In this readable but ultimately forgettable story, a diminutive lime-green dinosaur follows in the literary footsteps of many other small but mighty characters who aid someone larger or more powerful. The tiny dinosaur, cleverly called Tiny, is cruelly taunted by the larger dinosaurs because of his size, so he finds a new friend, a bird named Archie. The pair of friends devise their own games and entertainments, happily spending time together. When Tyro the T. rex stomps so hard he cracks the (evidently fragile) ground, Tiny and Archie lead him to safety. The logistics of this rescue are hard to see in the illustrations because the cracks in the surface are rendered as flat gray lines that seem neither deep nor dangerous. Several spreads are confusing due to the inclusion of multiple images of the three main characters without clear delineation between scenes. Tiny and Archie do have a certain charm, both in their visual depiction and in their play together, but not enough to overcome the several mystifying spreads and the pat ending. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

PreS-Gr 1-Constantly teased for being "teeny tiny" and "teensy-weensy," Tiny is excluded from all of the other dinosaurs' games. He feels sorry for himself, until he is befriended by a small bird named Archie. When the two discover Tyro the Tyrannosaurus rex trapped on shaky ground, it is Tiny who is able to rescue him. All of the dinosaurs now want to be his friend, the teasing ceases, and his Mom declares: "You may be small...but you've got a big heart." Playful pastel illustrations depict expressive, fun-loving dinosaurs in a fanciful prehistoric setting, but there is nothing unusual or original in this predictable plot. It's a shame that Tiny has to prove his courage and usefulness before the other dinosaurs will accept him. And, it isn't until they want to become friends with him that Tiny comes to accept himself. Nonetheless, children will relate to the familiar message, especially if they have ever felt left out.-Rachel Kamin, Des Plaines Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.