Too Big to Hide

The Dino Files #2

by Stacy McAnulty, Mike Boldt (Illustrations)

How do you hide a pet dinosaur?
 
Taking care of a baby dinosaur is hard work. And it’s even harder when you can’t tell anyone about him! Frank and Sam are good at feeding, cleaning, and walking Peanut. But their grandma has found a new fossil and it looks just like Peanut’s horn . . . only a thousand times bigger! Will baby Peanut grow to be that huge, too? How do you hide a dinosaur when he becomes as big as a house? It won’t be easy. Especially when scientists come to the dig site to make a movie about the new fossil.
 
The hilarious Dino Files chapter book series follows a nine-year-old dinosaur expert, his paleontologist grandparents, a cat named Saurus, and fossils that might not be so extinct!

Genres: Fiction, Chapter Books, Childrens, Middle Grade

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

Stacy McAnulty is a children’s book author, who used to be a mechanical engineer, who’s also qualified to be a paleontologist (NOT REALLY), a correspondent for The Daily Show (why not), and a Green Bay Packer coach (totally!). She is the 2017 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Recipient for Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach. Her other picture books include Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, illustrated by David Litchfield; Brave and Beautiful, both illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff; Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite, illustrated by Edward Hemingway; and 101 Reasons Why I’m Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang. She’s also authored the chapter book series Goldie Blox, based on the award-winning toys, and The Dino Files. Her debut middle grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, will publish in 2018. When not writing, Stacy likes to listen to NPR, bake triple-chocolate cupcakes, and eat triple-chocolate cupcakes. Originally from upstate NY, she now lives in Kernersville, NC with her 3 kids, 2 dogs, and 1 husband.

Reviews

[Cynthia Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really engaging novel for beginning readers about the grandson of a paleontologist grandmother who operates a Dinosaur Park with her husband. The grandmother's recent find draws an interested couple who are also paleontologists. They come to Wyoming to film a documentary of the recent find, yet the reader learns that each family harbors a secret they don't want the other to know. Both families each have a baby dinosaur that they are hiding. The story revolves around the grandmother's need to receive some money from the documentary to create a home for the baby dinosaur her grandson keeps as a pet, but the plan seems to fall through as one family learns the other has a real living, breathing velociraptor they keep in an RV trailer. This little book was a great read and I think children will find the book funny yet enjoyable.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

McAnulty, Stacy Too Big to Hide (The Dino Files #2), illustrated by Mike Boldt. Random House, 2016. $4.99. Content: G.

Frank and Sam are cousins staying with their paleontologist grandparents for the summer. (Well, their grandparents and their pet dinosaur, Peanut.) When a giant fossil is found on their land, a film crew shows up to make a documentary. But how can Frank and Sam hide their dinosaur from the curious film-makers? And why does it seem like the film-makers have a secret of their own?

This is a fun addition to the chapter book series. The dinosaur facts sprinkled throughout the story add to the fun, especially for paleontology-loving boys and girls.

EL (K-3) -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Grandma unearths a fossil that looks like Peanut’s horn only a lot larger Frank and Sam find it harder and harder to keep Peanut a secret. This is the second book in the Dino Files series and its first paperback edition. With its short chapter format and black and white illustrations, this book will appeal to new chapter book readers looking for a fun series to enjoy as they gain new skill in reading longer books. Book extras include a glossary of dinosaur related vocabulary, a sneak peak at book three in the series, and on the inside back cover a guide to some more series from Random House Kids. I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library. This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books for my 5 year old dinosaur obsessed son. They're cute, funny (even for grown ups, but especially for kids) and make you want your own pet dinosaur. I can't wait for more of these to come! We finished the first two books out loud in 4 days because we wanted to read them throughout the day instead of just bedtime :)

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Ezra’s book club book for December. His teacher, Mrs. Sandee, read him the first book in the series in class during their fossil study. Ezra likes the characters and wants to read it again.

In this book, some documentary filmmakers, the Starks, come to DeCow with their daughter Mary, who sees Frank’s dinosaur, Peanut. Turns out the Starks have a secret of their own...

[Lara Samuels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning chapter book for dinosaur fans.

[Spinster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first dino files book we read and it works as a standalone, if anyone is wondering.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following up on the first book in The Dino Files series, this one continues to show how hard Frank and Sam work to keep Peanut, their baby dinosaur, hidden. It's a lot of work, and even though their grandparents know about the adorable but destructive creature, others don't--and that's the way they prefer to keep it. However, when a couple and their daughter arrive to make a documentary about a new fossil Gram has found, it won't be easy to keep Peanut a secret. But as it turns out, they have a secret of their own. It's cool to have a series revolving around the family of a paleontologist, and the text and illustrations will have readers wishing they could meet a baby dinosaur too. It's going to be interesting to see how quickly Peanut grows and what will be left of the house by the time he has matured.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life is complicated when you're hiding a baby dinosaur from the world. Nine year old Frank Mudd, "future paleontologist", has hatched a baby dinosaur at his grandparents' dinosaur museum and dig in Wyoming. And now his grandmother the paleontologist has found another fossil which looks to be related to Peanut, Frank's dinosaur. A crew of filmmakers arrives to make a documentary of the new find, and it turns out the filmmakers' daughter, Mary, has her own real dinosaur. And, to make matters more complicated, Mary's dinosaur is a carnivore, not an herbivore like Peanut. The book ends on a cliff-hanger, as someone discovers Peanut, takes photos, and speeds away. Appealing illustrations and a glossary of dinosaur related terms make this a decent read for newly confident readers.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't read the first one and now can't wait to! Loved that this ended on a cliff hanger. Such a well written and well paced book for elementary school kids