Rex: Dinosaur in Disguise: (Rex, Dinosaur in Disguise)

A comedy of errors starring the instantly-loveable Rex – the first book in a fantastically funny series for 7+ readers, from Lollies Prize winning author-illustrator Elys Dolan. Rex is king of the dinosaurs: carnivores want to be him and herbivores want to be eaten by him... That is, until a pesky Ice Age comes along and he winds up frozen solid in a glacier. When he wakes up, 65 million years later, human beings rule the roost – and if they get their hands on Rex, he'll wind up in a zoo. (Or, worse: a MUSEUM.) Lucky for him, Rex isn't the only undercover creature in town. He's whisked out of danger by the one and only Bigfoot, who has been surviving among the humans undetected for years. Bigfoot and his friends show Rex how to get by in the humans' world, and soon there's only one thing left for him to do: GET A JOB. But that's easier said than done ... and with a meddling nine-year-old neighbour to deal with, and the constant risk of discovery, life couldn't be harder for a dinosaur in disguise.

About the Author :
Elys Dolan makes picture-books about everything from seagull detectives to capitalist bunny rabbits and weasels plotting world domination. She was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Weasels and the Branford Boase for Knighthood for Beginners, and won the inaugural STEAM Children's Book Prize for How the Borks Became and the prestigious Lollies Prize for Mr Bunny's Chocolate Factory. She is also a lecturer on the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art.

Review :
It's a laugh out read See what happens in this very funny story with adorable characters and plenty of food for thought […] Full of gorgeous pictures it is a great bridge from picture book to novel, but enjoyable for all abilities. I love it! Elys Dolan triumphs again, this time in the form of Rex, an out-of-time dinosaur […] Crazy, thoughtful comedy reigns. Elys’ writing is brilliantly funny, full of absurd situations and Rex is a captivating character; oh! there’s a super subplot too. The story also has subtle messages about tolerance, letting people live how they wish, and the vital importance of thinking for yourself. Full of giggle worthy details, the subtly coloured cartoon style illustrations are hilarious and there are occasional plans, maps and speech bubbles to keep readers engaged, further adding to the humour. KS2 readers will devour this. Elys Dolan deals with a wide range of themes with humour and excitement in this illustrated story. Besides encouraging children to think about tolerance and acceptance, allowing everyone to be themselves, the story also encompasses friendship, family and fake news. An appealing, fun package which should attract young readers, this could be used as a class read aloud and to encourage reading for pleasure. I like the comic strips and illustrations. I read it fast because I loved it too much.