Sunday, April 21, 2013

Welcome in Spring with a Good Book -- Down at the Dino Wash Deluxe by Tim Myers (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in order to write up an honest review. The views shared are mine and mine alone.


[9781402777981]


Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Published: April 2013
Age range: from 4 to 7
40 pages
ISBN: 1-4027-7798-1
ISBN13: 9781402777981
$14.95 US, $17.95 Canadian
Hardcover with Jacket -- all in color; 8 1/2 X 11

Synopsis:
 
"A rollicking romp around an old fashioned car wash—where DINOSAURS are the customers!

How can a dinosaur stay dirt-free in the city? Welcome to the Dino Wash Deluxe, where dinos go to get soaped, scrubbed, and spotlessly clean. The Dino Wash handles it all: scales, spikes, wings, even frills and horns. BUT WAIT! There's a new customer in town: a T. rex with sharp teeth, long claws, and a mighty mean personality. What will happen when T. rex shows up? Filled with dinosaur facts and fun, this hilarious picture book reminds children that tough guys might not be as scary as they seem. "

My Thoughts:

Who knew that my daughter Savannah would be into dinosaurs.  Usually dinosaurs are a boy thing, right?  Wrong!  Thanks to PBS Kids' popular animated dinosaur series, Dinosaur Train, more and more girls are getting excited about things dinosaur.  From their gigantic size to their long names, ask any fan of this animated series, and they can probably tell you a thing or two about dinosaurs. My daughter has been schooling me on dinosaurs, including what they eat, how long ago they lived, etc.  Go figure, her favorite dinosaur is the T-Rex. :-)  How about your dinosaur lover?  What is his/her favorite dino?

Has your child ever asked how a dinosaur gets a bath?  They are so big they can't fit in a shower.  So, where do they go when they get dirty?  Down to the Dino Wash Deluxe, of course!  Yes, there is a Dino Wash, similar to a car wash, that is run by a little boy in overalls, who washes all different types of dinosaurs, big and small, and walking or flying.  But, the one dinosaur this little boy has never given a bath to is the meat-eating T-Rex.  He is scared of this dinosaur, and I would be, too! 

As the boy is scrubbing down dinosaurs one day, he is told that the T-Rex is in town.  Worried, he hopes the T-Rex doesn't stop at the Dino Wash Deluxe.  What would he do if the T-Rex showed up?  Would he want to eat him?  The boy continues washing the dinosaurs, trying to forget about the news he heard...until the T-Rex shows up.  What happens next?  Well, I will not spoil all the details of the interaction between this little boy and the T-Rex.  I will say, though, that he does get the works done.  Does the T-Rex like it?  You will have to pick up a copy of this cute children's book by Tim Myers to find out.

In addition to the cute story that any dinosaur fan will enjoy reading, this book is also filled with fun facts about the dinosaurs, including how to properly sound out and pronounce their long, and at times, complicated names.  As for the illustrations, which are done by Macky Pamintuan, he did an amazing job at making each and every dinosaur look lifelike, all the way down to their fins, spikes, teeth, etc.  The illustrations alone will captivate dinosaur fans, and have them flipping back and forth to find their favorite dinosaurs.

Savannah had a blast listening to this story, and couldn't help giggle when each dinosaur got a bath.  After we were done reading this book for the first time, Savannah turned to ask for a bath, so she could be as clean as the dinosaurs were. :-)




About the Author:


Tim Myers is a writer, songwriter, and storyteller for children and adults. His children's books have earned a Smithsonian Notable Book award and a NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book award, among other honors. Basho and the Fox was a New York Times bestseller. Visit him at www.TimMyersStorySong.com. Tim lives in Santa Clara, CA.
 
About the Illustrator:

Macky Pamintuan has illustrated several children's books, including Twelve Hidden Days of Christmas, I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track, and I Saw an Ant in a Parking Lot (all Sterling), the Flat Stanley series by Jeff Brown (HarperCollins), and the Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series by Carolyn Keene and Alfred Zector (Aladdin). He lives in the Philippines with his wife and daughter, along with their playful dog. You can visit him online at www.mackyart.com.
 
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in order to write up an honest review. The views shared are mine and mine alone.

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