Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake

Secrets of a Lab Rat #2

by Trudi Trueit, Jim Paillot (Illustrator)

In the all-new hardcover Mom, There’s A Dinosaur in Beeson’s Lake , fourth grader Scab McNally is convinced he glimpsed some kind of swamp creature while fishing on Beeson’s Lake, but his mom won’t let him find proof until he passes a swimming class. Scab is NOT ready for the deep end of the pool, so it’s back to his top-secret lab to diagram some special schemes and plans for the occasion.

Genres: Childrens, Humor, Chapter Books, Juvenile, Fiction

145 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Trudi Trueit writes the kind of books she loves to read; stories packed with adventure, mystery, friendship, and hope; stories that reminds us to forge our own path and be our own hero! She's published more than 100 fiction and nonfiction titles for kids, including the award-winning EXPLORER ACADEMY series (National Geographic), which was chosen as an Amazon Prime Book Box selection and named one of Barnes and Noble Best Books of the Year for Young Readers. Look for her NEW EXPLORER ACADEMY spinoff series: VELA!

Born and raised in Seattle, WA she lives in the Northwest with her husband and three cats. P.S.: Trudi Trueit IS her real name (by marriage). Visit her website at www.truditrueit.com.

Visit her website at www.truditrueit.

Reviews

[Meghan Nels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very funny! Scab always seems to have ridiculous ideas and always gets caught. His perfect twin sister helps his ideas to seem even more far-fetched and humorous. I think students in grades 2 & 3 will enjoy reading this shorter chapter book.

[Callee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok so this was a book on CD that I got for my kids to listen to in the car. I thought that my 4 year old (who is obsessed with dinosaurs) would love it. Wrong. This story is about a 10 year old boy that hates swimming and likes to go fishing with his friends on Saturdays. They think it's so funny to talk about farting and stuff like that - lame! Oh, yeah and the part about the dinosaur? I think that it mentioned a dinosaur in a chapter in the middle and in the last chapter. Double lame! It's more just about this kid complaining about his super smart sister, fear of swimming in the deap end, farting, and maybe 10 seconds worth of dinosaur sighting. (What is ends up being in the end, I'm not sure how the kids could have mistaken it for a dino). I'm sure that a 10 year old boy would think that this boy was hillarious and there isn't anything bad that happens, but I just wouldn't want my boy acting like the kid in the story.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book. Scab is dying to go on a fishing trip with his uncle over the summer. His parents insist he take a swim class. The problem is he will be required to swim in the deep end of the pool. This is something that absolutely terrifies him. Deep water, diving, enchiladas are just a few things on his list of things he is afraid of. When he and his friends go fishing, and the big one snaps his pole, he is sure he has seen a dinosaur in the Lake. When his friends see the same thing they decide they must prove this. But, how do you prove something like this when you are grounded? This is a book that I think many kids will like because of the humor.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chapter book series with a lot of boy appeal. Contains some burping/farting, nose picking, and other gross boy-ness. In addition to the illustrations, frequent asides and insets are set off in boxes throughout the story, and elaborate on some of Scab's ideas and schemes.

Scab seemed selfish and somewhat mean-spirited in the first book, especially towards his tattletale twin sister, but that has been toned down in this second book. This one is truly laugh-out-loud funny and is the best book of the three in this series so far. Although I do wonder how anyone, even a kid, can confuse a car with a loch-ness-type sea monster.

[Megan Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very adorable, fun read. It’s perfect for reading aloud to a child because they have a lot to keep them occupied, like the cute illustrations and the even more adorable “Scab Tips.” Trueit sneaks in some actual teaching through out the book that’s so incognito your kid won’t know their learning while they get engrossed in Scab’s adventure. Five stars for the wonderful layout, awesome story and great illustrations.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silver Knight, 2012 (grade 3 list)
When the main conflict is getting up the courage to swim in the deep end of the pool, it's hard to imagine there will be enough action to pull us through the plot. However, in this transitional reader, there are plenty of funny scenes, text boxes with quirky third grade observations about life, and a main character with lots of spunk. It adds up to a fun read although the title is misleading...the dinosaur is not a big part of things.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book for new readers and I think young boys would relate very well to the main character. However, it did not have a complete finish to the storyline. Maybe a new reader would miss that or maybe it will be tackled in the next book of the series. I guess I will have to read on. THis book was recieved through first reads.

[Uflchildrens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining of a boy who often gets into trouble and who thinks that he nearly hooks a dinosaur while out fishing with his dog and two friends. I think this book would appeal mostly to boys who appreciate an occasional fart joke. On the borderline between first chapter books and older kid books. --Rachel V.
J/Trueit

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, kid-friendly story about facing your fears - but with lots of hilarious avoidance tactics employed by the main character, Scab (who is afraid of deep water). Some math and science facts are sprinkled in, and Scab considers himself an inventor, which will go over well with the Big Hero 6 crowd. Recommended for kids who like Phineas L. Macguire by Dowell.

[Jnase1 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to follow the storyline...maybe it was all the extra text features that Scab uses to share "facts" within the story that confused me. SKids may not realize that some of the "facts" are not true. That bothered me. But early elementary kids would probably enjoy the boy humor that has been in all 3 books. For me, it was just "eh".

[Joenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

When ten-year-old "Scab" McNally takes swimming lessons, he is afraid he will be forced to reveal his secret fear of deep water.

I absolutely love this series! I am seriously laughing out loud when I read these.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a mildly entertaining of a boy who often gets into trouble and who thinks that he nearly hooks a dinosaur while out fishing with his dog and two friends. I think this book would appeal mostly to boys who appreciate an occasional fart joke.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scab, funny and impulsive, likes to share his lists and knowledge of this and that of life! The story takes a few side trips, which fits perfectly with Scab's personality. Fun ending satisfies. Cartoonish B & W line drawings will attract readers.

[Kaulin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd-4th grades Fourth grade inventor Scag McNally is in deep water (whixh by the way, happens to be the one thing he is deathly afraid of).

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

we're reading the print version of this book. really cute so far.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blah.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent middle grade boy book

[Ishaan Saha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very awesome and I Can't wait to get the next book.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing story with a cute ending.

[Carterkempgmail.Com · Rating 2 out of 5]

This easy reader was fine, a little more scatological humor than I needed but a lot less than the Andy Griffiths stuff. This might be pretty popular with 2nd grade boys.

[Tammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually snorted and laughed out loud. Couldn't put it down.