R.M. McGurk (text) and Aleksandra Szmidt (illustrator), The dinosaur did it, Five Mile, January 2024, 24 pp., RRP $24.95 (hbk), ISBN 9781922943743
Imogen makes a mess in all her activities: her circus act got out of hand, as did her mud pie extravaganza, and there are more drawings on the wall than on the paper. To Dad’s query about what happened, Imogen answers that the dinosaur did it. The dinosaur takes over the mischief until Imogen admits her guilt to Dad, hoping that the troubles will stop. She feels better in her tummy for having been honest. Things improve, until the dinosaur drops and breaks a framed picture. Will he now admit fault?
I loved the visual contradiction that Imogen causes mayhem in the room, but her clothes remain immaculate. Szmidt has used a variety of media to create her illustrations. The dinosaur, portrayed as a roughly coloured-in creature, has an expressive face. Dad and Imogen are stylised, but they too have readable expressions. There’s wonderful use of white space on the pages, allowing the reader to focus on the chaos and events in the room.
I enjoyed this book created by a Geelong primary teacher. It made me smile and wonder if there will be a sequel to come. The ending implies there could be.
Reviewed by Maureen Mann
