Dear Tyrannosaurus Rex Read online

  Text copyright © 2010 by Lisa McClatchy

  Illustrations copyright © 2010 by John Manders

  All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  McClatchy, Lisa.

  Dear Tyrannosaurus Rex / by Lisa McClatchy ; illustrations by John Manders.

  p. cm.

  Summary: Enamored of dinosaurs, Erin writes a letter inviting a real one to her sixth birthday party.

  ISBN 978-0375-85608-2 (trade)

  ISBN 978-0375-95608-9 (lib. bdg.)

  ISBN 978-0-307-97842-4 (ebook)

  [1. Tyrannosaurus rex—Fiction. 2. Dinosaurs—Fiction. 3. Parties—Fiction. 4. Birthdays—Fiction.]

  I. Manders, John, ill. II. Title.

  PZ7.M47841375De 2010

  [E]—dc22 2009005038

  Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.

  v3.1

  For Eirann Grace,

  T. Rex’s original pen pal

  —L.M.

  For Angelina

  —J.M.

  Content

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  First Page

  About the Author

  As her sixth birthday drew near, Erin decided that it was high time to invite a REAL dinosaur to her birthday party. So she pulled out a piece of paper and her favorite dinosaur pen and began.…

  Dear Tyrannosaurus Rex,

  I am turning 6 in two weeks. Please come to my birthday party! I know your museum is far, far away, but it would mean the world to me if you could make it!

  I have enclosed a map to my house so you won’t get lost.

  When you get to my street, there will be big red balloons and signs to show you the way.

  If you come to my party, my family and friends will greet you on the front porch.

  (Don’t let Violet scare you! She just has a really big bark!)

  If you come to my party, we’ll set up a big tent in the backyard—in case it rains. Remember to duck!

  There will be lots of party favors.…

  We’ll have dinosaur hats

  and dinosaur horns

  and toys that look just like you!

  If you come to my party, we’ll play pirates on my play set! Your tail will make a great slide!

  If you come to my party, we’ll play pin the tail on the dinosaur…

  and hide-and-seek…

  and TWISTER,

  your favorite!

  If you come to my party, we’ll teach you duck, duck, goose and musical chairs!

  If you come to my party, we’ll do the hokey-pokey and turn ourselves around … and we’ll jump on the trampoline.

  If you come to my party, we’ll order pepperoni pizzas, since I know you are a meat-eater. I guess we’ll need a lot of them!

  If you come to my party, I’ll let you take the first whack at the piñata!!

  If you come to my party, my mom will bake an extra-large birthday cake! You can help me blow out the candles.

  If you come to my party, you can help me open my presents!

  If you come to my party, we’ll have pony rides! Or maybe we could ride on your back instead?

  If you come to my party, you’ll get a goody bag for your trip home! If there are any left over, you can take them back to your friends.

  If you come to my party, I’ll be the happiest girl in the world.

  Please come to my party.

  Love,

  Erin

  Lisa McClatchy has loved parties, books, and dinosaurs since she was a little girl. Now she has a daughter who is keeping up the tradition! Lisa has written a number of easy-to-read books for children. She is also a freelance coordinator of school visits by children’s book authors. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Kevin, and their daughter, Eirann Grace. Lisa enjoys writing on her deck but always keeps an ear out for any loud noises or suspicious shadows; dinosaurs have been known to visit.

  John Manders has illustrated numerous children’s books, including Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies by Carolyn Crimi and Clarence the Copy Cat by Patricia Lakin. John never had any sort of dinosaur attend his birthday parties, although an invisible cow named Jungle used to hang around a lot during his formative years. John lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

 

  Lisa McClatchy, Dear Tyrannosaurus Rex

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