The Three Triceratops Tuff

February 18, 2013
Shaskan doesn’t update the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff so much as send it into the past, “sixty-eight million years ago,” to be exact. Food is scarce for Stanley, Rufus, and Bob Tuff, but they spy some lush vegetation on the other side of a valley. The only problem: “At the bottom of the valley stood a... tyrannosaurus rex!” Shaskan draws the dino midroar, an effect he visualizes using a giant red starburst that blasts across the spread (even the tiny mosquito flying by looks scared). As in the original, each triceratops tricks the T. rex into letting him pass, with the promise that a larger, tastier morsel will be coming along. Shaskan retains the chunky, weathered style of his debut, A Dog Is a Dog, which is well suited to this story’s punchy text and colossal personalities. The climactic showdown, however, is surprisingly static; Bob Tuff takes out his opponent with a “mighty blow” from his tail, but there’s no real sense of the movement behind the action that sends the T. rex hurtling into the distance. Ages 3–7. Agent: Teresa Kietlinski, the Prospect Agency.

March 15, 2013
This version of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" will satisfy dinosaur lovers who just cannot get their fill of their favorite prehistoric beasts. "Once upon a time, sixty-eight million years ago..." lived the three Triceratops Tuff brothers: Stanley, Rufus and Bob. Food is pretty scarce, so they go out in search of something to eat. They find lots of vegetation, but it's on the other side of a valley inhabited by an intimidating T-Rex. Hungry, naive Stanley is not daunted, even when the giant carnivore approaches him and announces that dinner is served. Told about the bigger brother, the T-Rex tells Stanley to "scram, squirt!" Nervous Rufus' experience is just the same. And when the largest brother confronts the toothy monster, the always tough Bob has something in mind that doesn't involve becoming a meal. With the T-Rex taken care of, "at last, dinner was served..." for all the herbivores. Shaskan's dinos are delightfully individualized, though the T-Rex is so stylized as to possibly be unrecognizable. However his teeth and posture certainly get his message across, while his slang-y speech adds another dimension to the tale. Ferny fronds, a smoking volcano in the background and a mosquito that buzzes through most scenes complete the prehistoric package. Dino lovers will be charmed; others may want to stick with the more traditional goats, like those of Mary Finch's 2001 title. (Fractured fairy tale. 3-7)

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April 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 2-This unnecessary retelling of "Three Billy Goats Gruff" features dinosaurs in the starring roles. Three brothers, Stanley, Rufus, and Bob (he's the big one) set out to cross a valley in search of some grub. But at the bottom of the valley stands a ferocious Tyrannosaurus Rex who would rather eat them. He lets the first two pass in anticipation of a bigger dinner. Bob, of course, beats off the T. rex and dinner is served for the triceratops family and all the other friendly neighborhood dinos. The formulaic text holds no surprises and is accompanied by chunky-looking pastel dinosaurs against a stubbly pale blue, yellow, and green background. Stanley and Rufus are goofy-looking while big Bob looks like the fierce protector. T. rex is cartoon scary with all those pointy teeth, but nothing that is likely to alarm young readers. With so many other, better versions of the classic story, this one is strictly for kids who can't get enough prehistoric beasties.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

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