(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. Wheeler and Gott have presented Dino-Baseball, Dino-Racing, and more; why not a dino dance-off? Here, numerous dinosaurs compete, performing various dances ("Allosaurus is up on her toes: / Scarlet tutu, crimson hose"). Several rhymes miss a step, but readers will stay entertained by the slick, swirly-and-twirly art and the competition angle, and they won't fret the outcome: Wheeler doesn't play favorites.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. This time the team that brought you Dino-Boarding, Dino-Swimming, and other non-nutritive reads puts the pedal to the metal ("Raptor hits the rhythm section, / glad his ride has good suspension"). Since the dino racers are given equal attention, it's not clear if readers will be invested in who wins, but the rat-a-tat rhymes and slick-as-a-new-car illustrations may be all they need.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. In Wheeler's newest Dino sports event, the Land Sharks go up against the Algae Eaters for top prize in the Dino-swimming meet. The carnivore-versus-herbivore match-up contains lots of tension as each event is narrated in high-speed rhymes that occasionally hit some choppy water. Fans of this series will find all the frenzied energy they expect in Gott's action-packed illustrations.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. Monster dinosaurs ride monster waves, rock the half-pipe, and shred the slopes at Mt. Mastodon's dino-boarding event. Sometimes choppy rhyming couplets, filled with extreme-sports lingo, provide narration as teams Green Machine and Shredding Crew surf, skate, and snowboard in an intense competition. Fans of Wheeler's other Dino sport books will recognize Gott's action-packed illustrations, which match the story's frenzied pace.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. Dinosaurs come ready to rumble at the Dino-Wrestling Jamboree. A narrative of rhyming couplets, some that stumble, describe dinosaurs of all types--from Pterodactyl to T. rex--engaging in a variety of wrestling styles including Greco-Roman, lucha libre, sumo, and WWD. Followers of Wheeler's previous Dino sport books will recognize and welcome Gott's brightly colored, raucous illustrations.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. On Mega Bowl Sunday, the plant-eating Greenblade Snackers and the carnivorous Redscales face off at the fan-thronged Lava Dome. Young football enthusiasts will recognize game lingo crammed into the sometimes choppy rhyming couplets. Dino names called out in red or green font help readers keep the players straight. The busy, boisterous illustrations are well suited to the frenetically paced text.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(2) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Barry Gott. Nineteen dinosaur poems plus a pronunciation guide to dinosaur names make up this easy reader collection; as promised in the subtitle, the pieces poke a little dino-fun. Gott's paintings exaggerate the animals comically, giving the prehistoric critters a variety of bright colors and showing their disparate sizes. Even non-dino-fans will enjoy the humor of these creatures set amidst ordinary modern life.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2011

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. Continuing their sports rivalry (Dino-Baseball, Dino-Hockey), the plant-eating dinosaurs and their carnivorous counterparts meet in a championship basketball game. Captured in the energetic illustrations are both teams' on-the-court mad skills, making it a tight match. Though the rhymes occasionally lumber, play-by-play commentary laced with basketball lingo will score points with fans of both basketball and dinosaurs.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. Young Holler Loudly lives up to his name, exclaiming his enthusiasm for math, fishing, etc. In true tall-tale fashion, Holler uses his special talent to save the town from a tornado. Lively prose is complemented by an exuberant design and palette. Hot pinks and wild purples, along with the exaggeratedly large open mouths of the characters, give this romp just the right treatment.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2011

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. Using the same formula as in Dino-Hockey and Dino-Soccer, Gott's energetic illustrations and Wheeler's verse (some rhymes are a stretch) depict a baseball game played by dinosaurs. Baseball and dinosaurs--two perennially popular topics for picture books--are a winning combination, but, like a game that goes into extra innings, the book sometimes drags.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. "Here come herds of soccer fans / and dino-moms in minivans." All are eager for the herbivore Grazers to take on the carnivore Biters. Wheeler's rhymes (some are a stretch) capture the play-by-play action as pterodactyls, a diplodocus, and other dino-types pass the ball, score goals, and even get red-carded for brawling. Gott's busy illustrations pop with energy.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. The book's inspired premise--what teachers do at school after students go home--is enough to draw in readers; exuberant illustrations of teachers run amok seal the deal. Alas, this Spanish version doesn't replicate the energetic rhymes of the original text, and the bland translation limits the book's appeal.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. The Meat-Eaters and the Veggiesaurs face off on the ice rink for the championship cup. Wheeler's rhyming text crams in every hockey term and phrase it can, which will delight die-hard young sports fans but can be a bit of a stretch. Gott makes dinosaurs on ice skates plausible, and his illustrations capture the action and excitement of the rink.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. Energetic text and exuberant illustrations work together to depict what teachers do after the students have left for the day ("They change into jeans / and get ready to play. / They shout to their friends / 'The day's over! Hooray!'"). Young readers will have a blast examining each illustration closely to discover all the mischief being made by the teachers.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) 4-6 Horace Splattly: The Cupcaked Crusader series. Illustrated by Barry Gott. An amorous villain named the "Heartbreaker" is ruining recess at Blootinville Elementary by conjuring rainstorms over the playground. All the students end up in the library, forced to listen to the surly science teacher's boring epic autobiography. It's up to Horace to set things right. Fans of the series will enjoy this humorous, quirky, fast-paced installment. Cartoony black-and-white art appears throughout.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 1-3 Horace Splattly: The Cupcaked Crusader series. Illustrated by Barry Gott. Blue shag carpet is taking over town, and Horace must save the day. His cousin, who inadvertently eats one of the power-giving cupcakes meant for him, lends a hand...as the Annihilator. There are some loose ends, but like the four previous books, this one is quirky and fast paced. Cartoony black-and-white art appears throughout.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) 1-3 Horace Splattly: The Cupcaked Crusader series. Illustrated by Barry Gott. On a school camping trip, Horace and friends investigate the sudden disappearance of their teachers, who have been abducted by Clownosauruses, strange creatures reputed to steal laughs from their victims. In his guise as the Cupcaked Crusader, Horace discovers that the Clownosauruses have gotten a bum rap and really aren't that bad after all. This over-the-top story is paced at hyper speed and contains plenty of silly humor.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. When snapping hair clips attack the citizens of Blootinville until they're bald, Horace Splattly, a.k.a. the Cupcaked Crusader, is mistakenly blamed. Unfortunately, he must practice a humiliating routine for a prince pageant, instead of finding the true culprit--a disgruntled, unpopular hairdresser who's opened a wig shop. David's over-the-top story is rich with mystery, mounting tension, and humor.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) PS Illustrated by Barry Gott. When a young boy tries to train his obstinate brown dog, he meets with total failure until he gives the dog the one command he can't disobey. He orders him to "be brown!" At last, he's a good dog. The text of this thin story consists of one word commands--sit, come, fetch--while the cartoonlike illustrations carry the narrative and show the boy's mounting frustration.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 1-3 Horace Splattly: The Cupcaked Crusader series. Illustrated by Barry Gott. The evil Chef Nibbles has hypnotized the second-grade Lily Deaver scout troop into doing his bidding--namely to destroy all the grocery stores and restaurants, forcing the town to eat Nibbles' Snoodles and Cheaze. It's up to fourth-grader Horace Splattly (a.k.a. the Cupcaked Crusader) to save the day. Fans of the absurd will enjoy the kitsch drama. Black-and-white cartoon art adds to the silliness.

Reviewer: Mark Adam