T. Rex Trick-or-Treats

by Lois G. Grambling, Jack E. Davis (Illustrator)

Overview

Join T. Rex and his friends as they try to find the perfect scary costume for Halloween trick-or-treating. Is it a bat? Or a cat? Or maybe a jack-o'-lantern? Or maybe T. Rex should just wear his big, toothy grin.

Lois G. Grambling and Jack E. Davis's delightful, frightful tale teaches that, sometimes, what you need just might be in the last place you look—yourself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060502546
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/22/2008
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Lois G. Grambling has written numerous award-winning picture books, including Can I Have a Stegosaurus, Mom? Can I? Please!?, illustrated by H. B. Lewis; The Witch Who Wanted to be a Princess, illustrated by Judy Love; and Daddy Will be There, illustrated by Walter G. Kessel. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, Arthur.

Jack E. Davis has illustrated two picture books by Daniel Pinkwater: The Picture of Morty and Ray and Yo-yo Man. Other books he has illustrated include the New York Times bestseller Marsupial Sue by John Lithgow. He is a recipient of the New York Society of Illustrators Gold Medal Award for Humor. He lives and paints goofy pictures in Port Townsend, Washington.

Editorial Reviews

A tongue–in–cheek crowd pleaser” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Here’s a holiday tale sure to leave young audiences with toothy grins of their own.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A fun addition to Halloween collections.” — School Library Journal

“Grambling’s mouth–tickling adjectives are right on target for her audience.” — Booklist

From the Publisher

Grambling’s mouth–tickling adjectives are right on target for her audience.

Booklist

Grambling’s mouth–tickling adjectives are right on target for her audience.

Booklist

T. Rex's search for an original Halloween disguise teaches him an important lesson about being himself. A cute picture book about a prehistoric monster that all kids love.

In this tongue-in-cheek crowd pleaser, T. Rex wants a costume that will "make him look scary." Sadly, his friends Diplodocus, Stegosaurus and Iguanodon have taken all the best ideas. "Decide soon or all the treats will be gone!" Iguanodon wails. Davis's (Bedhead) witty thought bubbles picture T. Rex envisioning himself in a bat, cat or pumpkin costume before rejecting each. "Maybe you should go... as yourself, wearing just that very big frown," the reptiles recommend, looking a little nervous. Grambling (Shoo! Scat!) achieves a level of comic irony that dino fans can appreciate, and T. Rex's treat-eating smile turns out to be just as frightening (and funny) as his frown. Ages 3-6. (Sept.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2-It is Halloween night, and T. Rex cannot decide what to wear. All of his pals have taken the best and scariest costumes-ghost, witch, skeleton. He wants to be really scary, and when his friends' suggestions result in a Very Big Frown, T. Rex is convinced that he is frightening enough as is. The story is slight, yet it will satisfy young listeners. Davis has created a nonthreatening dino world with his cartoonlike line-and-watercolor illustrations. Children will enjoy poring over details in the illustrations, but the occasional sharp-eyed parent may object to the unwrapped, home-baked treats that the dinos and kids have stuffed into their treat bags. The attractive cover will make this an easy sell; all in all, it's a fun addition to Halloween collections.-Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Giving Davis plenty of chances to show a very toothy T. Rex sending hapless trick-or-treaters fleeing in pop-eyed terror, Grambling crafts a tale of an increasingly frustrated dino unable to settle on a sufficiently scary Halloween costume. Not that he needs the disguise; dripping, shark-like dentifrice to the fore, T. Rex not only elicits screams from the costumed children who come to the door, he even makes his vegetarian buddies Stegosaurus, Diplodocus and Iguanodon nervous. When they convince him at last just to go out as himself, T. Rex exchanges his frown for a smile-that has an even more traumatic effect on everyone. Here's a holiday tale sure to leave young audiences with toothy grins of their own. (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews