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
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
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
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. (Picture book. 3-5)
