[BOOK REVIEW] Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff

Title:  Danny and the Dinosaur

Author:  Syd Hoff

Genre: Dinosaurs / Friendship / Children's / Magic

 
Year Published: 1958

Year Read:  2010

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

Series: Danny and the Dinosaur #1

Source:  Purchased

Content Rating:  Ages 3+  (Nothing too Objectionable)

Buy on:  Amazon  //  Book Depository 

"Danny and the Dinosaur" is a New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year Award by Syd Hoff and it is about how a young boy named Danny starts playing with a friendly dinosaur who has come to life when in a museum that Danny goes to.  "Danny and the Dinosaur" is a true masterpiece for many children who love books about dinosaurs!

Syd Hoff has done an outstanding job at both illustrating and writing this book.  Syd Hoff's illustrations are both creative and cute at the same time as the dinosaur that Danny encounters looks extremely friendly and the dinosaur's body would usually take up the pages that he is on and Danny himself is an extremely cute and friendly looking child as he always has a smile on his face when he is around the dinosaur.  Also, what made Syd Hoff's illustrations truly creative is that there would be a set of two pages that are mainly in brown, black and white and then the next set of two pages would be in all kinds of color, which is a similar format that "Madeline's Rescue" had.  Syd Hoff makes this story extremely cute and heartwarming at the same time as Danny learns about the true meaning of friendship when he spends much of his day with the dinosaur and enjoys his time spent with the dinosaur.  Syd Hoff also made this book highly creative as this was one of the few children's books that I have read where a human child talks to a dinosaur like a human being and Syd Hoff has made the interaction between the dinosaur and Danny so heartwarming as Danny and the Dinosaur act like true best friends.

"Danny and the Dinosaur" is truly one of the greatest books about dinosaurs ever created and it would be a huge hit for children who love dinosaurs and learning the true meaning of friendship.  I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book and the writing format of this book is extremely simple for three year olds and up to read. 

*  1958 Outstanding Children's Books of 1958 (New York Times)

[BOOK REVIEW] The Far Side Gallery by Gary Larson

Title:  The Far Side Gallery

Author:  Gary Larson

Genre: Animals / Comedy / Comic Strips

Year Published: 1984

Year Read:  2/23/2014

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC

Series: The Far Side Gallery

Source:  Library

Content Rating:  Ages 7+ (Some Suggestive Themes)

Buy on:  Amazon  //  Book Depository 

Introduction:

After reading “The Far Side Gallery 3,” I was dying to check out more of Gary Larson’s “Far Side Gallery” series and I stumbled upon a collection of Gary Larson’s “Far Side Gallery” series in “The Far Side Gallery” (man, I am talking about the “Far Side Gallery” so much in this review)!  Anyway, this collection of “Far Side Gallery” stories is just as memorable and hilarious as the “Far Side Gallery 3!”

What is this story about?

Basically, this “Far Side Gallery” collection contains comic strips from “The Far Side,” “Beyond the Far Side,” and “In Search of the Far Side” and the comic strips all contain hilarious situations that involve various animals and human beings.

What I loved about this story:

Gary Larson’s writing: Gary Larson’s writing is as usual hilarious and witty to read as the various characters in these comic strips are always making sarcastic comments about the situations they are thrown into.  As usual, Gary Larson managed to make some of the puns such as “Hat Hunters” and “Water Buffaloes” come to life in a literal sense and I just rolled over laughing when I read these strips! Some of my favorite comic strips in this collection are:

“Big Bob says he’s getting tired of you saying he doesn’t really exist.” (When the boy’s imaginary friend grabs the boy’s father roughly by the shirt).

“We’ve made it, Warren! ...The moon!” (When two astronauts landed on the moon, but one of the astronauts accidentally hit the other astronaut’s helmet, cracking it).

The real reason dinosaurs became extinct (Showing the dinosaurs smoking cigarettes).

“For twelve perfect years I was a car-chaser.  Pontiacs, Fords, Chryslers…I took them all on…and yesterday my stupid owner backs over me in the driveway.” (A dog tells another dog in heaven how his owner killed him with a car).

Gary Larson’s artwork:  Gary Larson’s artwork as usual is hilarious to look at as the characters have exaggerated bodies such as their bodies being larger than their heads.  I also loved how hilarious the artwork becomes during the collection’s most hilarious moments such as the artwork of the astronaut smashing another astronaut’s helmet after pronouncing that they are on the moon at last.

What made me feel uncomfortable about this story:

For anyone who feels uncomfortable about dealing with the concept of heaven and hell, there are a couple comic strips in this collection that deals with heaven and hell, although it is not as frequent as it was in the “Far Side Gallery 3.”

Final Thoughts:

Overall, “The Far Side Gallery” is a fantastic collection of Gary Larson’s best work in the “Far Side Gallery” series and anyone who is a huge fan of Gary Larson’s work in the “Far Side” series will easily enjoy this collection!

[BOOK REVIEW] Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems

Title:  Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct

Author:  Mo Willems


Genre: Dinosaurs / Friendship / Humor


Year Published: 2006


Year Read: 2010

Publisher:  Disney-Hyperion

Source:  Library

Content Rating:  Ages 4+  (Nothing Objectionable)

Buy on:  Amazon  //  Book Depository 

 

When I first read “Knuffle Bunny,” I thought to myself that I would probably never read another book with so much sarcastic humor.  Well, I was wrong when I recently picked up this book called “Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct” which is also written by Mo Willems and when I read this book, it was so hilarious and cute!  This book is basically about a dinosaur named Edwina who was well liked in her neighborhood except by a kid named Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie, who tries to think of ways to prove that Edwina is extinct.  This book clearly has the pure essence of comedy that you would rarely find in picture books!

Mo Willems has done it again in his talent of producing pure comedy and cute illustrations in the world of children’s books.  Mo Willems has done an excellent job at writing this book as it is full of humor, especially during the scenes where Reginald tried to prove to everyone that dinosaurs are extinct and the hilarity that ensues when people kept on ignoring Reginald’s protests.  Mo Willems has done a great job at making Edwina a truly loveable character as she would help anyone out in their time of need, especially Reginald who tries everything to make her life miserable.  Mo Willems’ illustrations are truly hilarious and cute as he draws Edwina as a large yet motherly looking dinosaur who has pink toenails and fingernails, a pearl necklace and a straw brimmed hat that makes her look like she is actually apart of the society that she is in.

“Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct” is the perfect book for children who love pure comedy and love reading books about dinosaurs.  I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book.