How to Tame a Triceratops, written and illustrated by Will Dare, is the first book in a ferocious new chapter book series. I say this a lot, but it is difficult to find an engaging and original chapter book series. There are a few good ones out there, but more often than not, the chapter book field leaves something to be desired. Then comes this new series and I am completely captivated!

Dinosaurs, a race through the desert, and a wild west theme. What more could a reader ask for?

Dinosaur stories are always fun and this one is sure to be a hit with both young readers and their parents. Josh is a likeable character and he lives an exciting life as he wrangles dinosaurs. There’s a nice combination of crazy dinosaur-roping antics and typical kid stuff, with school and friends.

The pacing is well done and allows for a decent story arc while still keeping the book length short and not sacrificing character development or plot. This is a story adults will enjoy reading with children and they won’t be bored with simple sentences or a dull plot. As a bonus, there are great illustrations sprinkled throughout as well as dinosaur facts.

Highly recommended for children ages 7 and up.

Such a cute book! My kids loved it and it was a fun twist on a traditional western kids story.

A wonderful adventure if your little person enjoys dinosaurs! I enjoyed the flow of the story and the characters were likable. A great read!

This is such a cute little book. It's perfect for those kids that are just graduating from the early readers and starting to tackle bigger books on their own. It is the Wild West with dinosaurs, and my 1st grader really got a kick out of it. For the most part he prefers non-fiction "animal" books with lots of photos. This book had enough facts in it that he enjoyed it even though it is fiction.

The illustrations are nicely done and very cartoony. His favorite drawings were the ones on "notebook paper" that had facts on them, though he did mention that he wished there were more pictures and more facts. I think "more pictures" is a common complaint of kids in this age range.

How to Tame a Triceratops is the first book in the Dino Riders series, and I am positive we will be checking the other books out as well.

As a teacher, and with my knowledge of my students and those who love anything Dinosaur, this will be a book I recommend to the parents for them to read together. Especially when it is a student who refuses to read at home. Won't do anything beyond what he/she does in school. This has to be, HANDS DOWN, the funniest children's book I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It was a short read, about a 45 - 60 minute reading time for me. The illustrations and 'notebook' pages that Josh has drawn during class had me giggling while waiting for a school board meeting to start. I can tell you one thing, I learned how to train a Triceratops! I think my students will love this book. I am going to have to pick up several copies of it for my classroom. Let me leave you with this parting note....If I could give this book 10 stars, I would in a heartbeat.

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.

The Wild West has never been so intriguing as it is in Will Dare’s alternative universe where horses are replaced by dinosaurs and Wild Bill Hickok is replaced by Terrodactyl Bill.

Terrodactyl Bill is the ultimate hero to young Josh Sanders, who aches to be just like him. Unfortunately, Josh’s family is far more down-to-earth and Josh is stuck with Plodder, his aged dinosaur that gets him from home to school, but in no great hurry.

When an inaugural Settlement Race is announced, Josh sees a chance to prove his worth against school bullies, family and in the eyes of his hero who will present the winner’s award. Plodder is not up to a race but when Josh’s family asks him to take some Iguanodon livestock to market, a chance encounter lets him swap them for an untamed Triceratops. Josh suddenly has his work cut out for himself, not just to win the race but to tame the beast he has to ride.

How to Tame a Triceratops is a highly enjoyable romp with author Will Dare capturing the spirit of America’s wild, wild west despite the alternative universe. He populates young Josh’s adventure with some facts about dinosaurs and pioneer life, with a sprinkling of fairy tale, ala Jack and the Beanstalk.

The title is a misnomer because the bulk of the story has very little to do with taming the Triceratops. Nonetheless, the text is fun, offering a Boy’s Own Adventure for ages seven and up. It’s a story of adventure, dreams, determination and friendship – both with the animals and Josh’s best friends, Sam and Abi.

Will Dare writes simply and clearly. He knows his target audience, and writes in a way that won’t bore adults and will thrill the children. The book is just over a hundred pages long, which can easily be read in one sitting or over a couple of bedtime stories.

I dare say this is a book that kids will want read to them time and time again.

Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet

Rating out of 10: 8

A cute but ultimately forgettable early chapter book. I think I'd have liked it better if the problem solving had been more of the focus. I wanted to see the protagonist trying different things to tame his racer, narrowing down what helped and what didn't. He comes upon his solution rather haphazardly. It was an okay book and will likely appeal to young dinosaur fans but would not be my first choice.

This series will ideally appeal to the early chapter book crowd, those just advanced enough to venture beyond leveled readers, but still in that general interest level. The story is of a wild west environment populated with dinosaurs, so it is certainly far-fetched on the face of it, but the story really revolves around a child attempting to prove that they are capable of more than they given credit for, a common theme among books for the younger elementary grade audience. The setting, Lost Plains, has an understandably campy feel, and there is a fairly typical bully for the hero to contend with, but the plot moves along at a brisk pace and is well presented for its intended audience. This would be a nice addition to the section of the library that bridges early readers and middle grade fiction novels.

My kids and I read this book together. They are 3, 5, and 9 and they all enjoyed it in their own way. Good read! thank you for allowing us to try it.