Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures With the Family Lazardo
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that there is nothing objectionable here. The story has the clarity and concision of a news broadcast, with the same riveting tone, and the artwork couldn't be more softhearted and engaging. The language is enjoyably formal, with wit that acknowledges both adult and child audiences.
Families who read this book could discuss the silly premise. What would it be like to have a dinosaur as a pet? What else, besides baseball, would they be good at? What weird pet would you like to have?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Peter Lewis
Dinosaur Bob -- young, ample, and affable -- is discovered by the unflappable family Lazardo while they're on safari in Africa. Too sweet a beast to leave behind, he is taken home to Pimlico Hills, where he causes a sensation in this subtly humorous, spit-polished picture book from William Joyce.
The Lazardos live in that wonderful world where anything is possible, where generosity and curiosity are bywords. Nothing throws them off balance. A dinosaur? Why, of course. Welcome, stranger. Stay a while and let us enrich each other's lives..
It is also a world of sophistication--not just in wealth and worldliness but also in the level of humor. Dr. and Mrs. Lazardo are smooth to a fault (Joyce acknowledges that they are drawn from Dashiell Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles), and their suavity will likely fly right over most kids' heads.
They are also swashbucklers, though, and that is where older children may find a toehold. Reading the story to a library group of eight-year-olds captured only half of the audience, while a group of five-year-olds fully tuned in to the silliness of the tale and to lovable Bob.
Joyce's artwork is sophisticated as well, a very handsome and richly evocative Art Deco style, but its broad humor is immediately accessible. Dinosaur Bob is a presence, vast and green, and a real sport.
From The Book
That night, no one at the Lazardos' house could sleep.
"Poor Bob," sighed Scotty.
"All alone," said Velma.
"Without his trumpet," said Zelda.
Suddenly, Dr. Lazardo jumped up, grabbed his hat, and ran out the door.
"Don't worry," said Mrs. Lazardo. "Your father never goes out in his pajamas unless he has a smashing idea."
Plot Summary:
Wealthy, free-thinking sophisticates Dr. and Mrs. Lazardo, their children, and Jumbu, their bodyguard-cum-manservant, are on safari in Africa when Scotty, the son, returns to camp with a great green brontosaurus. "He looks kind of like my Uncle Bob," said Mrs. Lazardo. So Bob it is, and after first sailing him down the Nile, they take him home with them.
In what looks like Roaring Twenties Pimlico Hills, Bob is a hit: He plays a swinging trumpet and has a hot glove on the baseball field. But he gets into a little trouble when he joins some neighborhood dogs chasing cars, and the chief of police orders him returned to Africa. The Lazardos spring Bob that night, however, and hide him until he can redeem himself by knocking in the winning run for the hapless Pimlico Pirates. The Pirates get their first victory ever, and Bob gets to stay.
Related Books:
William Joyce Also Wrote
Baseball Bob
George Shrinks
Rolie Polie Olie
The Leaf Men
A Day with Wilbur Robinson
Books With Similar Themes
Too Big by Claire Masurel
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Social BehaviorThis book emits goodness, decency, and broad-mindedness like radioactivity. |
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