Tyrone the Horrible

Wilhelm uses dinosaurs to explicate his very modern tale about a young dinosaur named Boland who finally outsmarts the bully that had terrorized the swamp. Boland seems to be the special target of Tyrone the Horrible; day after day, he is victimized. He tries to avoid trouble, tries pleasing Tyrone, tries fighting back, but nothing works. Finally, Boland laces a sandwich with red pepper and gets a wonderfully satisfying reaction when Tyrone gobbles it up! Preschool and early elementary youngsters will certainly identify with Boland's problem. Wilhelm's arresting, attractive watercolors fill the pages. Knowledgeable dinosaur fans may have a quibble: Tyrone is clearly a tyrannosaurus (and therefore carnivorous), yet he is shown as a plant eater. But as a story of a bully about to meet his match, this one will have joyful appeal for kids. Ages 6-8. (September)