David Walliams (text) and Adam Stower (illustrator), Grannysaurus, HarperCollins Publishers, February 2023, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780008305765
Spike is sleeping over at his Granny’s house. He avoids going to bed and fibs to his Granny about his usual bedtime. Later that night, Spike hears booming music coming from downstairs. He creeps down the stairs opens the living-room door and to his surprise he sees a room full of dinosaurs having a Dino Disco (including his Grannysaurus).
There are all types of dinosaurs getting down to the cool tunes and boogying the night away.
Spike wants to party with the dinosaurs but Grannysaurus has other plans for her grandson. How will she get him back to bed? Perhaps her late arriving guest Tyrannosaurus Rex might be able to help?
Children will love this outrageous and entertaining tale of a group of dinosaur friends and their amusing antics.
This picture book is suitable for children 3+ years and young dinosaur fans. Complete with aptly selected action words and language devices including appealing alliteration, onomatopoeia, and the perennial theme of ‘bedtime refusal’ (completely relatable to small children), this story is sure to become a family favourite. The text is beautifully complemented by vibrant colours and expressive and fun-loving dinosaur characters. It remains to be seen if this story promotes good bedtime habits or has the children bouncing off the ceilings? Perhaps you can decide for yourself!
Following the publication of his first book in 2008, David Walliams has taken the children’s literary world by storm. His novels have been translated into fifty-five languages and sold over 50 million copies across the globe. Walliams books have achieved unprecedented acclaim and countless broadsheet reviewers have compared him to his all-time hero, Roald Dahl.
Adam Stower is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. Born in England, Adam grew up in Switzerland and has loved drawing ever since he was old enough to hold a crayon. He went to art school in Norwich, and Brighton too, where he lives beside the sea with his wife and a cat called Murray.
Recommended for children 3+. A fantastically entertaining picture book suitable for both young and not so young dinosaur fans.
Reviewed by Julie Deane