Dinotrux

Starred review from May 11, 2009
Combine dinosaurs and trucks and what do you get? In Gall's (There's Nothing to Do on Mars
) case, a passel of grateful readers, especially those of the young male variety. With comically overheated narration and typography (think History Channel meets Ripley's Believe It or Not!), fire-roasted settings and hilariously imagined creatures that suggest the offspring of R. Crumb creations and the Transformers, Gall posits that today's trucks are really the descendants of hulking truck-dinosaur hybrids that “ruled the world” and struck fear into the hearts of cave people. Among the species: the fire truck–like Firesaurus (“SO hot tempered, he snacked on raw lava!”) and Rollodon (“he NEVER watches where he's going”), who leaves a trail of flattened reptiles in his wake (to the delight of a caveman who snacks on one, declaring it “Delicious!”). While a “flash of light and a terrible storm” wiped out many of these terrifying creatures, the survivors evolved to become the handy vehicles we all know. And now, thanks to Gall, there are even more reasons to love them. Ages 3–6.