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, 05:16, 21 April 2009
{{infoboxsort
|sort=Littlest Dinosaur's Big Adventure
|title=The Littlest Dinosaur's Big Adventure
|author=Michael Foreman
|reviewer=Keith Dudhnath
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=A sweet lost and found tale from the always excellent Michael Foreman. Whilst there's nothing specific to fault it on, the core story is such a classic of picture books, that it really needs an extra spark to separate it from the crowd.
|rating=3.5
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|format=Hardback
|pages=32
|publisher=Bloomsbury
|date=May 2009
|isbn=978-0747589839
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747589836</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0802795455</amazonus>
}}
In his [[The Littlest Dinosaur by Michael Foreman|previous adventure]], the Littlest Dinosaur discovers that despite his size, he can make a big difference. Here he discovers that he has to be brave, because he has the heart of a dinosaur, but sometimes even dinosaurs need help when they get lost.
''The Littlest Dinosaur's Big Adventure'' is a sweet story, well told and beautifully illustrated by Michael Foreman. The frolicking parts are cheery and spring-like; the spooky woods are dark and foreboding. There's a slightly longer story than most similar picture books, making it ideal for reading with children on the cusp of being able to read themselves, or for a slightly longer bedtime story with the little ones.
Whilst there's nothing specific to fault with ''Big Adventure'', it lacks a spark to separate it from the [[The Perfect Bear by Gillian Shields|many]] [[Emily Brown and the Thing by Cressida Cowell|other]] [[The Bear in the Cave by Michael Rosen and Adrian Reynolds|lost]] [[Bear Feels Scared by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman|and]] [[Where Is Home, Little Pip? by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman|found]] [[I Love You, Muddy Bear by Jane Simmons|books]] that are available. If dinosaurs are your child's big thing, they'll absolutely love it. If it's the first lost and found book you come across, it'll be a fine addition to your bookshelf.
It would be grossly unfair to call it unoriginal - there are many specific differences with everything that's out there - but the core story is such a classic of picture books that it really does need something extra to separate it from the crowd. Even if children may not be as world-weary and cynical to mind about that sort of thing, the parents reading the books could and should have something new.
Here at Bookbag, we love [[:Category:Michael Foreman|everything that Michael Foreman has done]]. Maybe his usual superb standard means he's being judged more harshly than is fair. I'm fully expecting a young child to grab ''Big Adventure'' from my bookshelf and declare it their most favouritest book ever. Borrow it from the library and tell me how wrong I am! Please!
My thanks to the publisher for sending it to Bookbag.
Of the lost and found books, [[Where Is Home, Little Pip? by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman]] is a particular favourite. For an unrelated book that has a real spark to separate it from the crowd, check out the superb [[I Really Want To Eat A Child by Sylviane Donnio and Dorothee de Monfreid]]. If you like your dinosaurs a little bit more scary, then take a look at [[The Dirty Great Dinosaur by Martin Waddell and Leonie Lord]].
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