The Perfect Pet?: Buying, Training, & Caring for Your Dinosaur by Laura Joy Rennert

I know, I know....I've neglected you a bit. (SORRY!) Between the holidays, spending time with the family, and this LOVELY (read VERY sarcastically) cold.....I didn't get much blogging or reading in. *SIGH* Yes, it's one of those colds where all you want to do is go back to bed....no ready, no bloggy, no playing with uber-cool presents. Oh, I didn't mention those now did I?

Although I didn't get any actual books from the big man in red among my wonderful spoils, I did get something that will solve my eBook reading troubles.....TADA....a pink pocket eReader! (SQUEEEE!) Now, it WILL NOT, I repeat WILL NOT replace my actual books. Nope. No siree. The newest best sellers or top wishes on my list will always remain in a hard copy....just ones I come across that happen to be in that form exclusively, or old favorites that I wish to reread, etc....those will end up in the eReader. But enough about my holiday...what did all of YOU get? Anything awesome you wish to share? Do tell.....(psst....feel free to leave your favorite gifts received this season in the comments!)....now back on the subject of my blog neglect...

NO worries....I'm starting to get everything back online and ready to go. This week in fact....be on the look out for a review of one title from an ever popular author's series WITH a giveaway to five lucky fellow insatiable readers....stay tuned....(will you look at that, my first actual post after the holidays and I'm already rambling, tsk, tsk...)  Moving on....today's post is a rather fun read if I do say so myself.  Full of imagination, wonderful art, and even a random smattering of facts....yes, I do believe we have a winner!  Today's book of choice is....

Buying, Training, & Caring for Your Dinosaur
by
Laura Joy Rennert

The title alone begs one to at the very least sneak a peek at this little book and once you are inside, you won't want to put it down until you've reached the end.  Author Laura Joy Rennert delivers a fanciful guide to well....pretty much what the title says.  Having a dinosaur as a pet is a rather large responsibility and so readers are cautioned to choose the right one for them.  From the Triceratops all the way to the Tyrannosaurus rex, you will get a quick run down on their most discerning features as well as practical advice on their fun time habits.  Looking for a pal to run and play with?  Consider a Gallimimus.  How about one that's easy to train (could definitely be helpful with a pet THIS size)?  Try the Troodon. 

Wait!  Choosing one is only half the battle!  After you've chosen the "little" guy or gal that's right for you, the second half of the book kicks right into gear and shows you just what you're in for during the coming days, months, and years....Whatever your pet desires, you're sure to find one just perfect for you.  The best advice overall?  Well, as the author so aptly puts it...."HUG your dino (okay...part of your dino) everyday!"

I must say, when I first read the title to this book, I was totally drawn in.  As a child, I wasn't exactly into dinosaurs, but at the same time, I did have a few favorites.  My personal one was the Stegosaurus.  I remember I had a little figurine of one....think I called it Steggy.  (original, right?)  Anywho....I'm pretty sure most children at one age or another go through a dinosaur phase (of course I mean liking them, not acting like one.....)....whether short lived, or life long.  This cute picture book totally brought back the love from those days and speaking of the pictures...how imaginative!  The colors and style, yes...total flashback to the many times that I would color a full page duck, multiple colors instead of the typical yellow and orange (hey, I liked a lot of colors in the crayon box....why couldn't my creation be more punky in color?).  The technique used in regards to the artistry brings to mind the effect you get from sponge painting (oh, come on....if you don't do it now....you probably did it at least once as a child...).  It gives the needed effect for a mottled look to the dinosaurs, all while making them the most fun colors you can think of.  Marc Brown (that's who came up with these fantasical critters, or at least what they might have looked like) truly did an outstanding job, certain to grab and keep any passerby's attention.

Special thanks to author Laura Joy Rennert for my (SIGNED!) copy for review and reading!  Be sure to check out the links in both the title and author near the top of this post for more information about the book as well as a fun introduction to the author and her Chihuahuasaurus. (LOL...it's really cute.)

Happy holidays....and happy reading!