color pencil on vellum, make the most of a sunny, retro-toned palette, with pinks, corals, and shades of blue sweeping the page in both snapshot-like panels and immersive double-page spreads. With the addition of dino buddies-a sunbathing, salmon-colored triceratops, a lifeguarding, tangelo-toned pterodactyl, and a snorkeling, cerulean stegosaurus-Idle raises the endearing level. A perfect primer for summer fun, this is a sweet and silly readaloud. AA - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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