If You Give a T-Rex a Bone

REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker, reviewer with Stories for Children Magazine What do you think a Tyrannosaurus rex would do if you if you offered it a bone? Author Tim Myers explains that the T-rex would be mad because it wouldn't be proper nourishment, so you'd have to run into the underbrush and hide. But there, you might meet a Dimetrodon, so you'd have to jump into a nearby bay. But there, you might see a Kronosaurus, so you'd have to swim into a river. But there, you might be spotted by a Dakosaurus, so you'd have to climb a ridge. But there, a Quetzalcoatlus might dive at you, so you'd have to fling yourself into the ocean. But there, you might run into a Shonisaurus, so you'd have to swim to the beach. But there, you might happen upon a Dilophosaurus, so you'd have to return to the bushes. But there--well, you get the idea. And where is that pesky T-rex? Children seem to be fascinated by reading and learning about dinosaurs. With a "tip o' the hat" to Laura Numeroff, If You Give a T-Rex a Bone, which was a finalist for the ForeWord Best Children's Picture Book, is a really neat story that youngsters will enjoy reading and that will teach them information about various kinds of dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles, which Anise Claire Hovemann's full-color illustrations will help them to visualize. In the back of the book, there are two pages entitled "Tim Talks Dinos," which provides additional material about each of the creatures in the story. There is also another page of "Dino Fun" that features interactive exercises and a list of "Some Great Dino Books and Websites" for further research. Any child who loves dinosaurs will love this book.

Reviewed by Matthew Feliciano (age 8) for Reader Views (4/08) "If You Give a T-Rex a Bone" is all about a little boy who learns about different dinosaurs. He was being chased by a T-Rex so he gave a T-Rex a bone. This made the T-Rex mad so the little boy hid in the bushes. Then he was found by a dimetrodon, and when he went to escape that dinosaur, he encountered another one. This book takes us all through dinosaurs and what they ate and what they were like. This book is very similar to the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" books and I liked that. It is a fun way to tell a story and keeps things moving. At the end of this book the author gives pictures and information about dinosaurs and some other books and websites to learn more. I think that is a good idea for anyone who reads this book and wants to know more about the dinosaurs. "If You Give a T-Rex a Bone" was a fun and educational book to read.

My family loves this book. My girls (ages 9 and 5) were not into dinosaurs - until we read this book together. It's entertaining and educational.