Review by Kirkus Book Review
Jolted awake by a volcanic eruption, a baby Pteranodon is faced with a moral dilemma.Having taught their beloved son all the life skills he needs to be successfully launched, Pteranodon's parents fly away in the night, leaving him asleep in their nest. Peering down, he now sees, beneath a pile of rubble, a wounded Tyrannosaurus, suffering vision loss, perhaps as a result of concussion. Pteranodon remembers his parents' lessons: He should be strong, kind, wary of the dangerous Tyrannosaurusand he must help those in need. After pondering how to apply their advice to this particularly sticky situation, Pteranodon tenderly cares for Tyrannosaurus, clearing away rocks, blanketing him in leaves when it rains, and feeding him berries. When Tyrannosaurus recovers and regains his sight, the story takes a refreshingly surprising (and deeply poignant) twist, sure to provoke sophisticated conversations about our motivations for charitable behavior. The fifth entry in a series from Japan, this title features the trademark intensely saturated, bold colors and simple shapes rendered in thick black lines. Tyrannosaurus manages to appear both frightening and sympathetic, while plucky little Pteranodon embodies grit. An open, ambiguous ending allows readers to speculate about whether and how Tyrannosaurus may have been changed by this experiencea welcome contrast to books that deliver a potted message.Once again, prehistoric creatures point the way to our most highly evolved selves. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
