Harry and the Dinosaurs Go To School

From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 1—Harry is excited about starting school, but his dinosaurs are nervous. A misunderstanding (the teacher thinks that the bucket in which they reside is his lunch) leads to Harry becoming separated from his toys, so he is unhappy in his new classroom. He takes pity on Jack, another boy who is even unhappier. Harry shares his dinosaurs after he gets them back, and the boys learn to enjoy school and become friends. The watercolor and line illustrations have more life than the story, but they seem to have only two expressions with which to reveal many emotions. The theme of overcoming difficulties through reaching out to others is well done, but some stray story threads give the book a disjointed feel. A gratuitous sibling rivalry scene adds nothing but the word "stupid" and a display of Harry's temper. His friend Charlie is mentioned on the first page and again on the last, but not in between. (Charlie is pictured but, as readers don't learn that the friend is a girl until the end, it is not immediately obvious.) The text on the playground page reads, "Harry sort of liked the playground….But it wasn't much fun," which muddies the story.—