Derek: The Knitting Dinosaur - Hardcover

PreSchool-Grade 2-- "Millions of years before man or machine/ lived Derek the dinosaur, little and green." So begins this tale of an unferocious reptile. Most of Derek's time is spent knitting away the afternoons instead of raising a din like his uncivilized siblings, and he wonders if he should be a rough and tumble dinosaur like his brothers. His friend, a mouse, likes him just the way he is. Although these spotted creatures often look more like dragons than dinosaurs, young audiences won't mind. Bold, colorful illustrations on white backgrounds make this story about being different easy to take, and it's nice to see a male character take on what is considered a female hobby and use it to save the day. Unfortunately, the verse is prosaic and the ending flat. Readers will get the most mileage from the bright illustrations and the soulful eyes of the characters. --Denia Lewis Hester, Dewey School, Evanston, IL
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