Bob Shea has created many hilarious books for young people, including Crash, Splash or Moo!, the popular Dinosaur Vs. series, Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great, Unicorn is Maybe Not so Great After All, and the early readers featuring Ballet Cat. He has also written stories such as Who Wet My Pants?, illustrated by Zachariah OHora. He lives in Madison, Connecticut and invites you to visit him at bobshea.com.
Another high-volume trail of victories for the red, toothy, roaring
two-or-so-year-old introduced in Dinosaur vs. Bedtime (2008).
Stoutly denying any need to use the potty, Dinosaur "conquers" a
pitcher of lemonade, a lawn sprinkler, a pool toy, puddles and even
a three-juice-box lunch in succession, each time exclaiming,
"Dinosaur wins! And doesn't need to use the potty!"-but when that
victory dance suddenly turns into a "potty dance," can he hold it
long enough to reach the toilet? Children who have felt the
pressure themselves won't be able to turn the pages fast enough to
see if he makes it and he does, as the final (discreetly posed)
scene and Dinosaur's blissful-and still spike-toothed-smile reveal.
"Close one, Dinosaur! Real, real close." Largely printed in display
type, the text is as punchy and emphatic as the big, simple
illustrations. A shoo-in for storytime fave status and an excellent
title to supplement the standard, more earnest potty-training fare.
Kirkus"
As in Dinosaur vs. Bedtime (2008), this uproarious picture book
captures a toddler's rebellion. A small red dinosaur does not want
to go to the potty, and as he plays, he imagines that every time he
shuns the toilet, he is a champion: "Dinosaur wins again!" Finally,
he cannot wait any longer. Can he make it to the bathroom in time?
The urgency and then the relief on the last page is hilarious: "The
potty wins! Close one dinosaur! Real, real close." With its
primary-colored creatures and feelings every kid will recognize,
this is sure to attract preschool fans. Booklist"
If you thought it was rough getting Dinosaur to sleep (Dinosaur vs.
Bedtime, BCCB 10/08), just try getting him to the bathroom. Every
potty-trainee knows the drill: you have a drink, you play in the
water-you visit the toilet, just in case. But they'll also agree
with Dinosaur that life's just too interesting to heed Nature's
call for a time-out: "Dinosaur versus splashing in the sprinkler!";
"Dinosaur versus a three juice box lunch!... And no, he doesn't
need to use the potty!" Oh, of course he does, and after a day of
conquering all things liquid, he's doing the victory dance. "Wait a
second! That's not a victory dance! That looks like a POTTY DANCE!"
Frantically shedding clothes, he makes it to the throne in the nick
of time ("Close one, Dinosaur! Real, real close"). The vivid red,
Chris Raschka-esque Dinosaur is the poster child for gleeful
hydration, gulping and splashing through a minimalist backdrop of
potables, pools, and puddles. The cautionary point will be well
taken by the Pull-Ups set and their been-there-done-that older
siblings, but the real test may be of adult continence- think you
can make it through thirty-two pages of persistently suggestive
water sounds without making a dash down the hall? BCCB"
In his second adventure, Shea's fearsome red protagonist does
battle with lemonade stands, sprinklers, juice boxes, pools, and
puddles. As in the book's predecessor, the dinosaur always emerges
victorious-- "And still doesn't need to use the potty!" But is his
victory dance really something else? Shea's bold collages are as
in-your-face charming as his energetic hero, whose exuberance and
stubborn avoidance of the potty will elicit both empathy and
laughter. PW"
Shea's bright, busy, and not-so-ferocious red dinosaur is back from
his brush with bedtime in this new high-energy offering. In the
style of Dinosaur vs. Bedtime (Hyperion, 2008), the narrative sees
many liquid challenges for the grinning creature and he insists
after each one that he doesn't need to urinate. Will the
three-juice-boxes lunch win? Will the whale watering vanquish the
dinosaur? And will he make it to the potty after his close call
splashing in rain puddles? The digital illustrations have strong
lines and bold colors, perfectly complementing the spare but
spot-on text. It begs to be read aloud to a crowd of excited
preschoolers who will love to chime in with their own "roars!" A
surefire hit both for existing fans and new browsers. SLJ"
Temporarily conquered by sleep in the rousing-rousing for readers,
that is-Dinosaur vs. Bedtime (rev. 9/08), the little red dynamo is
back in action, thumbing his snout at new opponents. Shea sticks to
the tried-and-true pattern from the first book: Dinosaur loudly
triumphs over a variety of tasks ("Dinosaur versus...making
lemonade! Roar! Roar! Mix! Squeeze! Roar!") until, inevitably, he
bows to the call of nature. Bold design elements-heavy outline,
lots of color, playful placement of type, etc.-echo the character's
T. rex-sized personality as he romps through a lawn sprinkler,
drinks three juice boxes at lunch, and (with the garden hose)
waters down the imaginary whale in his wading pool. "You'd think
he'd need to use the potty! But he says he doesn't!" Except,
finally, he does. Parents and young children will be familiar with
the dramatic race to the restroom, after which "the potty wins!"
But dry pants are, of course, a victory for everyone. Horn Book"
Ask a Question About this Product More... |