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Summary
Summary
A heartwarming father-son story about bravery and facing fears.
Nicholas was afraid of the dark outside his door, the bushes where the giant bugs live, and the underside of manhole covers.
His dad was not afraid of anything.
Nicholas wants to be as brave as his dad, but he needs help. That's why he needs a dinosaur. After all, dinosaurs like the dark, bugs are nothing to them, and they eat manhole covers for lunch (and everything under them for dinner).
With his toy dinosaur, Nicholas can scale tall walls, swim in deep water, even score a goal against the huge goalie everyone calls Gorilla. But when the dinosaur goes missing, everything is scary again.
Luckily, his dad knows that even the bravest people can get scared, and it's okay to ask for help facing your fears. It's just guy stuff.
A family classic in the making from the dream team of Newbery Honor-winner Gennifer Choldenko and Caldecott Medal-winner Dan Santat.
★ "[Choldenko's] knowing, understated storytelling and Santat's warm, expressive spreads give full credence to the fears that weigh on kids, as well as the presences--both real and imagined--that can help alleviate them."-- Publishers Weekly ( starred review )
Reviews (2)
Horn Book Review
Nicholas (nicknamed Little Nick) isnt the bravest of boys, and he carries a talisman to get him through lifes hairier moments. The toy dinosaur in his pocket helps Nick with his fears, and, one day at soccer when he faces the goalie everyone calls Gorilla, the dinosaur helps Nick kick the ball right into the net. Unfortunately, the dino gets lost during the game and Nick is too embarrassed to tell his mother about his secret weapon. If you think this is going to be a story about finding courage in oneself, think again: that night Nick confides his problem to his dad, who says, Lets go find him, then, and takes Nick back to the field and helps him search. Success, and a promise not to tell Mom, ensues. Its a refreshing, if blithely sexist (Its guy stuff), take on childhood fears, and the boy-friendliness of Choldenkos text is matched by Santats robust paintings that give the tiny toy dinosaur life--and heft!--as he appears super-dino-style on the scene as needed. And while Dad is a reliable, strong presence, what we dont see is Dads face (except for his beard), allowing young readers to imagine whatever father figure they need in his features. roger sutton (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
With Dad on his side, a kid finds it easier to be brave.Little Nick has three fears: the dark outside, bugs, and the undersides of manhole covers. But his dad's not afraid of anything. With his plastic T. Rex in his pocket, Nick can be brave, just like Big Nick. After all, dinos aren't afraid of the dark, bugs, or manhole covers, so Nick can conquer the climbing wall and score against the soccer goalie nicknamed Gorilla. But when the talisman falls out of his sock after said goal, Nick's bravery seems lost as well, and the night is long and dark and scary. When Dad comes to soothe Nick after a bad dream, the tale comes out, and Dad is supercool about the whole thing, driving Nick to the field to search: "It's guy stuff," he tells Nick's mother as they are leaving. With the rediscovery of Nick's dino, his bravery returns as well, only this time, Nick isn't the only one who knows his secret, and he knows deep down that all guys are afraid sometimes. Cleverly, Santat's pencil, watercolor, ink, acrylic, and Photoshop illustrations show the outline of a giant monochromatic dinosaur helping Nick conquer each hurdle, and when the toy is lost, Nick looks smaller without it, his fears visible in the background. Nick and his family seem to be white, though the soccer players are diverse.Dads get it: being brave takes workand a dinosaur. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
