FICTION

Rory the Dinosaur Needs a Christmas Tree

by Liz CLIMO
illus. by Liz, Climo. 40p. Little, Brown. Oct. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780316315234.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—Rory the little dinosaur and his dad are back, this time on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. When none of the trees on their island home proves to be a good fit, it seems like Rory's Christmas might be ruined. But fun traditions with family and friends keep his spirits alive, and on Christmas day, he gets a special treat: Dad, wrapped in lights and topped with a star, stands in, becoming the "best tree ever!" Climo's super-cute digital illustrations of round green dinosaurs and their island friends highlight this readable and engaging story. A good balance of humor and sincerity prevents the message about the true meaning of the holidays from feeling trite, and keeps the focus on the family.
VERDICT An appealing read-aloud that will have fans of Rory and his dad celebrating.
Reviewed by Brooke Sheets, Los Angeles Public Library
Rory and his dad (Rory the Dinosaur: Me and My Dad and sequel) have made cookies and hung their stockings and are now looking for the perfect Christmas tree. When they can't find one that's quite right, the disappointed little dinosaur heads home with Dad to begin a tree-less celebration. With help from his friends (and a Christmas morning surprise from Dad) Rory realizes that "Christmas isn't really about the tree." Digital illustrations with lots of blues and greens make good use of white space and add humor--especially in those illustrations of Dad as Christmas tree!--to the simple story line. katie Sutton
 , Oct 01, 2017

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