Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0439376424 ISBN 13: 9780439376426

Casa editrice: Blue Sky Press, 2002

With over one million books in print, Ricky Ricotta and his Mighty Robot are a big hit with children! But have they finally met their match with the Jurassic Jack Rabbits from Jupiter?

It's Ricky Ricotta's birthday, and as a special treat, his parents are taking him and his Mighty Robot to see dinosaurs at the museum. Too bad they've also invited Ricky's little cousin Lucy--she's a real pest! When they get to the museum, all the dinosaurs are missing their heads . . . because an evil spacebunny from Jupiter has used the dino DNA to create Jurassic Jack Rabbits! Now it's up to the entire Ricotta family, including Lucy, to stop them from taking over the planet. With their easy-to-read language and action-packed pictures, the Ricky Ricotta books are ideal for beginning readers.

Review:

Dav Pilkey hits the halfway mark in this cheerfully ridiculous, easy-reader series that spans the solar system, as Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot takes on the Jurassic Jackrabbits from Jupiter.

Little Ricky (a smart young mouse, for those of you just joining us) is having a birthday, and that's cause for some serious robotic celebration. The family--along with cousin Lucy ("a little PEST!")--piles on top of the Mighty Robot for a trip to see dino skeletons at the local museum. Unfortunately, General Jackrabbit, evil ruler of Jupiter's "billions of carrot-loving jackrabbits" (the carrots make the planet orange, you see), has other plans for our heroes. He's hoping to take over Earth, but he knows that first he's got to take down Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot. And how better to accomplish that than using the museum's dino skeletons, some of the General's own DNA, and a Meany Machiney to create three big, mean Jurassic Jackrabbits?

There's no doubt that Pilkey can be much funnier when he has more words to work with--witness any of the Captain Underpants books (and Ricky Ricotta is no George or Harold)--but this series at least gives younger readers something fun to do while working on their reading chops. And, of course, you don't have to read a single word to thoroughly enjoy Flip-o-Rama, Pilkey's "world-famous cheesy animation technique," which lets readers flip pages back and forth to animate the action. (Also includes step-by-step drawing tips from equally fun-loving illustrator Martin Ontiveros.) (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

About the Author:

Dav Pilkey has written and illustrated numerous popular, award-winning books for children, including the Captain Underpants and Dumb Bunnies series; DOG BREATH, winner of the California Young Reader Medal; and THE PAPERBOY, a Caldecott Honor Book. He lives with his wife in the Pacific Northwest. Visit him online at www.pilkey.com.