The Meat Eaters Arrive

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Fern-eating dinosaurs living on a suburban street suddenly have some new
neighbors; seven Tyrannosaurus Rexes who put a new spin on Guess Who’s
Coming to Dinner. The herbivores go into hiding until an invitation
drops through the mail slot requesting their presence at a barbecue. For
some reason (no one explains why), the Brontos decide to show up. To
their relief, they see someone else’s steak on the barbecue and Mrs.
Rex whipping up a salad for the guests. The Brontos discover that even
though the Rexes’ dietary preferences are different, they are still
good neighbors. The Rex and Bronto children play video games in the rec
room while the parents sit outside and talk about the weather.

In texture this book seems borrowed almost directly from the Dinosaurs
television show. With a little more imagination, it might have been
cute. Instead, it is painfully predictable and begs a question my
4-year-old asked: “So whose steak was that on the barbecue?” Has
anyone seen the Mailasaur lately? Some very competent artwork is let
down by a flat story line. This book belongs on the “Not another
dinosaur book” shelf. Not a first-choice purchase.