Good lesson for kids. Lessons about kids seeing an issue and working together to find a resolution. Teaches kids to care for their surroundings. Encouragement from thei teachers and adults is very important for kids to learn. Fun read with kids. Great pictures! Would recommend!

Brigandi’s Spring into Action is all about working together and taking care of the environment. Mrs Brink’s class us going to be cleaning a yard on Baker St for Clean Up Day, turning it into a garden for others to enjoy. Everyone seems excited. Everyone but Max. The little blue triceratops has a fear of bugs. The next day, he shows up wearing his 'bug suit’. (It looks like a beekeeper's outfit) Each of his friends tried to get him to come help, but there were always bugs. Finally, Max sees a bunny who looks scared if all the people in the lot. He decides to make sure the bunny has a safe place to hide when visitors come.

This is a cute story about accepting the limitations of others and not ridiculing them for it. Max’s friends never bully him because he is terrified of bugs. They are protective of him, and in the end he gets to help his own way. These are lessons children need to be getting because let's face it… more often than not kids are right assholes to one another. My cubs and I loved the artwork too. And, bonus Dinosaurs!!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Mrs. Gronk is rallying her young students to form a cleaning brigade and then lead them in an attack to transform Baker Street yard. It is a littered vacant lot that is an eyesore to the whole community so she is encouraging her students to become part of the Clean Up Day that their town is promoting. The class will work hard and not only clean up the rubble but transform the space into a beautiful garden for the whole town to enjoy.

All the kids are stoked to take up the challenge except Max. They come to school Friday bringing shovels, pails, plants and seeds, watering cans, and a wonderful positive... yes we can... attitude. They are ready to dig in. Max hesitantly shows up wearing a funny suit, his bug suit, because Max is afraid of bugs. Kayla, his friend, assures him that they will take care of him.

The kids work tirelessly all day carrying away the garbage and refuse. Each time Max freaks out when he encounters a worm, a grasshopper, a ladybug, and even a butterfly someone is there to shepherd him and to lessen his anxiety when he is afraid. What great compassionate friends he has! Will Max finally let down his guard and help the rest of the group create a beautiful Spring garden that will bring happiness to all the town's residents?

This message is a wonderful one of caring, teamwork, friendship, no judging, and a lovely environmental mission: transforming a cluttered ugly space into something beautiful that they all can claim ownership to. The students will feel proud of all their hard work and the stunning results that will bring joy to many people in the years to come.

The illustrations are vibrant, colourful and very expressive. This would be a perfect book to share with a group on Earth Day.

One thing I like most about Dinosaur Pals titles is the use of bright color and fun images that have high appeal for toddler and young children. This title was no exception. We enjoyed the focus on beautifying a community space as the pals cleaned up the park and created a garden for all to enjoy. While this isn't a must have, it's a great title to add to your collection. It would provide opportunity to talk about the healthy aspects of time spent outdoors, the responsibility of caring for a garden and the benefits of the plants.

The Dinosaur Pals are back and ready to help clean up the neighbourhood. When their teacher tells them they are going to clean up a messy lot and turn it into a garden, Max is worried. He does not like bugs. Some of the other dino pals are skeptical, but they set out to complete the challenge. Max shows up all covered up and still hesitant about participating. I liked that no body made fun of him because of his fears. They just encouraged him to find his comfort level. Once again, the illustrations are extremely colourful, vivid and show lots of emotion. A great read aloud for a kindergarten or primary class to discuss fears as well as before going out to do a neighbourhood clean up. If you have a child who loves dinosaurs, they will enjoy this series.

#NetGalley     #SpringIntoAction
Available April 2018

The teacher tells her class that on Friday they will be helping by cleaning up Baker Street yard and making a garden for everyone to enjoy. Everyone is excited but Max. And Max isn't happy cleaning anywhere that there might be bugs. So on Friday, he shows up to class wearing a funny outfit, one that he calls his bug suit. But will he overcome his fear of bugs? Will he find another chore that takes his mind off of bugs? What will happen to dinosaur Max?

Cons:  I have to admit this book and I didn’t get along too well. I’m not sure how Kayla dinosaur “smiles” many of her lines? And I felt like the book didn’t resolve much about a fear of bugs (although Max finds something to keep him busy and helps a bit). Then the last page ended quite abruptly.

Pros: I liked the concept of cleaning an empty lot and making a community garden.

Spring Into Action by Pat Brigandi
Illustrated by: Maine Diaz
Series: Dinosaur Pals
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group - Seagrass Press
ISBN: 9781633224605
Publish Date: April 3, 2018

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Seagrass Press for the ebook ARC of Spring into Action by Pat Brigandi and illustrated by Maine Diaz.

The Dinosaur Pals are back in a new classroom adventure that takes place outdoors.
Kayla is a nature loving stegosaurus who passes a lot of garbage everyday. She wishes that she can make it into a beautiful spot full of flowers, vegetables and trees.
With the help of the teacher, Mrs. Gronk, the friends, Kayla, Max, Kev Addy help plant a beautiful garden together.

I give this book a rating of 5 stars. I read it with my youngest daughter, who is 4. She really enjoyed the book and thought it was cute. It was very bright and colourful.

#SpringIntoAction #NetGalley

I have really been enjoying this series. The books are bright and colorful and focus on a lesson. In this book Max does not like bugs but his class will be cleaning up the park, and there are sure t0 be all kinds of bugs. But maybe a little bunny rabbit can help convince Max that the outside and even bugs are okay.

I would rate this 3.5. Most kids love dinosaurs and I like how this one teaching kids to not be afraid of bugs and to help keep community spaces clean. Overall it was cute.
I received an Arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun book about helping the community and clearing up rubbish from a nature site. There is one little one though that is scared of dirt and doesn't want to help, the story doesn't really resolved this or deal with it but it has a nice ending - 3 stars

Good:
Things that I enjoyed about this book:

Dinosaurs
Vibrant artwork
Easy to follow text
Repetition with text
Cleaning up litter
Creating a classroom garden

One student named Max is not happy about his teachers plans about the garden. He is afraid of bugs so he arrives in a bug suit. One student giggles at seeing him in this bug suit. He explains that he's afraid of bugs so he's wearing it to protect himself.

What I love is that they reply with, "Don't worry, Max. We'll take care of you."

They do their best to protect him from the bugs. He struggles with working on cleaning up the yard because of the bugs. The other students remind him that the bugs won't hurt him and shoo away the bugs for him.

He does end up contributing in his own way with creating a home for a rabbit. He becomes the rabbits protector and creates a space for him in the garden. Max wears his bug suit throughout the story even at the end.

Max wasn't instantly cured from his fear of bugs. His classmates accepted him for who he was. They all participated in the garden in their own way. Loved it.

Bad:
The only thing I can thing of as a negative is the brightness of the artwork. It could possibly be an issue with over-stimulation and too bright for a student to focus on. But I doubt that will be a big enough issue or an issue in this age group as most stories are read as a whole group.

Definitely recommend this book :)