A cynical narrator explains why a T. rex crashing a birthday party might not be as great as it sounds. The dinosaur's antics will have young readers laughing out loud until the surprisingly sweet ending. Simple and inviting pencil illustrations filled with primary colors and pops of green, created digitally and with watercolor, sit on all-white backgrounds.

PreS-Gr 2 If a T. Rex crashes your birthday party, it might seem like fun for a while, but there are things you should be warned about. For one thing, he's as big as a school bus, and he's not shy about stomping on your pinata. Also, he's not that great at hide-and-seek. He'll scarf down cupcakes and flatten bouncy castles. If his party hat breaks, brace yourself for the loudest roar you've ever heard. He'll want to play with your toys, and when you ask him to help clean up, he'll stomp and pout and sulk. And when you've finally had enough and ask him to leave, he might give you a funny look. And suddenly, you'll realize that behind that toothy smile and a furrowed, fierce brow, there's a dinosaur who is simply being himself. Playful, doodlelike illustrations capture the curiosity of a silly scenario that turns out to be equal parts poignant and giggle-worthy. Evenly dispersed pictures and text punctuate the antics of the dinosaur and his human partygoer buddies, creating a hullabaloo that ends with a sweet, surprising twist. VERDICT Reading this crowd-pleaser aloud may cause clamorous laughter in even the most serious of storytime attendees. Readers may also enjoy the "How Do Dinosaurs&30;?" series by Jane Yolen and the "Dinosaur Vs." books by Bob Shea. Natalie Braham, Denver Public Library