School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-It's the first day of school, and Ally-or Ally-saurus as she likes to be called-wonders if there will be "other dinosaurs" in her grade? She is one of many spirited children in her class, and while Ally is obsessed with dinosaurs, each child has his or her own passion. During recess, Ally is faced with dragons, pirates, astronauts, lions, and, of course, know-it-all princesses. In the end, the school librarian is credited with expanding Ally's imagination. Torrey has captured the concerns that come with the first day of school. Beautiful black-and-white drawings highlight each child's imagination with color. Imparting the lesson that everyone has their own personality and can still be themselves and make friends, this story is worth the read. However, it may be a little long for the intended audience. VERDICT This book can easily be used in classrooms in September to relieve the anxiety that children might feel at the beginning of the school year. -Betsy Davison, Cortland Free Library, NY © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Ally has a dinosaur alter ego, Ally-saurus; Torrey gives the girl a dinosaur T-shirt, fountainlike pigtails-and a pink, crayonlike tail and spikes, which reveal the depths of her obsession and imagination. At school, Ally discovers that her classmates' interests are just as prominent: a group of "princesses" (whose yellow gowns and crowns are overlaid atop their school-day outfits) are initially unfriendly, while Ally finds like-minded friends in students who love spaceships, lions, and dragons. The children's make-believe accouterments create a fun visual effect, delivering bright pops of color against Torrey's b&w pencil drawings while simultaneously demonstrating the way children's passions loom large in their lives. Ages 3-6. Agent: Ronnie Ann Herman, Herman Agency. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
