"Revenge of the Dinotrux," by Chris Gall, is the sequel to "Dinotrux." In the first book, Gall recounts the history of Dinotrux, ending with the discovery of one (in fossilized skeleton form) and its installation in a museum. In "Revenge of the Dinotrux," the sentient, bodied (IE, not skeletons) Dinotrux are turned into marionettes that dance for the amusement of their captors. Children clamber over them, screaming, and punch and kick them and smear them with chewing gum. Naturally, the dinotrux are eager to escape and poop in public fountains. As one does. I am not making any of this up, it's all in the book.Fortunately, the mayor is able to scold them once their batteries run down and they are at his mercy. He sends them off to school. Apparently the local public school is large enough to hold enormous earth moving machines and semis that are also dinosaurs inside of it. I wonder if it's ADA compliant as well? Luckily for all, reading tames the savage beasts and eventually they and the kids make a break for it, to the consternation of the almost entirely male teaching staff. However, they only tore down a fence and ran away deep into the woods to construct a playground where they are all BFFs, so that's ok.I'm not a fan of this book, although I don't find it as irritating as the original. I really dislike the art, which has lumpy oatmeal-faced humans with weird bulgy eyes. Is this a style choice or a skill level? I don't know. However, my little kid loves it. Dinosaurs + trucks, like dinosaurs + trains, basically are a license to print money. If you have a little kid in your life who likes dinosaurs and/or trucks, try this book. It'll probably enter heavy rotation. Oooh, I actually like the sequel better than the original Dinotrux, perhaps because I can see this making a fantastic read aloud with my Kindergarten and 1st grade students. In this version, the Dinotrux live in a museum, experiencing screaming kindergarteners and gum on their claws. When they escape from the museum and wreak havoc, the mayor sends them to school to learn how to behave. At the end of the story, the dinotrux and kids escape from school to create a perfect playground for making friends. Lovely! The message about manners is well integrated in the plot and while listeners won't miss the lesson, it's not at all preachy. I about died when the Cememtosaurus left a present in the town square. Potty humor at its dino-finest!
What do You think about Revenge Of The Dinotrux (2012)?
I like that the giant dinotrux are sent to school to learn how to behave.
—LisaB2
This series is one of my little one's favorites.
—natasha
I didn't like this one as much as the first.
—PeachButterfly
