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40 pp.
| Little
| April, 2023
|
TradeISBN 9780316593298$17.99
(2)
K-3
On a family visit to the natural history museum, a high-energy kid wearing a dinosaur suit asks how the dinosaurs went extinct. Mom's scientific explanation quickly gives way to Dad's imaginative and exhaustive list of silly reasons: Gallimimus "ran with scissors"; Ankylosaurus "tipped in their chair"; Brachiosaurus "swallowed their gum." Dyckman's wacky, over-the-top humor is paired well with Harney's exuberant Photoshop collage illustrations. Dinosaurs fill every frame with improbable hijinks, and hilarious facial expressions abound, from human and dino alike. Mom's exasperation turns to glee when the kid, having heard Dad's long list of bad behaviors that led to extinction, declares, "I AM NEVER DOING ANY OF THOSE THINGS AGAIN!" In a huge bonus for any grownup reading the book aloud with a young dinosaur fan, phonetic pronunciations for each creature are included right on the page.
Reviewer: Laura Koenig
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2023
40 pp.
| Little
| April, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-0-316-36295-5$17.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-316-50495-9
(2)
PS
Illustrated by
Charles Santoso.
A lion father is proud of (read: obsessed with) his well-manicured lawn. When a dandelion brazenly sprouts, Daddy races to get rid of the eyesore...but his little cub, Sweetie, has already befriended (and named) the "flower." Dyckman's well-paced text digs into the comedic contrast between Daddy's stressed-out hysteria and Sweetie's unhurried calm. Santoso's cartoony digital illustrations enhance both the humor and the loving father-daughter relationship.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2019
48 pp.
| Scholastic/Orchard
| April, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-338-11247-4$17.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Scott Magoon.
Dyckman's quick-witted, humorous text stars Shark, who interrupts a marine-animal crew making a live underwater television show. Shark feels very misunderstood, and shark facts shared throughout support Shark's claims. Magoon's expressive illustrations pop off the page, and word-bubble asides from fish plus fantastic page-turns sustain the suspense; the twist ending is reminiscent of Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back.
40 pp.
| Little
| February, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-316-34347-3$16.99
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Liz Climo.
This tongue-in-cheek exposé reveals the "reality" of life with a unicorn. A unicorn-loving kid wishes a unicorn into being; the (offstage) narrator, after admitting that having a unicorn is undeniably "awesome," presents the case for why "it's not worth it." Climo's rainbow-bright illustrations take Dyckman's silly premise to a whole new level of absurdity. This is a crowd-pleaser, complete with cupcake poops and rainbow burps.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2017
40 pp.
| Little
| November, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-316-34348-0$17.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Zachariah OHora.
Reading from Everything About Lemmings, First Mate Foxy of the S.S. Cliff says: "lemmings don't jump off cliffs." Three onboard lemmings overhear one word: "Jump? I'll jump!" After saving his impulsive shipmates, Foxy demands, "Read the book, lemmings!" What Foxy doesn't know is the little guys can't read. Dyckman's text is entertainingly patterned (if somewhat confusing), and OHora's limited-color acrylic illustrations play up the slapstick.
40 pp.
| Little
| April, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-316-28283-3$16.99
(2)
PS
Illustrated by
Zachariah OHora.
A snoozing bear breaks a little girl's kite ("CRUNCH!"). The girl wakes the creature by shouting "HORRIBLE BEAR!" then storms off. The put-out bear stomps down to the girl's house, ready to wake her up--and he's unprepared for the apology he receives. This lively conflict-resolution-in-picture-book's-clothing is as entertaining as it is instructive. OHora's acrylic illustrations with thick black lines enhance the humor.
32 pp.
| Little
| February, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-316-22614-1$17.00
(1)
PS
Illustrated by
Zachariah OHora.
Dot isn't pleased when a baby wolf foundling is left on the Bunny family's doorstep--"HE'S GOING TO EAT US ALL UP!" Her smitten parents ignore her. At the market, however, Wolfie is a boon to his big sister when a bear lunges toward them yelling, "DINNER!" The text's humor keeps scariness in check; cartoonish acrylic paintings with comical touches match the tone.
40 pp.
| Viking
| October, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-670-78501-8$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
K. G. Campbell.
Cub stumbles upon a backyard tea party and must follow the tea party rules--get clean, neat, and fancy--in order to eat some cookies. When Cub finally gets his treats, he almost forgets the most important rule of all: sharing. Illustrated with soft sepia-marker and colored-pencil art, the playful story is perfect for lovers of tea parties (and rule-breaking).
24 pp.
| Knopf
| April, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-375-86756-9$16.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-375-96757-3$19.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Dan Yaccarino.
A boy and a robot befriend each other, even though they each fail to comprehend the other's functionality: when Bot's switch is turned off he appears sick to Boy, and when Boy falls asleep Bot assumes Boy has malfunctioned; the inventor helps Boy and Bot understand one another's needs. Yaccarino's vibrant gouache illustrations with cartoon figures skillfully relate the story's touching arc.