Can I Have a Stegosaurus, Mom? Can I? Please!? - Hardcover

In plaintive tones usually reserved for requesting a pony or puppy, the narrator of this inventive tale begs for a prehistoric pet. As Grambling (A Hundred Million Reasons for Owning an Elephant) lists the benefits of beast ownership, Lewis's (Santabear's First Christmas) accomplished full-bleed spreads show the boy enjoying the company of the lumbering herbivore?sneaking it "yucky vegetables" at the table, pitting it against his friends in tug-of-war, going trick-or-treating under its looming shadow ("Who'd pick on a little Stegosaurus... when a BIG STEGOSAURUS was with him?"). For the most part, the fantasy dino is cuddly, with expressive eyes that convey dog-like friendliness. But several drawings are spooky?Lewis's pastel compositions, with their cloudy, monochrome backgrounds and detailed foregrounds, emphasize the creature's ground-shaking bulk. Later, after the pleading, comes the punch line: "Yesterday I found this GIGANTIC egg.... And it's beginning to crack open...." The only thing missing from this humorous romp is the would-be pet proprietor's promise to feed and walk the hatchling. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 3-6. An imaginative little boy begs his mother for a pet stegosaurus, carefully citing its advantages. For example, the beast can save him from night monsters, eat his yucky vegetables, and transport his entire class to the museum for a field trip. In addition, it's sure to win the tug-of-war at summer camp, protect him while trick-or-treating, and make a great mascot for the peewee football team. The most compelling reason, of course, is the gigantic egg the boy has found--the one that is hatching into a "terrible lizard" as he speaks. Lewis' colorful illustrations visualize all the absurdities of the boy's reasoning, particularly in the last spread in which the hatchling turns out to be a full-grown tyrannosaur rather than a gentle stegosaurus. The boy's persistent begging and pleading will be recognized by young and old alike, making this a good bet for young dinosaur fans and their parents. Kay Weisman