By Mo Willems
Hyperion Books for Children, 2006Picture book, 40 pages, ages 3-6
Everyone in town loved Edwina (a benevolent T. rex lookalike). She played with all the kids, helped little old ladies across the street, and baked delicious chocolate chip cookies. Everyone, that is, except Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie. He knew everything about everything, and he was determined to prove that dinosaurs are extinct. But no one would listen. Except Edwina. Would she believe Reginald’s persuasive proof that she was extinct?
A lesser-known Mo Willems masterpiece. Be prepared to laugh!
This book is hilarious, ROTFL funny – just the image of Edwina trying to screw in a lamppost bulb with her scrawny arms is enough to make you LOL. It’s Mo Willems at his greatest. I love everything about it. Even the simplified, childlike, but incredibly expressive artwork. It’s zany and relatable and has a lot of heart.
This would be a wonderful storytime read aloud. It’s not a book with an agenda or one that teaches a lesson (unless you want to talk to a kid about having to prove themselves right no matter what…or it could also start a nice conversation about inclusivity). But really, it’s just a great story. And it doesn’t need to be anything more than that.
Would I have loved it as a kid? You bet. It would’ve been on my daily book rotation. Will kids love it now, even if it’s almost 20 years old? You bet! Who can resist the charm of a sweet dinosaur protagonist cheerfully facing off against an antagonist named Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie? I sure can’t.
Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems receives 5 stars from this reviewer.