Regina Is Not a Little Dinosaur

Peeved when her T. rex mother won’t let her go on a hunt (“Stay in the nest and be Mama’s good little carnivore”), strong-willed Regina heads out on her own. The results are as predictable as they are funny, but plot is really secondary here—this latest by Zuill (Sweety) is about a singular personality asserting herself in the big, primeval world. Indelible Regina roars, slinks, sniffs, and pounces (a triceratops and ankylosaurus shrug her off); is haunted by the prospect of failure (“What if she has to live the rest of her life as... an HERBIVORE?!”); and turns on the charm when her mom catches her nearly becoming prey herself (“HI MOM!” Regina says, the dialogue balloon studded with treacly red hearts). Ink drawings sport elegant lines, delicate hatching, and washes of warm digital color reminiscent of vintage scientific illustration, and each vignette is a gem of comic timing and expression: readers will want to incorporate the conciliatory nose bump that mother and daughter dino share (“Boop!”) into their own repertoire of affectionate moves. Ages 3–7. [em]Agent: Erzsi Deak, Hen & Ink. (Apr.) [/em]