I'm Bad!

The very first page, and we know we have a BAD dinosaur. And he shows us, hunting other animals! Aaaaaaand... losing spectacularly. I love the way the dinosaur talks, and I love the illustrations. I especially appreciate that with an older child you can use this book to discuss some of the ways prey animals survive - we're shown vivid illustrations of running, hiding, herd defensive behavior, and camouflage. No animals are harmed in this book, but more sensitive children might find the subject upsetting. I'm not rating it down for that, but if you think your kid might object to seeing a carnivore being a carnivore (it can be a little scary), be sure to read before you buy.

We love Kate and Jim McMullan...great books and great pictures, I bought this book for my 4 year old grandson. He enjoyes "reading" them to me also. We had checked these books out at our Library so many times , I just decided to have them in our home library.

Reviewed by Nicholas Lopez (age 6) and Leslie Granier for Reader Views (7/08) "I'm Bad!" is a story about a young dinosaur with an attitude. He thinks his size is all he needs to get what he wants. When he realizes he is hungry, he tries to catch several different creatures but keeps failing and making excuses that he wanted something different to eat anyway. In the end, it's Mom to the rescue to feed him and to teach him that he's not as bad or intimidating as he thinks he is. Nicholas said, "It was funny when the dinosaur couldn't catch any of the animals he wanted to eat. The dinosaur was big and strong but the little animals were too fast. The dinosaur was kinda mean to want to eat other animals. His mom gave him food but it did not look good to me. My mom makes better stuff like hot dogs." "I'm Bad!" is a cute book that is aimed at children between the ages of 5 and 8. It teaches the important lesson that as "bad" as someone thinks he is, he still must rely on others for help sometimes. The pictures are colorful and eye-catching. The use of different print sizes throughout the book was a nice touch and will help keep younger kids engaged in the story.

Before you crack the spine, consider two things: your kids might beg/plead/bribe you to read it again and you may have to explain to strangers why they're confronted with devilish grins, asking, "Are you bad?" This tale of a buck-toothed carnivore brings to life the sights, sounds and silliness of dinnertime in prehistoric suburbia. Imagination runs rampant. And adjectives fly off the page in descriptions that scream. For example, our favorite friend asks the reader: "Are you bad? I'm REALLY bad. Scare-the-tails-off-all-the-other-dinosaurs BAD. Got rip-'em-up CLAWS. Got bite-'em-up FANGS. Bad breath? YeaaaHHHHHHH." How great is that? Before you deem him too scary, remember that this little guy holds a soft spot for his Mom. (And it really is the perfect Mother's Day book.) At the end, you may smile with delight and beg/plead/bribe your kids to listen again. This wacky, wordplay must-have gaurantees to illicit smiles and surprises. Again and again.

This tyrannasaurus wants you to know that he's bad! He's stinky, mean, and the king of the dinos. So why can't he seem to get any food? Boys especially will like this tale of a mean ole dino that may not be as mean as he wants you to think he is. With dynamic illustrations and fun language, this is a book to get all riled up over.