My teacher is a dinosaur!

PreS-Gr 3--A T. rex teaching school? What could possibly go wrong? From accidentally crushing classroom desks to overzealous roaring, this teacher's instruction style is definitely unconventional. There's one thing the students in this class never experience--boredom. A field trip to the natural history museum, while filled with firsthand expert information from the teacher, quickly devolves into chaos when it's assumed that she's an exhibit come to life. The illustrations aptly capture the energy in the story, and the intended audience will enjoy the silly antics. Speech bubbles and dialogue make this title more suited for a lapsit than a group story time read. A diversity of genders and skin tones are represented in both teachers and students, making the story even more relatable. VERDICT Dinosaurs are perennially popular, making this a sound addition to picture book collections.--Jennifer Noonan

It's a truth universally acknowledged: Teachers are bizarre. "They put sticky notes everywhere. And sometimes they dress strange." In the accompanying images, a scattered-looking educator is surrounded by a flurry of Post-it notes while another proudly shows off a tie made from paper clips. But all pale in comparison with the teacher at the center of this story: a T. rex. The jokes fly as four students, who collectively narrate, describe their teacher's antics. When the heater breaks, she chuckles ("You should have seen the Ice Age!"), her motivational posters are off-putting ("Chase your dreams and your dinner!"), and every day is an opportunity to roar ("Two plus two equals FOURRRRRRRRRRRRR!"). A field trip to the museum is enlightening (who better to offer a tour of the dino exhibit?), but it ends with the authorities--who assume the teacher is a model that's come to life--chasing her and her students off the premises. The book wraps up with the kids drawing their favorite dinosaur (their teacher, of course); readers may be spurred to create their own stories. Canterbury's goofy text pairs well with Harter's cartoonish illustrations; though this sharp-toothed teacher is a true carnivore, her jolly expressions make her more comical than scary. Roaring good comedic inspiration.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.