Sea Rex

March 15, 2015
Idle's Cretaceous dinos, having learned tea etiquette and some important guidelines for camping trips (Tea Rex, 2013; Camp Rex, 2014), now tackle the beach. As in previous outings, the text seems lifted straight from a guidebook: "You never know what treasures you may find. / Even the smallest shell... // can contain the ocean's mighty roar!" The tongue-in-cheek illustrations are the stars, though, this one showing the T. Rex (an overgrown tyke) yanking on a "shell" he's found, which is really the nose horn of a triceratops. Other hysterical highlights include the T. Rex's sunburn, the dramatic rescue of Cordelia's brother's beloved teddy bear (stolen by sea gulls), and the unlucky Cordelia's many scrapes. Beachgoers can relate to almost every bit of advice here, from not swimming right after eating to jumping feet first, though their own beach adventures may pale in comparison to the ones depicted in Idle's Prismacolor pencil illustrations, which depict an expanse of sand devoid of other human beachgoers. Still, the sand castle-building and wave riding and pesky sea gulls will be very familiar, as will that wonderful feeling at the end of the day when calm settles as the sun sets. Captures a day at the beach in hysterical dino style. (Picture book. 4-8)

April 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-A high-spirited gang of dinosaurs, first seen in Tea Rex (2013) and Camp Rex (2014, both Viking), accompany their elegant friend Cordelia, her brother, and his ever-present teddy bear to the beach in this new adventure. In concise instructions, the proper young girl offers advice on how to best enjoy a "carefree day of fun in the sun." She recommends sitting near a lifeguard, using plenty of sunscreen, and waiting to go into the water after eating the picnic lunch. In addition to catching the waves, searching for treasures on shore is also an ideal way to spend the afternoon. "Even the smallest shell can contain the ocean's mighty roar." As the sun sinks below the horizon, the most important thing to keep in mind is "When you're surrounded by friends... life's a day at the beach." Beginning and ending with clever endpapers, the colored-pencil illustrations jauntily chronicle the memorable day at the seaside. Each precisely drawn picture captures a key moment in the dinosaurs' fun-filled day. On one spread, the T-rex gleefully rides the waves and a few pages later looks on in surprise as a flock of bold sea gulls flies off with the picnic basket. VERDICT Beach lovers will bask in the warmth of this witty homage to summertime.-Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
In this companion to Tea Rex and Camp Rex, Cordelia (though she's never named in this book) and her young charge -- along with their T. rex friend -- spend a day at the beach. The direct-address text plays it straight as a travelogue how-to ( Station yourself near a lifeguard who will keep an eye on you. Use plenty of sunscreen ). And the colored-pencil illustrations do, toosort of. There is a lifeguard (a flying pterosaur; what else?), and the children engage in all the expected activities: splashing in the water, building sandcastles, collecting shells, and setting up a beach picnic. Their lunch is nearly ruined by some seagulls (just as in life), but the T. rex saves the day, if not all the sandwiches. Humorous details throughout the pictures -- the tiny sailor's hat the dino sports; the claw that pinches Cordelia's nose; the teddy bear in shades and a life jacket; that migrating snorkel mask -- give readers plenty to look at, while the variety of page designs (double-page spreads and single pages, some panels and wordless spreads) helps to pace the story and introduce some unexpected twists. Flora and the Flamingo (rev. 7/13) fans will delight in some echoes from that book -- for example, a flippers-wearing kid going in for a big splash. elissa gershowitz

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)