My Amazing Dinosaur

February 24, 2014
Following 2013’s Welcome to the Tribe!, this second book in the Tib & Tumtum series, starring a diminutive cave boy named Tib and his dinosaur, Tumtum, settles into a satisfying rhythm of mostly one-page gags that would fit right in on the funny pages. Because of a birthmark on his face, Tib is the tribe pariah who spends most of his time rollicking in the woods with his saurian companion, scheming ways to fit in with the other kids. Despite his best efforts, Tib can’t catch a break, and he ends up flubbing every opportunity that comes his way, whether it’s by trying to cover his birthmark with mud or falling flat on his face during a footrace. Even in prehistory, it seems, kids can be cruel. Fortunately, Tumtum is always there to catch his friend when he falls (literally, in one instance). Collaborators Bannister (a pseudonym for French comics creator Nicolas Seigneret) and Grimaldi excel at spinning silly and sincere anecdotes in precise, almost sculptural contours that give the strips an inviting dimensionality. Ages 7–11.

May 1, 2014

GR 2-5-Tib is a fun-loving boy who has a hard time fitting in due to his birthmark and his constant clumsiness. Thankfully, he's found the perfect friend: a rambunctious dinosaur named Tumtum who is always ready to play. Now that the members of his tribe know that the dinosaur is real-instead of Tib's imaginary friend-they aren't so sure they want to have the creature around. Parents are afraid for their children's safety, and the kids don't cozy up to Tumtum. Tib tries everything to get the tribe to accept him and his dinosaur, but his efforts usually result in further bullying by his peers. Phrases such as "Tib has a spot because Mother Nature wanted to point out the ugliest kid!" offer opportunity to have conversations about the effects of bullying. While the plot is sometimes sporadic, kids will connect with the boy's efforts to persuade his parents to believe him and his challenge of making new friends. The dialogue between adults is sometimes unnecessary, such as when Tib's Mom goes into detail about her own imaginary friend. The illustrations are attractive and vivid, with a text layout that is intuitive to follow. Educators can make connections between this scenario and animal tracking in science. Kids will likely gravitate toward this series and appreciate a story about bullying and friendship that is different from traditional school tales.-David C. Barrow Elementary, Athens, GA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2014
Grades 1-3 In this second volume, Tib has finally proven that his dinosaur friend, Tumtum, is not imaginary at all, but he still has a hard time getting along with the other children in his tribe. The other children tease Tib because of his spot, a big, red birthmark on his face. Once his mother tries to intervene on his behalf, the mothers start picking on each other, too. Even though no one wants to play with Tib, he still has his awesome playful dinosaur to romp around the forest with. In this prehistoric fantasy where humans and dinosaurs coexist, Grimaldi and Bannister give Tumtum big, slobbery doglike qualities, which dismantles the typical picture of dinosaurs as terrifying predators. But not everyone in the story is swayed by Tumtum's cuteness: Tib's mom thinks he is too dangerous a pet and tries very hard to keep them from playing together. The skillful translation of the original French gives the dialogue a natural flow. This series would be great fun for kids who dream of one day having a pet dinosaur.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)