Romeosaurus and Juliet Rex

When Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers become dinosaurs, "both alike in lizardness," it's good-bye principles of tragedy, hello nonstop jokes. Instead of Montagues and Capulets, Romeo is an herbivore stegosaurus, the sort of dino that Juliet Rex's carnivorous family eats for dinner. The two instantly connect at a party, despite the fact that Romeosaurus must liberate his aunt from the buffet table, where she's the main dish. A balcony scene ensues--although, as Juliet helpfully points out, "There's a stone ramp over there"--and after a misunderstanding at the tar pits, the families agree to put aside their differences. O'Hara (the My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series) and Joyner (The Pink Hat) know their audience well: in this version, the relationship remains strictly platonic ("They giggled, they talked, they played"), and the irreverence is such that even readers whose cultural literacy doesn't yet include the Bard will feel in on the spoof. Dinosaurs dressed in medieval garb are as funny as they sound, but the cartooning never takes potshots at its improbable characters. Juliet may be a huge green tyrannosaur, but she's also figuratively fierce in her puffy dress. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Gemma Cooper, the Bent Agency. Illustrator's agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions. (Dec.)

PreS-Gr 2-In this prehistoric twist on a Shakespeare classic, Romeo is a herbivore and Juliet is a meat eater. Just like in the source material, they meet at a ball and realize that they are indeed star-crossed lovers, this time not because of a family feud, but because of their meal choices. Knowing that they can never be accepted by the other's family (dinner parties would be an absolute disaster) the pair decides to run off together. Though there is slight nod to the original fate of the main characters (the couple's hats are found floating in the tar pits) the resolution to this version is much less macabre. The families realize that they can't be kept apart and decide to accept the pairing. The final scene shows a happy gathering of herbivores and carnivores mingling together, with a familiar looking Bardasaurus at the head of the table and a very dangerous comet in the sky. The illustrations are humorous and very detailed; the endpapers showing the family portraits are delightful. VERDICT An original and entertaining fractured version of a classic tale.--Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh