Super Magic Boy: I Am a Dinosaur:

by Jarod Roselló

Crash, smash, and transform! An all-new graphic novel chapter book series filled with adventure, friendship, and dinosaurs.

Hugo can do whatever he wants! He can climb a mountain! Smash a table! He can even transform into a dinosaur like his best friend, Dino. When Hugo and Dino are together, they can use their imagination to do anything...even clean up the mess afterward!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Dinosaurs, Humor, Comics, Fantasy, Adventure, Childrens

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2023

About the author

Jarod Roselló is a Cuban American writer, cartoonist, and teacher. He is the author of the award-winning middle-grade graphic novel series Red Panda & Moon Bear, and the early reader graphic novel series, Super Magic Boy, from Random House Graphic.

His debut graphic novel, The Well-Dressed Bear Will (Never) be Found, was a 2015 Honorable Mention in the Publishers Weekly Graphic Novel Critics Poll, and his chapbook, The Star, was the winner of the 2015 Epiphany Magazine chapbook contest for graphic literature.

His short comics and fiction have been published in PEN America, Hayden's Ferry Review, Sonora Review, Hobart, The Rumpus, The Collagist, and Barrelhouse. His arts-based and educational research has been published in Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, Bank Street Occasional Papers, and International Review of Qualitative Research.

Jarod holds an MFA in Creative Writing and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction, both from The Pennsylvania State University. Originally from Miami, he now lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, kids, and dogs, and is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at the University of South Florida.

Reviews

[Karm Barter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was a cute book that both me and my 8yr old enjoyed. He giggled through out the entire thing. The art work was adorable as well. I hope to read more by Rosello.

[Meg]

It is a truth universally acknowledged that I will read and cackle at anything Jarod Roselló writes/illustrates.

[Jarod Roselló · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve got a rambunctious kid at home with a big heart, then this is the book for them! Hugo might look like a regular human, but he’s actually a dinosaur! So that explains all the rampaging, roaring, and general mayhem. But when Hugo and Dino’s play gets a little out of control, Hugo will have to tap into his humanity if he wants to make it all better. Maybe Hugo is more than one thing?

This is a short graphic novel with limited text, bright colors, and expressive characters. It’s full of comedy with lots of heart, specifically around Hugo’s love for his family and caring about the feelings of others. But there’s nothing traumatic or sad! There’s a main story with a short story in the back, and some “How To Draw” activities.

This book is perfect for elementary school-aged kids who aren’t in the mood for reading 300-page books!

For fans of Dog Man, Narwhal and Jelly, and the Elephant and Piggie book series.

[tony dillard jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the creator of Red Panda and Moon Bear comes this fun new series about a young boy with magic powers and an amazing imagination!

Hugo is the Super Magic Boy. He can smash furniture. He can climb the highest mountains. And he can change into a dinosaur.

In this opening volume, Hugo meets a dinosaur and decides to see what life is like as a thunder lizard by changing into one.

As a dinosaur, Hugo finds buried treasure that is guarded by the Skeleton King. That's the moment where this series hits its sweet spot. The dinosaur, Hugo meets, aptly named Dino, is a fun character. But he's a bit too rambunctious, getting Hugo into trouble by destroying the boy's home. Skeleton King kinda balances Hugo out as in the second story, he and Hugo go on an adventure to find a new batch of cursed treasure to guard. Dinosaur is like the Cat in the Hat, lacking control of himself. Skeleton King is more like Oliver Hardy to Hugo's Stan Laurel. (If you younger folks don't know who those guys are, check out Youtube for some of their hilarious antics!)

That second story in my opinion was comedy gold as Hugo and the Skeleton King when on a search for some golden treasure. The opening story, 'I am a Dinosaur' had the same energy. Possibly too much, if you ask me. In the scene where Hugo and the Dinosaur are digging, they first come upon a water main, proclaiming the broken pipe to be a 'magic water stick.' Okay, I got a laugh at that. But as they kept digging, Dinosaur found some underground electrical lines that Hugo touches and was shocked by. I felt that the scene went a bit too far because damaged power lines are not something to play with. So hopefully, parents and guardians will be made aware of this scene and discuss electrical safety as kids like to dig in the dirt and potentially could strike an underground line.

This book also has some Magic Bonus Material which is something I love in all ages comics and graphic novels as these activities continue the fun once the story is finished but also further imagination and learning through play. Here, Jarod Rosello teaches young readers how to draw Hugo and Dino along with a creative page showing kids how to become a dinosaur like Hugo does in the book. Paper, pencil and crayons are needed for the art work. A sense of wonder is required for turning into a dinosaur.

If you have a 9-12 year old that likes the Red Panda and Moon Bear books and they have a younger sibling, then the first book in the Super Magic Boy series is sure to become a source of entertainment that they book can enjoy and bond to. Like the Red Panda and Moon Bear series, this book is available in both an English language edition and a volume en Espanol.

Worth Consuming!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super Magic Boy: I Am a Dinosaur introduces readers to Hugo and his buddy Dino. In this early graphic novel, young Hugo transforms into a dinosaur and begins a series of wild and wacky adventures with Dino, including destroying his home, digging for hidden treasure, and encountering a spooky skeleton. By the end of the story, Hugo, Dino, and the skeleton all come together to repair the damage to Hugo’s home.

Readers will love the vibrant illustrations, funny dialogue, and the over-the-top, non-stop action in this one. Roselló’s Red Panda and Moon Bear series is a favorite with our school’s middle grade readers, and I know this series will make our early grade readers into Roselló fans, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishers through NetGalley.
Mid elementary level readers will love the absurdity. Readers meet Hugo, Dino and the Skeleton King as they explore the world around Hugo's home. They even wreck his home and learn to work together to fix everything. The chapters build on each other s the characters learn to cooperate and become friends. Don't miss the bonus story without Dino. I appreciate the drawing instructions included so readers can draw the characters too. A clever way to open their imagination and create their own adventures.

[Jenna Stensland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me a serious case of the giggles! My youngest son who is 5 will adore this story. Hugo is funny and charming. His conversation with the characters is delightful and I love how imaginative this story is. It was like being in the mind of an imaginative 5 year old. So many stories seem written for the parents, this was written from a kids perspective in the best way.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this delightful book.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jarod Rosello's graphic novel focuses on Super Magic Boy who transforms himself into a dinosaur like creature to join a real dinosaur on a series of adventures. In the end a search for treasure leads Super Magic Boy to discover positive things about himself. The book ends with step-by-step directions on how to draw the two main characters. Less about dinosaurs and more about being creative and facing one's fears, young readers will enjoy the narrative and action-packed illustrations.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugo has a big imagination, which leads to some fun adventures. He has the ability to "transform" both himself and his stuffed animal dinosaur into real dinosaurs that go rampaging throughout the house and yard. There's some good vocabulary introduced. They do find a cursed skeleton in the yard, which they turn into a different game of pretend, but as an adult, I wonder about a skeleton in a yard...

[blueygurl2016 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really didn’t like this book. It was really bad to show them rampaging because that gives kids a bad idea that it’s okay to destroy things when you get mad. Also, why can he turn into a dinosaur? That was never explained. This book didn’t have a real plot either. Each chapter was just it’s own random story. And what was up with the random dinosaur? Were we in dinosaur times or modern times? And I really didn’t like the skeletons either.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super fun, early chapter graphic novel. In it, the super magic boy has the ability to transform into anything, and today it’s a dinosaur. He and his friends go on an adventure to find treasure and how to be a good human. The story is just cute and will be adored by many for years to come.

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars (It was okay)

This graphic novel is short and made for younger readers. I liked the vocabulary definitions throughout but found the actual story to be a bit too chaotic for me. I think kids will enjoy it though.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the drawing style.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Simple one shot

[Grg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun for anyone who likes destruction ! (like me)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super Magic Boy! Fun imagination! Graphic novel for newer readers.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and colorful but a little over simplistic for me. I do like that cursed skeleton king becomes a recurring character after they defeat him in chapter 2.

[Jester · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was entertaining, but that was all it was. I’m unsure what message the book was trying to give young readers, or if there was even any. There’s a boy and there’s a dinosaur; the boy then transforms into a dinosaur, and they trash the house and yard. Then a cursed skeleton is involved. It all feels like one of those YouTube Kids shorts where there is nothing of value but exists to stimulate and occupy kids.

Note: Using new rating system starting 2025.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.