When Dinosaurs Came with Everything
By Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small
Atheneum; $16.99
40 pp.; ISBN-13: 978-0689869228

Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews

What kid hasn't dreaded running errands with mom? In our house, I can't even use the word "errand" without one of my kids having an utter meltdown. Of course, now that they've heard Elise Broach's When Dinosaurs Came with Everything, the story of a little boy and his mom who get more than they bargained for on one errand day in particular, they can't wait to go run errands.

What seems like just another ordinary day taking care of a dull to-do list suddenly becomes extraordinary when a little boy notices a sign at the bakery that says "buy a dozen, get a dinosaur." His mother is blase, figuring it's just another toy, until a triceratops lumbers out from the back. She's floored, he's thrilled. They debate what to do with it -- the boy ultimately has to let it sit in the parking lot when he visits the pediatrician (cautioning him about talking to strangers, of course). Again and again, dinosaurs come with everything -- a sticker at the pediatrician's is exchanged for a stegosaurus (a shot will earn you an extra one), balloons at the barbers become pterosaurs. Weary at the prospect of care and feeding for even a small handful of very large dinosaurs, mom quickly ditches the rest of the errands. Why take chances? At home, the boy's mother takes to her bed while the boy and his new friends take to the backyard. When mom finally realizes that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, the end result is one big (literally) happy family.

Rooting her picture book in the familiar, Broach makes it easy for kids to identify with the main character, from his despair at the prospect of another day's drudge work to elation at the realization that this day will be different, this day something exciting is going to happen. All aspects of the kid's world-view shift consistently, making for a fully realized alternate world where no one except the kid's mom finds anything dramatic, new, or frightening about the world being overrun by dinosaurs again. The aplomb with which the nurse acts is especially funny -- the dialogue really brings it all home, supported by Caldecott winner David Small's ink and watercolor drawings. And mom is true to form in her shock and concern, and eventual flexibility in adapting to the new family pets.

Characterized by humor and unpredictability, When Dinosaurs Came with Everything is sure to appeal to young readers, especially little boys who are big fans of dinosaurs. The story is outlandish yet completely convincing at the same time, so much so that I'd be surprised if my own kids weren't half hoping for a dinosaur of their own on our trip to the grocery store yesterday.