Tommysaurus Rex

April 22, 2013
For any child, there’s little worse than having a pet die—unless, of course, one gets a dinosaur in return. After Ely’s golden retriever, Tommy, is hit and killed by a car, the heartbroken 10-year-old befriends a wayward Tyrannosaurus rex while staying on his grandfather’s farm for the summer. At first, it’s a dream come true and a much-needed pick-me-up, but the town soon labels the predator a menace, forcing Ely to train his T. rex or risk losing another pet. To make matters worse, a local bully is targeting Ely. Expanding on a story previously published in 2004, TenNapel (Cardboard) doesn’t let logic get in the way of a good time (Rex devours a herd of cattle, but doesn’t go after humans—and the dino is great at farm work, too), and he isn’t afraid to follow up a heartstrings-tugging moment with a poop joke. It’s a premise worthy of a loony Saturday morning cartoon, complete with bulgy-eyed characters that nearly bounce off the full-color pages, but underlying the fun is a potent and affecting story about facing death and growing up. Ages 9–12.

April 15, 2013
A young boy loses his beloved dog, only to have him return as a feisty and lovable T-Rex. Ely and Tommy are inseparable. Tommy might not be the best-behaved dog--he digs up Ely's mother's garden and steals bacon from the breakfast table--but he is loyal to Ely, and their bond is palpable. When Tommy meets a tragic end, Ely decides to spend the summer working at his grandfather's farm. After being chased by a bully named Randy, he stumbles upon a gentle (and full-sized) T-Rex who reminds him of a certain dog he used to know. While Ely's love for the prehistoric creature is immediate, the other townsfolk must be persuaded. When a plea to win their affections goes terribly wrong, Ely must again face the possibility of losing a friend. This colorized reprint of TenNapel's 2004 indie graphic novel lacks some of the sophistication of his more recent works, relying more on crude humor to drive aspects of the story forward than on subtler techniques. However, his trademark inventiveness and depth are still present, making this an excellent offering for any dog lover or for anyone looking for a tale of friendship. An enjoyable mixed bag of potty humor, insightfulness and the powerful bonds between a pet and its owner. (Graphic fantasy. 9-12)

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July 1, 2013

Gr 3-5-The king of the offbeat graphic novel is back with a mixture of adventure, drama, and comedy. After the death of his dog, Tommy, Ely's parents send him to live on his grandfather's farm for the summer. There, he stumbles upon a Tyrannosaurus rex in a nearby cave. When the dino damages a home, the townspeople call for "Tommysaurus Rex" to be removed. Ely and his grandpa make a deal with the mayor-pay off the damages and train Tommysaurus or he goes. The story begins fairly realistically, then makes a big jump when Ely discovers the T. rex, requiring a pretty hearty suspension of disbelief. Happiness, sadness, fear-emotions are on full blast from the start. TenNapel knows how to add some edge that delights kids, but the envelope-pushing might make some adult readers squirm a bit. Themes of life and death are handled well, but may occasionally reach over the heads of some readers. The kinetic, full-color artwork is full of expression and will appeal to children. Unpredictable and engaging, this will be a popular pick for reluctant readers and graphic-novel fans.-Travis Jonker, Wayland Union Schools, MI

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2013
Grades 3-6 As evidenced by books like Creature Tech (2002), Ghostopolis (2010), and Cardboard (2012), TenNapel has never flinched from either gooey organic bizarreness or potentially troubling themes. Balancing uncomfortable emotions with wacky and whacked-out fun is a tricky line to walk, but walk it he does with the story of Ely, who, after the death of his beloved golden retriever, is spending the summer on his grandfather's farm. After a grotesque encounter with the town bully, Ely discovers a real, live, surprisingly doglike dinosaur, and the two quickly bond. Ely and Tommysaurus must then find a way to endear the behemoth to the small town, while the town bully works against them all the way. TenNapel unleashes an array of charmingly off-kilter characters and has mastered a cartoonish style that preserves a sense of grit while lending some emotional weight to match the story. Ely's struggle with his anger and frustration and the bully's unsuspected reservoir of pain add to that heft, and ground all the rollicking dinosaur hijinks.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
When Ely's dog is hit by a car and killed, Ely finds an unlikely replacement pet: a Tyrannosaurus rex. As Ely trains the dinosaur, he learns a little about himself, too. The premise sounds like a romp, but this graphic novel has surprising depth. Like the narrative, the detailed panel illustrations show a mix of emotion and goofiness.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)