 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Dinotrux
- By Chris Gall
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
Earth-pounding action will thrill truck-loving dino fans.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book mixes dinosaurs, trucks, and cavemen, all with playfully far-fetched humor and a storyline that is not to be taken seriously. The fantasy truck-animals are fierce looking and might be scary for younger, more impressionable readers.
What's the story?
In the time before man, ferocious dinotrux ruled the world. They looked like huge trucks with claws, menacing teeth, glowing eyes...and tails! Then, suddenly, a "flash of light and a terrible storm" changed their world forever. Some evolved, some rusted away into extinction, and others...well, others may still be hiding out here and there.
Is it any good?
DINOTRUX will thrill any kid who loves trucks and dinosaurs. The story is a simple one, much like that of the primitive creatures that roamed the earth in times past. Inside the covers, the left side shows various dinotrux, while the right depicts real trucks that play a comparable role. Each of the dinotrux has a clever name, such as dozeratops, dumploducus, or rollodon, that says something about its character.
Every page is jam-packed with action, especially the Wham! Bam! Pow! kind you would find in a superhero comic book. The artwork is clever and eye-catching, and will appeal most to readers who like big, mechanical-looking robot trucks. Dark, earthy, yet vivid colors and block letters add to the roar.
Pages are illustrated from edge to edge with bold, noisy color and clever cartoonish detail. Though this is not an audiobook, readers will hear the rumbling and pounding of the dinotrux as well as the shrieks of the Fred Flinstone-type cave people as they run for their lives...all because of the artwork.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the different names the dinotrux are given. Why did the author choose those names? Do you think they fit? Can you think of others?
Why do you think dinosaurs and trucks go together? How are they alike or different?
Did trucks exist in the time of dinosaurs? How about cave people?
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AGE
Fun!
The CSM write-up is right on. Nothing your child will likely learn from this but its great fun. Some minor potty humor type stuff, like Dinotrux "leaking oil" and such. My 5 year old son who loves trucks and dinosaurs thinks its the best book he has ever seen. Takes it with him everywhere. May be a great book for kids reluctant to read if they enjoy these topics.
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| Author: | Chris Gall |
| Illustrator: | Chris Gall |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
| Publication date: | June 1, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 32 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 8 |
| Read aloud: | 4 |
| Read alone: | 7 |
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