How to Catch a Daddysaurus

March 1, 2023

PreS-Gr 2-A tale of traps, rhymes, and holiday cheer for Father's Day, as part of the ongoing "How to Catch" series. A group of kids is trying to catch a Daddysaurus, without much luck. With each new trap they set, the kids talk about what a Daddysaurus does for them and how much they love him. The story is formulaic; with each trap, the kids describe some awesome thing about the Daddysaurus with simple vocabulary and basic rhymes. Illustrations work well with the text, helping to make the story clearer at points as they effectively show the journey of the kids trying to build a successful Daddysaurus trap. The story also encourages positive team building values, as it shows the children working together to achieve their goal. Eagle-eyed readers may see the hidden Daddysaurus in the background of each trap. VERDICT A great Father's Day story for those who want to talk about their dads and how much they mean to them.-Margaret Kennelly

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2023
It's time to look for the elusive Daddysaurus. In this latest installment in the seemingly never-ending series about a group of diverse kids attempting to trap mythical creatures, the youngsters are now on the lookout for a big mauve dinosaur with an emblazoned D on his stomach and a superhero cape. The fast-moving Daddysaurus is always on the go; he will be difficult to catch. Armed with blueprints of possible ideas, the kids decide which traps to set. As in previous works, ones of the sticky variety seem popular. They cover barbells with fly paper (Daddysaurus like to exercise) and spread glue on the handle of a shovel (Daddysaurus also likes to garden). One clever trick involves tempting Daddysaurus with a drawing of a hole, taped to the wall, because he fixes everything that breaks. Daddysaurus is certainly engaged in the children's lives, not a workaholic or absent, but he does fall into some standard tropes associated with fathers. The rhyming quatrains stumble at times but for the most part bounce along. Overall, though, text and art feel somewhat formulaic and likely will tempt only devotees of the series. The final page of the book (after Daddysaurus is caught with love) has a space for readers to write a note or draw a picture of their own Daddysaurus. (This book was reviewed digitally.) This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans. (Picture book. 4-8)

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