When her teacher asks her what she wants to be when she grows up, Sal gives the obvious answer: a T. Rex! She discusses the benefits of such a state of being - getting to roar all the time, eat whatever you like, and so on - but when her strenuous efforts actually turn her into a dinosaur, she discovers that there are downsides as well. Chief amongst them are the hurt feelings of her friends and family. Fortunately, she finds a way to be a human/dinosaur hybrid, knowing how and when to stand up for herself, but also careful not to consume the humans around her. She even shares the secret with her soccer teammates. But will she share it with her annoying elder brother...?

In the normal course of events, How to Be a T. Rex is not a book I would pick up. Mike Lowery's artwork doesn't particularly speak to me, at first glance, and the premise of Ryan North's story isn't one I find especially appealing. That said, I'm on a project to read the entire picture-book section at work, something that has proven very useful, in highlighting my own selection bias in these matters. I've greatly broadened my knowledge of the form, and discovered some amusing books that I would otherwise have missed. This is one of them! I enjoyed the story here quite a bit, and appreciated the balance that Ryan North worked into his story, between Sal's desire for greater freedom to do what she wants, and her knowledge that it is important to respect others and be considerate of their needs and wants. The artwork, although still not to my taste, is well-suited to the humorous text, and communicates what it needs to. All in all, a solidly engaging and amusing picture-book, one I would recommend to young dinosaur-lovers in particular. ( )

Sal wants to be a T. Rex when she grows up because they are awesome (obviously). She begins to pretend to be a T. Rex but soon realizes some of the negative behaviors of a dinosaur are hurting her friends and family. But perhaps a dinosaur-human hybrid will give her the best of both worlds.

There were a lot of things I liked about this book. It's humorous; it showcases how negative behaviors impact others and then goes on showcase positive behaviors; it features a child of color with everyday concerns; the comics-inspired style is eye-catching and full of energy; and the story highlights a typical sibling relationship (sometimes good-sometimes bad). On the flip side, Sal's voice was sometimes perhaps a smidge too snarky and the book is just a little bit too long to work as a storytime title. However, I could see elementary school-aged children really enjoying this book. ( )

Have you ever felt like being human just isn’t good enough? Humans are weak and kinda boring. On the other hand, Tyrannosaurus Rexes are strong and can do whatever they want. Clearly, that means it’s better to be a T. Rex, and Sal is here to teach you how.
Ryan North’s writing style is always funny and sweet. Sal is a character that I instantly loved, and not just because she has the best shoes ever. Lowery’s artwork brings the story to life and adds an extra layer of humor and humanity to the story. I highly recommend this book for young kids, whether they want to be dinosaurs or not. Obviously, as an adult, I totally enjoyed it too, so really, it’s good for all ages. ( )