Digging for Dinos

December 15, 2015
If Abbot and Costello were rendered canine (and alive) they might well resemble this intrepid, dino-hunting doggie duo. Tank, a Great Dane with a nose for excitement, and Haggis, her smaller, saner Scottish terrier companion, are pulled into another adventure thanks to a book on dinosaurs. As in their previous imaginative outing (All Paws on Deck, 2015), Tank is the instigator, hoping to find any dinos that might be hiding nearby. And for all that he fusses and moans, Haggis is just as game to play pretend as his stalwart, oversized companion. As before, the action largely takes place in graphic panels featuring dialogue bubbles, lightly stitched together by brief sentences of exposition. Engaging in homophone-heavy dialogue (Haggis: "You never know..." Tank: "Actually, I no a lot! In fact, I no as much as I yes") and featuring the same dramatic beats as its predecessor (including the last-minute save by their owner, oblivious to her pets' overactive fantasies), this latest walk on the wild side will please the pair's fans, though it won't offer them anything particularly new. That said, the wordplay is lively, gently challenging new readers with its snappy dialogue that sometimes requires multiple reads. This sequel is far from a dinosnore; here's to joining these two pals on all their future adventures. (Graphic/fantasy hybrid. 6-9)

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July 1, 2016
Haggis and Tank are dog friends whose playful imaginations send them sailing for treasure and on a dig for dinosaurs in these first two adventures. Their dialogue includes homophones, idiomatic expressions, and other wordplay; appended questions help readers with comprehension. Designed for emerging readers, colorful comics-style illustrations provide context for new and difficult words.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)