The Three Little Dinosaurs

By Jim Harris

Book Overview

ACCELERATED READER PROGRAM SELECTION
SCHOLASTIC READING COUNTS SELECTION

"The Three Little Dinosaurs delights and tickles . . . It] has the reader entranced right up to the surprise ending. This is a true marriage of illustration and text. The book for four- to ten-year-olds is a must "
-Independent Publisher

Three young brachiosaurs find themselves on a ravenous T-rex's menu in this prehistoric adaptation of The Three Little Pigs. When their mother sends the little dinosaurs out into the world to make their own way, she warns them to watch out for the big, bad Tyrannosaurus Rex. Tempted by the thought of a delicious dinoburger, the T-rex soon comes knocking, threatening to blow their houses in if the little dinos don't open the door. Infuriated by both the T-rex's desire to eat them and his insistence on calling them "little pigs," the three little dinosaurs band together to outsmart their dull-witted foe and slip away from his razor-sharp claws. This entertaining retelling teaches children that even the biggest, meanest bully will get his comeuppance in the end.

Wry humor, delightful anachronisms, and an unexpected plot twist make this cretaceous tale an unforgettable adventure. Vivid and detailed illustrations, including a Dinomen Mars poster and a dartboard with the T-rex's picture taped to the center, supplement the story's inherent irony and humor. With creative finds to discover in every reading, children and adults will enjoy this hilarious fable even more than the original classic.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565543718
• ISBN13: 9781565543713
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.8" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A great retelling of an old story

It's time for three little dinosaurs to head out into the world and make their living. Following the original story of the three little pigs, the first dinosaur quickly makes a house of straw and settles down for a video game when something large comes thumping down the path. Could it be the pizza delivery man? Nope. It's the T-Rex! Calling out the classical line to open the door the little dinosaur tells him no and to stop calling him a pig. T-Rex blows down the house and the dinosaur grabs his tv and video game and runs off to the second. The second dinosaur is a little smarter finds a stegosaurus making mud bricks. He asks for some to make a house but the dinosaur ignores the warning about letting the bricks cook in the sun for awhile. He sets up his house just as the first dino appears. He invites him in just as the T-Rex appears. Again the T-Rex is told no and "stop calling us Pigs!" T-Rex tries to blow down the house but fails. He then waters it down and the two little dinosaurs escape as they slip through the T-Rex's fingers since they are covered in mud. The third dinosaur is the smartest and makes his home out of stone. He invites the other two in just as the T-Rex appears. T-Rex is reminding not to call them pigs and he learns he can't blow or water down this house! What to do? This was a fun book! My little girl likes dinosaurs and the artwork made it fun overall! She had to read the book a couple times and simply looked at the pictures several times as well. Right now it's a favorite!

perfect for the little dinosaur fan!

My 5yr old loves this book. Well, he loves dinosaurs and we saw this story and had to get it. We both laugh everytime we read it.A TRex, rather than the big bad wolf, thinks he is going to make cheeseburgers out of the three little dinosuars. Each gets away even though the TRex refers to them as piggies! It's a hoot; clever story and funny illustrations.

Superb re-telling

As a soon to be teacher, this will definately be a book found on my classroom shelf. The artwork is great, the characters are witty, and it brings the Three Little Pigs up to today's lifestyle in sarcasm and in the pictures. I recommend this to anyone.

Great Book!

... My 4 year old son LOVES this book, and is dreading the return to the library. Maybe the jokes and dialogue aren't up to par for some adults, but my husband and I also both loved the book. (Which is good, since we've read it at least once a day, if not more, for the past 2 weeks!) And the illustrations are hilarious - we picked up the book at the library because the dinos looked like the ones from "The 10 Little Dinosaurs" which we already own and love. We will be buying this book for our home collection!

Wonderfully Entertaining!

The classic tale of the three little pigs with a clever & humorous twist! (Unlike the original where two of the pigs are eaten, the dinosaurs are all brothers who outwit the big, bad Tyranasaurus Rex). The writing and illustrations are were incredibly funny and imaginative. My 4 year old and 18 month old requested that this book be read over and over! It is a book which adults will enjoy reading and children will want to hear again and again.