Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Readers may know about "fearsome T. rexes, nimble Iguanodons, and great-horned Triceratopses," Glazer writes in the opening of her delightful paleontology spoof. Now, behold the blue Thesaurus, who does all the same stuff other dinosaurs do, "just with a wider vocabulary" ("What a beautiful sunset--so magnificent, resplendent, awe-inspiring," says the sweet-tempered word-lover). But while Thesaurus fits in fine among his fellow terrible lizards, there is the matter of that titular secret: he's a voracious reader who believes that "reading just wasn't something dinosaurs did." In mixed-media illustrations colored in cheery pastel hues, Thesaurus becomes so swept up in one of his beloved books ("Pterosaur Pan") that he begins reading aloud--and discovers that, far from condemning or shunning him, the other dinosaurs form the first story time circle ("What happens next?" a rapt green dinosaur asks). Glazer meaningfully conveys how one can feel out of step with even the most benign mainstream--and how wonderful it feels to be not just accepted, but appreciated. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--In this sweet tale of an anthropomorphized dinosaur, Thesaurus lives up to his name and then some. While this endearing dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary seems ordinary, he is hiding his favorite hobby from his friends for fear of being teased. When the other dinosaurs find out his secret, however, Thesaurus finds there is nothing better than sharing a story with friends. The more complex words in this picture book may be challenging for younger readers, though the message and text are ideal for a read-aloud. Adults may appreciate the literary references in the book titles Glazer incorporates in the scenes of Thesaurus sneaking away to read. The pastel shades of the multimedia cartoon-style artwork are engaging and accompany the text well. VERDICT A charming picture book for young readers, especially dinosaur lovers, about the joy of sharing a good book.--Monisha Blair, Rutgers Univ., NJ
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
What's this dinosaur's guilty pleasure? Mum's the word. Though he acts like a regular dinosaur ("just with a wider vocabulary"), what Thesaurus--a blunt-nosed, turquoise sauropod in Glazer's simple cartoon illustrations--likes best is to sneak off into the bushes…with a book. He actually has stacks of them, which is odd because (believe it or not) dinosaurs really aren't natural readers. But his long-held secret is revealed when he suddenly realizes that he's been unconsciously reading Pterosaur Pan aloud--and drawn, instead of general mockery, a fascinated audience: "What happens next?" "Carry on!" "I like the part with the crocodile." Dovetailing nicely with its salutary messages about the pleasures of words and reading (and reading aloud), the art is festooned with appropriate or playfully altered classics, from The Phantom Tollbooth and Where the Wild Things Are to Allosaurus's Adventures in Wonderland, Five Children and Ichthyosaur, Make Way for Hatchlings, and (adding at least a whiff of diversity to the mix) One Hundred and Fifty Million Years of Solitude. If Thesaurus' literary appetites aren't exactly broad, diverse, or expansive, his trove does offer at least a starter list with wide age appeal for reading alone or aloud. A wash of wordplay: jaunty, jolly, jocund, not to mention Jurassic. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
