kirkusreviews.com
Even when he’s just imaginary, a T.
Rex can be a big help when dealing with a bully.
Only Kole can see him, but the
hulking, green, mean-looking holdover from the special Dinosaur Pancakes (2016)
that Nana made pops up on the school bus, in the bath, in bed, even in church.
Annoying! But when, one day, a big new kid named Leon comes on aggressively in
the hallway, the toothy dino does his thing—handing Kole one of Nana’s apples,
that is, and nodding at Kole “as if to say, ‘It will be OK. Just talk to him.’ ”
One friendly greeting and an invitation to come over later for some green
dinosaur pancakes, and the bully is transformed into at least a potential
friend. Easy! “A bully sets out each day to hurt other people,” Pigott
concludes with drastic oversimplification, going on to add contradictory advice
to seek help, to tell a grown-up, or to face bullies down directly, try to make
friends with them, and inform them that “they don’t need to be mean to be cool.”
Kole and Leon are both white in Sibley’s expressive, if garishly colored,
cartoon illustrations, but figures in group scenes show some racial and ethnic
diversity.
Heavy on agenda, light on
psychological insight. (Picture book. 6-8)
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