Regina Is Not a Little Dinosaur

by Andrea Zuill (Author)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

Meet a young dinosaur seeking her independence in this hilarious picture book from the author of Wolf Camp and Sweety.

When Regina's mother heads off to hunt, she tells her little dinosaur: stay in the nest and be mama's good little carnivore. But just who is she calling little?! Regina is big! And she has all the tools to hunt herself: a fear-inducing predator stare, a terrifying roar, and an uncanny ability to camouflage. And so Regina sets off on her first real hunt, all alone. ROAR! Along the way, she meets some truly huge dinosaurs, and hilariously, and miserably, fails at catching anything. What if she has to live her life as an.... herbivore?! Little kids everywhere will recognize themselves in Andrea Zuill's intrepid young dino--eager for independence, but still very much needing the safety and comfort of home.

Select format:
Hardcover
$17.99

Kirkus

Fun for dinosaur mavens and brave young explorers who want to test their mettle. 

ALA/Booklist

Regina's expressions are priceless... her emotive eyes flashing with glee, rage, or panic in turn. Young readers (and their adults) will laugh out loud at the relatable protagonist and her adorable antics.

Publishers Weekly

Peeved when her T. rex mother won't let her go on a hunt ("Stay in the nest and be Mama's good little carnivore"), strong-willed Regina heads out on her own. The results are as predictable as they are funny, but plot is really secondary here--this latest by Zuill (Sweety) is about a singular personality asserting herself in the big, primeval world. Indelible Regina roars, slinks, sniffs, and pounces (a triceratops and ankylosaurus shrug her off); is haunted by the prospect of failure ("What if she has to live the rest of her life as... an HERBIVORE?!"); and turns on the charm when her mom catches her nearly becoming prey herself ("HI MOM!" Regina says, the dialogue balloon studded with treacly red hearts). Ink drawings sport elegant lines, delicate hatching, and washes of warm digital color reminiscent of vintage scientific illustration, and each vignette is a gem of comic timing and expression: readers will want to incorporate the conciliatory nose bump that mother and daughter dino share ("Boop!") into their own repertoire of affectionate moves. Ages 3-7. Agent: Erzsi Deak, Hen & Ink. (Apr.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes






Andrea Zuill
Andrea Zuill is the author-illustrator of Regina is NOT a Little Dinosaur, an Indie Next List selection; Sweety, a Booklist Best Book of the Year; and Wolf Camp, a Children's Choice Award finalist. She is also the creator of Business Pig, Dance Is for Everyone, and Marigold & Daisy. Andrea is the illustrator of Cat Dog Dog by Nelly Buchet, an American Library Association Notable Book which was called A clever, winning read-aloud for modern families in a starred review from Kirkus. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in California, Texas, and New York. Visit Andrea on the Web at andreazuill.org or follow her on Twitter at @AndreaZuill.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593127285
Lexile Measure
500
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Schwartz & Wade Books
Publication date
April 13, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV002060 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures
JUV013060 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Parents
Library of Congress categories
Dinosaurs
Hunting
Carnivora
Carnivores

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!