The Adventures of Grandmasaurus at the Supermarket
Caroline Fernandez | Common Deer Press 40p, hardcover, $16.95, ISBN 9781-988-76170-1
On a class trip to the supermarket, children and their grandma find unexpected adventure (and knowledge) when grandma transforms into a series of different dinosaurs in this humorous and informative picture book. Full of whimsy and intrigue as grandma makes her way through the different aisles of the grocery store, as well as facts about dinosaurs and what they ate, Fernandez’s informative text pairs with Shannon O’Toole’s vivid and comic illustrations to engage readers about a classic topic, dinosaurs.
Though little explanation is given as to why grandma starts to shapeshift (“Dust + sneezing = Grandma’s funny business”) or what stops it (“Finally, Grandma turned back into regular Grandma”), the dino-transformation plot device allows Fernandez to teach young readers about dinosaurs they might not have heard of (Talarurus, Deinocheirus) and what types of food they ate (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore)—and to get adult readers up to date on how our understanding of the great reptileshas changed over recent decades. The grocery store setting allows for additional humor, grouping the different eating habits of the dinosaurs Grandma becomes with their respective aisles (herbivores in the produce section, etc) and setting up one delicious joke, when Grandma makes one surprising non-dinosaur transformation.
Written with a dash of whimsy, The Adventures of Grandmasaurus at the Supermarket effectively engages young dinosaur lovers, the grandparents that care about them, and does so in an everyday location, making it all the more magical. The final page provides a silhouette of and basic explanations for each of the dinosaurs from the story, including a pronunciation guide and facts about what each ate. O’Toole’s expressive watercolor illustrations and hand-lettering add to the overall cheerful and upbeat atmosphere, depicting gorgeous fresh vegetables and a diverse student population with thoughtful attention. Well-suited for dinosaur buffs or lovers of playful chaos in everyday settings, this playful adventure is sure to delight.