Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur

By Dawn Friedman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Dino-mite satire is a quick, funny tween read.

Book Mordecai Richler Humor 2004
Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

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?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

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

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 suggesting a diversity 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