The Christmasaurus

Gr 4-6-Meet William Trundle, a 10-year-old boy who loves dinosaurs, Christmas and his father. William begins his story a happy-go-lucky boy who uses a wheelchair, has lots of friends, and believes in Santa. But the school bully, Brenda Payne, torments William so that he becomes unhappy, friendless, and worried that he is a burden to his father. After a particularly bad day at school, William's father explains the power of belief and reminds William to write his letter to Santa, suggesting he ask for something that would make William happy. Nothing would make William happier than a dinosaur but in no way does he imagine that Santa would bring him a real one. So, when a mix up in the North Pole lands Christmasaurus in William's home on Christmas Eve, the face-to-face encounter is startling to them both but an instant friendship is formed. An adventure begins with the two trying to get Christmasaurus home to the North Pole and Santa; on the way they make an unlikely friend and realize that believing in something is powerful. They are also being chased by the dastardly and evil Hunter, a renown marksmen who only hunts the most unique and rare creatures in the world. Black-and-white illustrations throughout. VERDICT The book starts slow; between the backstory of the Christmasaurus and the rhyming, singing elves, it takes a while to become invested in William's story; but in the end, it is a satisfying feel-good Christmas caper.-Lisa Nabel, Kitsap Regional Library, WAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.