T. Rex and the Mother's Day Hug

by Lois G. Grambling, Jack E. Davis (Illustrator)

It’s Mother’s Day, and T. Rex wants to do something really special for his mama. No more boring chocolates or fern-decorated living rooms or completely wallpapered dining rooms for Mama Rex this year! This time, T. Rex has the perfect gift idea that he knows Mama Rex is going to love SOOO much. With the help of his friends, T. Rex is going to turn Mama’s plain old car into the fancy, tricked-out Rex-Mobile! Won't Mama be surprised... In this sweet, funny story, Lois Grambling and Jack Davis show us that sometimes a hug is the best gift of all. This is a fun picture book for you and your little dinosaur to share, celebrating moms on Mother's Day and every day! "This fun read-aloud will tickle young children as they prepare for Mother's Day themselves."— School Library Journal  "Gentle good humor and kindliness rolls through these pages with toothy grins for all."— Kirkus

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dinosaurs, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 11, 2008

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau]

All T. Rex mom wants for Mother's Day is a hug! Great lesson for all little dinosaurs. Sometimes I think it is easier for small children to connect with their feelings through animals; when I was part of a reading program at a grade school I found that children were very eager to tell you how animal characters in books 'felt' - which I suspect is really how they really feel.

[Veronica]

My five year old son Sammy (who can read very well) actually picked this book out and I thought I would take a quick look.
It is so gosh darn cute!
The little T. Rex tries to think of how to show his mother that he loves her for Mother's Day and doesn't understand her little hint that the best gift is a hug. Instead, this little guy tries to impress his mother but creates absolute havoc with his gifts. His latest "gift" is hilarious and mortifying.
Thankfully, mama rex can see the love behind the gesture and little T. Rex finally understands that the best gift any child can give his/her mom IS a hug for Mother's Day.
I really connected with this book because my little Sammy is very curious and does create havoc all the time. I also completely agree (and always tell my kids) that the best gift they can give me is a hug and I love you. Definitely see if you can find this one to read to your little one for Mother's Day.

[Sai Brahadammba]

This book is about a little dinosaur, T.Rex, who wants to do more than giving a hug to his mom, which is the only thing his mom expects on a Mother's day. On every Mother's day, he has been messing up things with the help of his friends to his mother happy.... like decorating the living room with ferns, muddy footprints and murky puddles; Doing wallpaper over the windows of the dining room and over his Great Aunt too, turning the room dark; Finally messing his mom's car by painting and pasting ferns everywhere on it. However, his mom hugs him.

This book is appreciated to highlight the unconditional affection of a mother-son. However, it may influence kids to think that they can mess things to make their mother happy. One need to think twice before reading it to a child, depending on the mom's confidence on him/her.

[Christine Grant]

Mother's Day Story Time. T. Rex wants to DO something for his mother for Mother's Day. Every year he tries to DO something special, but it always end up a mess. This year is no different. When will he learn that all his mama wants is a hug?

[Asha McKay]

I enjoyed the concept of this book, having to do something for a special day vs just acknowledging it and being themselves. However, my 4 year old came away with the idea that painting mommy’s car may be an okay idea 🙄.

[Lucca]

This was a super cute book for Mother’s Day! A fun one to do with voices.

[Katie]

"Doing" something for a Mother's Day present, instead of buying something, is a great idea. Except when it comes to T. Rex.
Poor Mama.

[James]

Mother is nervous about what T. Rex wants to DO for Mother's Day.

[Hanna Gonzalez]

Sweet silly story

[Kylee Myers]

This sweet mother’s day story is about a little boy t-rex who wants to do something sweet for his mom for mother’s day. When he woke up mothers day morning, he told his mother he wanted to do something for her for mother’s day. She told him that she just wanted a hug, but he wanted to do more. He has memories of doing things for his mother that upset her so he was having trouble deciding what to do. He decided to decorate her car so she would be able to find it in the parking lot at the mall! When his mother saw it, she smiled and hugged him. She told him that the best part of mother’s day was the mother’s day hug!

This is a great book to use when teaching about voice. I think that most students would agree that there is a voice to this book. Its almost like t-rex was reading it to me in my head. This story is one that I think will encourage students to try to implement voice into their own writing.

[Hthr]

This is a cute story about a well-intentioned little dinosaur, T. Rex, and how he tries to plan an extra-special Mother's Day surprise. He asks his mother what she'd like, and she repeatedly tells him that a hug is enough, but T. Rex has other ideas. As the story progresses, we learn about his past attempts at making his own gifts for his mother, and how this year, he's determined to do it better than ever.

My five-year-old loved this story, and although there's not much of a moral to it, it was fun to read to and with her. We'd borrow this book - and the other T. Rex stories by Lois G. Grambling - again.

[Jennie]

T. Rex wants to “do” something special for his mother on Mother’s Day. He remembers all the special things that he thought has made mother happy, but really made her a little upset. Eventually he decides to decorate her car. Mama is surprised, not happy, but the hug she gets from T. Rex makes it all worth it. gr. K-4.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt]

The next installment in the T-Rex series by Lois G. Grambling. Little T-Rex wants to do something special for his mother for Mother's Day, but his idea of special means trouble for Mama Rex. But, when he gives his mom a good Mother's Day hug, she is very happy.

The illustrated cartoons of the dinosaurs fill the page and there are plenty of slimy details with lots of bugs.

[Emma]

For Mother's Day, T.Rex doesn't like to buy his mother his present, he likes to *do* things for his mother...Like wallpaper the kitchen and cover up Aunt Bertha in the process. What will T.Rex do for his mother this year?

[Tam]

My 5-year-old didn't really like this book. He laughed at some parts but didn't want to read it again and couldn't understand why T Rex would do something so naughty to the car (because we're always telling our children to stay away from ours).

[Tricia]

t rex trashes his mom's car for mother's day and then gives her a hug to make it better. lame-o.

[Dest]

This is a cute book about a well-meaning son who wrecks his mother's dining room, car, etc. in an attempt to do something nice for her. Great for storytime because parents will appreciate the jokes.

[SARAH]

After several disastrous, but well intentioned mothers day gift fiascos...what will little T Rex give to mom this year...when a hug will make her happy. Cute.

[Jenn Swanson]

This book was enjoyable and my daughter enjoyed it alot too! Would definitely recommend.