By Douglas Rees, illustrated by Jed Henry
Henry Holt & Co., 2017
Picture book, 40 pages, ages 4-8
Everyone is terrified of the voracious Tyrannosaurus rex, who WANTS HIS BREAKFAST … everyone except Edna. Tyrannosaurus may have mighty claws and terrible jaws, but Edna has a mighty beak and terrible flapping wings!
The witty & ironic character twist – a brave chicken – will have you in stitches.
I, a semi-responsible grown-up, have never laughed so hard at a book in a very long time. (The last time might have been when I was guffawing at The Princess Bride in the middle of a crowded airport terminal.) This story is hilarious. The characters leap off the page. The pacing is crisp and perfectly delivers its punchline. The artwork is energetic and pitch-perfect. Jed Henry excels at making Tyrannosaurus silly/fierce and Edna unruffled/adorable.
Will kids like this book? Yes. Be prepared to be asked to read it over and over again.
Aside from it being just plain fun and a way to foster a love of reading in your kids, does this book offer any lessons or learning moments? Absolutely. There is an author’s note about birds and dinosaurs in the back of the book. You and your kid(s) can make a project out of researching the different dinosaurs that appear in the story. This also creates a good opportunity to have a conversation about bullying and how to stand your ground like Edna.
Highly recommended to anyone who loves dinosaurs, chickens, and/or funny books.
Tyrannosaurus Rex vs Edna the Very First Chicken receives 5 stars from this reviewer.