How to be a T. Rex

by Ryan North, Mike Lowery (Illustrator)

Overview

An upROARiously funny take on following your wildest dreams, from the bestselling creator of Dinosaur Comics

Being a regular old human is kind of a drag. That's why Sal is not going to be a teacher or doctor or lawyer when she grows up. She is going to grow up to be an awesome Tyrannosaurus Rex. Her brother thinks it's impossible, but Sal sure shows him! And in the beginning, being a T. Rex is AWESOME. But did you know that it's kind of hard to make friends when you are a super-giant, super-loud, super-stompy dinosaur? If only there were a way for Sal to be 100% awesome, 100% of the time...

Eisner Award-winning writer Ryan North makes his picture book debut with this bright, bold, and quirky story about finding—and taming—the beast within.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399186240
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/21/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.50(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ryan North is a New York Times bestselling author and cartoonist known for his online strip Dinosaur Comics, his critically acclaimed work on Marvel's Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, as well as his Eisner Award-winning writing for the Adventure Time comic. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Jenn, and their dog, Noam Chompsky.

Mike Lowery is an author, artist, and an avid collector of weird bits of knowledge. He's illustrated dozens of books for kids, including the Gingerbread Man is Loose in the School series. Mike lives with his wife and two kids in Atlanta, Georgia.

Editorial Reviews

★ "Sal is engaging from Page 1.... Readers will enjoy her antics and topsy-turvy relationships again and again. Hilarious fun, emotionally poignant, and just a little bit sassy." —Kirkus, starred review

"[North and Lowery] give T. rex a fresh twist by asking what the toothy theropod can teach children about harnessing great power for good." —Publishers Weekly

"Young wild things fond of Bob Shea’s Dinosaur vs. series might find toothsome food for thought here." —Booklist

"Expect a lot of T. rexes on the playground after reading this book, and use it to help kids find self-confidence that comes from within (in the form of a T. rex, of course)." —BCCB

From the Publisher

★ 2018-06-25
A feisty girl learns to merge the awesome parts of being a T. Rex with the great parts of being human, inspiring friends and her mean big brother to do the same.It all starts when Sal's teacher asks the students what they want to be when they grow up. Clad in a T. Rex shirt and shoes, Sal's answer is a Tyrannosaurus rex, "because obviously." Sal offers some amazing facts about T. Rexes, like their awesome teeth and constant roaring, contrasted with sad facts about Sals, including a "tiny, often ignored" body. Sal's brother says it's impossible for her to be a T. Rex, but she is determined. She does become a T. Rex, and she finds that it's "amazing!" Her guide to being a T. Rex includes: "Be super fierce," "don't be afraid of anything," and "do whatever you want all the time!" But she discovers that humans aren't fond of T. Rex behavior, and after all, there are a few aspects of being human that she misses. So she figures out how to be "an ultimate dino/human hybrid" who is "tough yet kind" and "awesome yet approachable," with super strength "inside and out" and an "amazing roar." Brown-skinned Sal is engaging from Page 1, and the comic-style drawings and hand-lettering make her story as dynamic as she is. Readers will enjoy her antics and topsy-turvy relationships again and again.Hilarious, emotionally poignant, and just a little bit sassy. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews