Dad and the Dinosaur
by Gennifer Choldenko
illustrated by Dan Santat
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2017. 36 pages.
Starred Review
Nick wants to be brave like his dad. And people think that he is when he goes rock climbing and faces down a big, tough goalie on the soccer field.
But what other people don’t know is that the reason Nick can be brave is because of his companion, a toy dinosaur that goes with him everywhere. The dinosaur gives Nick the courage of a dinosaur.
So when the dinosaur falls out during a soccer game, Nick loses all his courage.
But it turns out that Dad knows exactly what to do.
This is a charming story of a kid who admires his father and wants to be like him – and a father who knows how to treat his son’s feelings with deep respect.
The illustrations are perfect. While Nick is holding his dinosaur, we see a shadowy dinosaur in the background, big and bold and brave. When Nick has lost the dinosaur, the world is a scarier place, with tentacles coming up from under a manhole cover ready to pull him down.
Together the story and illustrations hit just the right note. We see a kid who’s brave like his amazing dad, with the help of his friend the dinosaur.
gennifercholdenko.com
dantat.com
penguin.com/children
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