By Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Jay Fleck
Chronicle Books, 2019
Picture book, 48 pages, ages 2-5
Tiny wants to give his friend Pointy a hug to cheer him up. Turns out, it’s not easy to hug when you have tiny arms. But this doesn’t deter Tiny. He will ask for advice from his huge T. Rex family & his dinosaur friends, plan out a strategy, practice, and finally give Pointy a hug, even if it’s a small one.
T-riffic! Two tiny thumbs up!
This is one of my favorite picture books. I love the humor and the heart. I love Jonathan Stutzman’s writing. I love Jay Fleck’s simple, colorful, stylized illustrations. So of course, I recommend this book to everyone I meet, sometimes whether or not they ask for recommendations.
Tiny is a character readers will instantly fall in love with. He’s sweet and kind and earnest. He’s miniscule for a T. Rex – other dinos tower over him – the main source of conflict in the book. That and his super short arms. Kids will easily relate to Tiny.
A reader can find many subtle takeaways in the story. Tiny might be small, but he’s got a huge amount of determination. He perseveres until he reaches his goal. While this isn’t a moralistic tale, the message comes through loud and clear. It might be a good book to use to open up a discussion with a child about sticking with something and seeing it through to the end. Tiny and Pointy are also a sweet example of friendship and showing kindness.
The interplay between words and pictures are pitch perfect. They’re so good on their own, but together, they’re even better. A must-have for any child’s bookshelf.
Note: this is the first book in a series. If you like this one, check out the other Tiny T. Rex books: Tiny T. Rex and the Very Dark Dark and the upcoming Tiny T. Rex and the Grand Ta-Da! (releases April 2023). There are also two board books: Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine and Tiny T. Rex and the Tricks of Treating.
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman gets five stars from this reviewer.