What do you think a Tyrannosaurus rex would do if you if you offered him a bone? Author Tim Myers explains that the T-rex would be mad because it wouldn’t be proper nourishment, so you’d have to run into the underbrush and hide. But there, you might meet a Dimetrodon, so you’d have to jump into a nearby bay. But there, you might see a Kronosaurus, so you’d have to swim into a river. But there, you might be spotted by a Dakosaurus, so you’d have to climb a ridge. But there, a Quetzalcoatlus might dive at you, so you’d have to fling yourself into the ocean. But there, you might run into a Shonisaurus, so you’d have to swim to the beach. But there, you might happen upon a Dilophosaurus, so you’d have to return to the bushes. But there–well, you get the idea. And where is that pesky T-rex?

Children seem to be fascinated by reading and learning about dinosaurs. With a “tip o’ the hat” to Laura Numeroff, If You Give a T-Rex a Bone, which was a finalist for the ForeWord Best Children’s Picture Book, is a really neat story that youngsters will enjoy reading and that will introduce them to factual information about various kinds of dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles, which Anise Claire Hovemann’s full color illustrations will help them to visualize. In the back of the book, there are two pages where “Tim Talks Dinos” providing additional material about each of the creatures in the story. There is also another page of “Dino Fun” with interactive exercises and a list of “Some great Dino books and websites” for further research. Any child who loves dinosaurs will love this book.

— Stories for Children Magazine – Wayne S. Walker (May 2009)

Follow this brave young fellow back through time as he encounters a dozen or so dinosaurs in their natural habitats. Giving a T-rex a bone will only anger him, so you better run into the underbrush. But there you might encounter a dimetrodon with knife-like teeth and powerful jaws, so you better slip into a nearby bay. But there you may attract a kronosaurus, also with big teeth and a taste for small boys. This amusing story leads in a toothy circle of dinos back to the T-rex. The book closes with “Tiny Talks to Dinos,” and informative pictured glossary giving more detail about each creature. Activity ideas and a list of dino books and websites round out this offering from the Nevada City publisher.

— California Kids! – Connie Goldsmith (January 2008)

Dawn Publications remains true to its mission of sharing nature with children in its If You GIve a T-Rex a Bone by Tim Myers. The book magically introduces the reader to all types of dinosaurs in quirky sort of way. No boring nonfiction here!

— The Westfield Leader – Marylou Morano (Nov. 1, 2007)

A young boy gives a T-Rex a bone, and his journey begins through the land of dinosaurs. As the boy continually tries to find the best place to hide from a dinosaur, he learns why each dinosaur may not be so friendly. He jumps into the ocean and meets a Shonisaurus, and swims for the beach where he meets a Dilophosaurus. As he hides in the bushes he sees a Hylonomus, and climbs a tree only to greet a Brachiosaurus. With each new meeting, the reader learns some simple, basic facts about the dinosaur. The drawings are full of life, especially the boy’s expressions.

— Library Media Connection – Eileen Wright (February 2008)

If You Give a T-Rex a Bone reminds me exactly of the dreams I had as a kid. Dreams that were my first tentative steps towards my dream job in paleontology. I had great fun traveling back in geologic time and my own time.

— Carl Mehling, Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History (March 2007)

If You Give a T-Rex a Bone presents the magic and mystery of dinosaurs in a fun, educational, and informative style. The dinosaurs come to life on each page, and the ancillary notes and activities provide parents and teachers with creative teaching ideas.

— Dr. Marcia Savage, Ph.D., Children’s Literature Specialist, Santa Clara University (March 2007)

Offering a snack to a hungry carnivore starts off Tim Myers’ If You Give a T-Rex a Bone. Instead of being grateful, the beast sends the boy who attempted to feed him scurrying through the forest. Along the way, he meets a variety of other dinosaurs and learns of their habits.

— Carolina Parent(November 2007)

If You Give a T-Rex a Bone by Tim Myers of Santa Clara, illustrated by Anisa Claire Hovemann. Children’s book provides lively art and introduces a variety of dinosaurs.

— Inside Bay Area.com – Kathleen Grant Geib (October 2007)

Tim Myers plays off the popular “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” structure for what is basically an informational book. This book is part of a series produced by the publishers who are committed to producing “creative nonfiction” books that encourage the love of nature. In this case, all the information in the text about the appearance, habitat, and eating habits of each of the thirteen dinosaurs featured reflects current scientific understanding and is supported by a glossary and resource list at the end of the book. Myers explains in an afterword that in order to show a variety of dinosaurs, he included species who lived at very different times. The “creative” spin comes from the breezy style that offers warnings about the dangers a contemporary child would face if transported back to the days of the dinosaurs. Hovemaman’s watercolors are fairly accurate renditions of the creatures, aside from the suggestion of smirks and snarls. Dinosaur loving families and classrooms are likely to find the book informative and entertaining. Of course, given the fascination dinosaurs hold for so many, it is not clear that this is a subject area that needs playing up.

— Children’s Literature – Mary Hynes-Berry(January 2008)

Long after turning the last page, readers of this scientifically accurate book will find themselves pondering what life must have been like for dinosaurs.

— Prof. Dennis Smithenry, Science Educ. Dept., Santa Clara Univ. (March 2007)

This beautifully illustrated book demonstrates what happens, if you should happen upon a T-Rex and offer him a bone. This story will have kids giggling over the silly cascade of events in it.

— BookSense nomination comments (August 2007)

If You Give a T-Rex a Bone is all about a little boy who learns about different dinosaurs. He was being chased by a T-Rex so he gave a T-Rex a bone. This made the T-Rex mad so the little boy hid in the bushes. Then he was found by a dimetrodon, and when he went to escape that dinosaur, he encountered another one. This book takes us all through dinosaurs and what they ate and what they were like.

This book is very similar to the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” books and I liked that. It is a fun way to tell a story and keeps things moving. At the end of this book the author gives pictures and information about dinosaurs and some other books and websites to learn more. I think that is a good idea for anyone who reads this book and wants to know more about the dinosaurs. If You Give a T-Rex a Bone was a fun and educational book to read.

— Reader Views Kids (www.readerviewskids.com) – Matthew Feliciano (age 8 ) (April 2008)

“If you give a T-Rex a bone, he’s gonna be mad. T-rex, you see, is incorrigibly carnivorous and usually quite hungry.” If you’ve ever wanted to go back in time and meet dinosaurs, think twice. On every page of this book, a young boy finds himself in the territory of a different dangerous dinosaur. Each time, he narrowly escapes the dinosaurs wrath and sharp claws, moving onto the next page and into the territory of a new dinosaur with a different vicious and dangerous nature. Tim Myers is a wonderful and funny storyteller who really makes you think hes lived with dinosaurs all his life. the tips he provides on how best to survive in the dinosaur world subtly present scientific facts about these fascinating creatures. At last, a book in which the dinosaurs actually seem alive!

— Golden Gate Mothers Group (June 2008)

You ever stroll through some ancient landscape with a big ol’ dinosaur bone in your backpack and come across a T-Rex, look out! If you give a T-Rex a bone, he is gonna be mad. A T-Rex, you see, is incorrigibly carnivorous and usually quite hungry. He would not consider bare bone proper nourishment. So you better dodge in the underbrush. But if you are hiding in the underbrush, you might encounter a Dimetrodon… What are you going to do? Read the book and you willl find the answer.

Tim Myers lives in Santa Clara, California and is a storyteller, lecturer at the University of Santa Clara and the author of numerous children’s books. This is his first book with Dawn Publications.

— The Nashville News – Mary Barrett (Jan. 2008)