Brianosaurus

Frog Brian, rendered by Adamson (Bird Hugs) as a thick green shape with gangly limbs and googly eyes, "was OBSESSED with dinosaurs." When he learns that frogs were also present during the age of dinosaurs, and tells his forest pals, mammal Koji points out, "That kind of means you're a dinosaur!" Enthusiastically taking this point to heart, Brian straps a set of stegosaurus-like plates onto his back: "Meet BRIANOSAURUS!" Though he initially loves roaring on request, Brian discovers that the forest creatures and frogs alike have their own ideas about what Brianosaurus should and shouldn't do. "Dinosaurs don't paint pictures," insists one of the forest pals, while a member of the largely upset frog community plaintively asks, "Don't you like being a frog, Brian?" When the two sides face off, Brian and another frog hit on a new idea: the "ME-osaurus." "Nobody can say what a ME-osaurus does," Brian notes, "because every ME-osaurus is DIFFERENT." This tale of individuality championed and rewarded wears its message lightly, with gentle-hued pencil, watercolor, and digital illustrations portraying two communities full of adorable animals--all trying to do right by their friend. Ages up to 8. Agent: Isabel Atherton, Creative Authors. (Apr.)

It's not easy being a Brianosaurus! Brian, a bright green frog, has just learned that frogs were around when dinosaurs walked the Earth. When his friend Koji says, "That kind of means you're a dinosaur!" Brian embraces his newfound identity and dubs himself Brianosaurus, complete with added upright plates along his spine. At first, the other forest animals love Brianosaurus and his roar. But the frogs at the pond don't approve ("Don't you like being a frog, Brian?"), and soon his forest friends start to put restrictions on what he can and can't do ("Dinosaurs don't smell flowers!" "Dinosaurs don't read books!"). Because Brianosaurus can't please everyone, he opts "to give the forest animals the most dinosaury dinosaur ever" and to "give the frogs the froggiest frog." But who is he really? The frogs and forest animals argue. Brianosaurus finally yells, "NO, I'M ME!" and declares that they are all "ME-osauruses." He adds, "Nobody can say what a ME-osaurus does, because every ME-osaurus is DIFFERENT." From then on, Brianosaurus does what he pleases without worrying. Digitally rendered pencil and watercolor illustrations depict vivid pond and forest scenes and likable and well-meaning friends as the story traces a sweetly funny path to self-acceptance. Will have readers recognizing that they, too, can be their own unique ME-osauruses. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.