Dinotrux Go to School (Passport to Reading Level 1) by Gall, Chris (2014) Paperback

Dinotrux

by Chris Gall

In this beginning reader, today is the first day of school. The Dinotrux are nervous! What will they eat for lunch? Will their teacher be nice? But the Dinotrux don't need to worry. They can help each other. And school isn't scary. It's fun, especially when you are part dinosaur and part truck! (Passport to Reading Level 1)

Genres: Childrens, School, Dinosaurs, Picture Books, Fiction

Paperback

First published July 8, 2014

About the author

Chris Gall has been drawing pictures for as long as he can remember. When he was caught doodling on his desk in second grade, his teacher suggested that he might become an artist some day, then made him clean all the desks in the classroom. In seventh grade, Chris won a Read Magazine Young Writers Award, and that inspired him to create stories to go with his art. After graduating from the University of Arizona, Chris became an award-winning, internationally recognized illustrator, and his artwork has been shown in almost every publication in America, including Time, Newsweek, People, Fortune, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

In 2004, his first picture book, America the Beautiful, became a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year, and his career in children’s publishing began. Since then he has authored and/or illustrated 16 more books, including the acclaimed Dinotrux, a 2009 Publishers Weekly Best Children’s book; Revenge of the Dinotrux; Awesome Dawson; Substitute Creacher; Dog Vs. Cat and The Littlest Train. For grownups, he also illustrated and designed the PDT Cocktail Book, the 2012 Best New Cocktail Book, awarded by Tales of the Cocktail.

Chris has also worked as an adjunct professor of art at the University of Arizona and spent four years as a professional stand-up comedian. He currently lives in Tucson, Arizona, where in his spare time he works as a volunteer for the Southern Arizona Rescue Association (Pima County Search and Rescue).

In August of 2015, after 5 years of development, Dreamworks Animation brought Dinotrux to Netflix as an animated television show for children.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this in from Amazon yesterday. I thought this was a really cute book. It will also be helpful for little ones who are about to start school. The Dinotrux are concerned there won't be a variety of things available on their first day of school; like juice, snacks, and bathrooms. They are also very concerned that a poorly drawn cave dude will be their teacher.

Spoiler alert, he was their teacher but he juggled a bunch of wooden caveman clubs instead of trying to chase the Dinotrux with them. Hopefully, he will enjoy this for years to come. <- btw I'm not referring to the crudely drawn cave dude but to my son lol. And to Mr. Gall, or whomever the illustrator is, I love the drawings and that's part of why I don't buy the books associated with the Netflix series. This artwork is charming and real, where as the Netflix Dinotrux are far too polished for my liking.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neo led us on this adventure, in the world of the Dinotrux. The summer has come to an end and all the Dinotrux are headed to school for the first time. Some worry about enough food, others worry about sufficient space, and still others fret about the teacher. They begin the journey to school and try to make themselves comfortable. After doing so, they all realize that things will be just fine. Neo liked this story and did fairly well reading it to me. He kept his head high and pushed through some of the larger words, making me as proud as I have ever been to see him succeed.

[Allyson Goose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros: My 4YO likes dinosaurs and trucks. Some of the concerns about starting school were very relatable. My 7YO can read this to the 4YO.

Major Con: All male characters! I can’t believe the author didn’t even try to put in one female character out of about a dozen in the book.

I read this to make my 4YO happy, but I would never choose it for my kids because of the lack of female representation. I would also skip it as a read-aloud or as an
independent reading option, even though it could be a good book for the beginning of the school year, because of this issue.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is based off of the cartoon series Dinotrux. My 3 year old granddaughter's eyes brightened up when we picked this book up. She loves this series on television. She enjoyed this book as we read about them going to school and how they got ready by making paper, loading books and being nervous about meeting their caveman teacher. It's a cute book for a child, but the storyline itself was on the odd side and if you had never watched the cartoon this book wouldn't make sense to you but those that have watched you would enjoy it.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting concept, taking dinosaurs and trucks and mashing them together. It would be entertaining for aspiring young readers. However, some of the names are hard to pronounce, meaning kids might skip over them. On the other hand, that could also provide a good opportunity for teaching kids to sound-out words properly, instead of skipping over them entirely.

[Annamária · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fiam hozta haza a könyvtárból. Nagyon jókat nevettünk olvasás közben. Meg fogjuk keresni a sorozat többi részét is, mert ideális kialakításúak kezdő olvasók részére. Azon túltettem magam, hogy a sok-sok dino-kocsi közül egyik sem kislány, de ebből kifolyólag kifejezetten fiúk számára olvasnám csak.

[Ashley Aolani Salisbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute and funny way to introduce the nerves of going to school for the first time. I loved all the characters, each one so unique. Five stars to the fun names too!

[Eliot Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dinotrux gather supplies and emotionally support each other on their way to the first day of school, where they meet their teacher, a giant, smelly caveman who juggles for them.

[Monica Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Son said cool book

[Lisa Fesmire]

I read this in the Wonderbook format to see how it worked. For the age group it would be entertaining.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ bc my son said so 👦🏻🙄

[Sara Lemonade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a level 1 reader with the usual easy sight words, but character names like Dumploducus, Dozeratops, Garbageadon, Septisaurus and Deliveradon will ensure your kid needs at least a little help. Which will make you feel like you're still useful.

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an easy reader, this book lacks the lush graphics of the original Dinotrux (which, if you'll read the fine print, was created using animal hides and stone tools). On the other hand, it was a cheap paper back, perfectly suited to being lost for one week and then ripped a little.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read to young students before they start school. My three year old loves to read this and has memorized every word. He also really loves the Dinotrux names and what real dinosaurs they would be.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dexter (6yo) read. "It was really cool that it talked about when they were little and went to school. Tyrannosaurus Trux just guessed what the teacher was!"

Illustration are great - Chris Gall rocks!

[Shea O'neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy loves the trucks, they are now members of his scary friends group.

Tommy thought it was good. I liked how it showed feelings that we all have about starting school: school seems kinda scary but exciting, and each truck can be itself there, and its full of friends.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a cute series that I get to share with my little nephew. What's not to love? Dinosaurs and construction vehicles all in one! Just a fun idea and a good story.

[Alexandra Chauran · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only book more cracked out than Dinotrux.

[Holliferous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent in helping my son with his nervousness in going to school for the first time.