Tommysaurus Rex

Publishers Weekly

For any child, there’s little worse than having a pet die—unless, of course, one gets a dinosaur in return. After Ely’s golden retriever, Tommy, is hit and killed by a car, the heartbroken 10-year-old befriends a wayward Tyrannosaurus rex while staying on his grandfather’s farm for the summer. At first, it’s a dream come true and a much-needed pick-me-up, but the town soon labels the predator a menace, forcing Ely to train his T. rex or risk losing another pet. To make matters worse, a local bully is targeting Ely. Expanding on a story previously published in 2004, TenNapel (Cardboard) doesn’t let logic get in the way of a good time (Rex devours a herd of cattle, but doesn’t go after humans—and the dino is great at farm work, too), and he isn’t afraid to follow up a heartstrings-tugging moment with a poop joke. It’s a premise worthy of a loony Saturday morning cartoon, complete with bulgy-eyed characters that nearly bounce off the full-color pages, but underlying the fun is a potent and affecting story about facing death and growing up. Ages 9–12. (June)

From the Publisher

TOMMYSAURUS REX was nominated for two Eisner awards in 2005:

Best Graphic Album-New Best Publication for a Younger Audience

Praise for GHOSTOPOLIS

* "TenNapel's colorful illustrations are filled with energy and life."--SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, starred review

"TenNapel is a terrific cartoonist and in fine form here."--BOOKLIST

PRAISE FOR BAD ISLAND

*"A clever, old-fashioned adventure with some modern twists and a light-hearted tone, this, like TenNapel’s previous work, is not to be missed."--BOOKLIST, starred review

*"TenNapel has crafted another rip-roaring adventure with wide audience appeal."
--SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, starred review

Praise for CARDBOARD

* "An exceptionally seamless blend of action and philosophy, two elements that usually do not mix easily; TenNapel handles this masterfully. Utterly brilliant."--KIRKUS, starred review

"A boldly imaginative and ambitious tale."--THE HORN BOOK

"[TenNapel] provides moments of great sweetness and heaps and heaps of bizarre fun, a quality that has become his veritable trademark."--BOOKLIST

Kirkus Reviews

A young boy loses his beloved dog, only to have him return as a feisty and lovable T-Rex. Ely and Tommy are inseparable. Tommy might not be the best-behaved dog—he digs up Ely's mother's garden and steals bacon from the breakfast table—but he is loyal to Ely, and their bond is palpable. When Tommy meets a tragic end, Ely decides to spend the summer working at his grandfather's farm. After being chased by a bully named Randy, he stumbles upon a gentle (and full-sized) T-Rex who reminds him of a certain dog he used to know. While Ely's love for the prehistoric creature is immediate, the other townsfolk must be persuaded. When a plea to win their affections goes terribly wrong, Ely must again face the possibility of losing a friend. This colorized reprint of TenNapel's 2004 indie graphic novel lacks some of the sophistication of his more recent works, relying more on crude humor to drive aspects of the story forward than on subtler techniques. However, his trademark inventiveness and depth are still present, making this an excellent offering for any dog lover or for anyone looking for a tale of friendship. An enjoyable mixed bag of potty humor, insightfulness and the powerful bonds between a pet and its owner. (Graphic fantasy. 9-12)