Common Sense Media Review
Dino-mite satire is a quick, funny tween read.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Jacob Two-Two and his pet dinosaur, Dippy, are on the run after Canadian government officials declare Dippy a public menace and decide to bomb him.
Is It Any Good?
Jacob is a likeable protagonist, and many children will identify with his trials as the youngest in a large family. But these bad guys wouldn't be out of place in a Roald Dahl novel. Some parents may be bothered by a country club president who says, "[W]e have to come to accept a few members who are black or Italian or Jewish or Greek, so long as they are also filthy rich."
The broad satire is funny, but the cynicism is what skews the age recommendation to 9 for this easy-to-read chapter book. It's also more intense and darkly funny than in the friendly, sibling rivalry-focused animated series. This is a satisfyingly quick read -- chapters are usually only two or three pages, and the action moves the plot along at a lively pace. This is a good pick for an otherwise reluctant reader.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the bad guys' motivations. Jacob's enemies aren't always honest about why they want to do things, but it's easy to see their true intentions. Parents can look up the legend of Saint George and the dragon and then discuss why the prime minister wanted to emulate it. They can also ask why the Yes Men and Yes Women always say yes.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Norman Eyolfson
- Genre : Humor
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House
- Publication date : March 23, 2004
- Number of pages : 96
- Last updated : September 20, 2015
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate