Down at the Dino Wash Deluxe

PreS-Gr 2—A humorous read-aloud that introduces children to a varied assortment of dinosaurs. Working at the Dino Wash Deluxe is a super-duper job-a-saurus for one small boy who "soaps 'em, scrubs 'em, and sends 'em down the line for rinsing and drying." Each dinosaur appreciates the individual care and excellent service ("you gotta know the customers!"). But when an Ankylosaurus warns the boy that a giant Tyrannosaurus rex, "a huge dinosaur with a nasty reputation and really sharp teeth," is in town, he keeps his focus and bravery. To his surprise, the little boy learns that the T. rex isn't as scary at all; he's just afraid of getting soap in his eyes. Vibrant, colorful illustrations fill each spread; they will surely capture children's attention, especially the expressions on each dinosaur's face. The story is appended with comical, yet authentic thumbnail drawings of each creature, along with a pronunciation guide and facts for young dinosaur scholars. This is a solid purchase for dinosaur-crazed children, reminding them that tough guys might not always be as intimidating as they seem. Pair it with Jane Yolen's "How Do Dinosaurs…" series (Scholastic) or Karen Beaumont's Dini Dinosaur (HarperCollins, 2012) for a double-dino delight.—Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ