About the Author

Kids are in for Jurassic-sized laughs as they follow a boy in his quest to bring a pterodactyl to school. And not just any pterodactyl- this one wards off bullies, loves to read stories, and makes an excellent science display. Hilarious illustrations capture the madcap imagination of the determined hero and his creative pleas to his teacher.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 2-A boy pleads with his teacher to let him bring to school the prize he won in a magazine contest-a pterodactyl. He cites the many advantages: bullies would be put in their place; the school band could be sheltered from the rain under its wings, and, if the heat were out, the dinosaur's wings could create a cozy blanket around the class. There would be no need to go to the museum, and bus trips would be a thing of the past since the pterodactyl could ferry a whole class on its back. After running through the positives, the boy suddenly realizes that he is winning a woolly mammoth and the book ends with him ready to list the advantages of that beast. The illustrations, done in transparent dyes, depict a character much older than the preschooler featured in Grambling's Can I Have a Stegosaurus, Mom? Can I? Please!? (1997) and Can I Have a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Dad? Can I? Please!? (2000, both Bridgewater). Since most kids don't take a pet to school to stay, this title lacks the compelling reason to keep a dinosaur as a pet that was found in the earlier titles. This slight and lengthy tale won't make the grade for even the most avid dinosaur fans.-Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.