Bolivar

Bolivar lives a quiet life in New York City—visiting museums and bookstores, eating corned beef sandwiches, and largely keeping to himself. In such a fast-moving town, no one even notices that Bolivar is a dinosaur: “So long as Bolivar paid his rent (he did) and stayed quiet after 10 o’clock at night (he did that too), no one ever bothered him.” Sybil, a girl next door, is the exception, but her efforts to tell her mother, teachers, and city officials about the dinosaur in their midst go unheard or dismissed, making her all the more determined to prove he exists. Debut author-illustrator Rubin spins a delightful tale that captures the childhood frustration of not being taken seriously by adults, as well as an amusing exploration of curiosity and friendship. The intricate details of the carefully crosshatched artwork and gorgeous panoramic scenes of street life give readers a great many things to discover in each panel. It’s an irreverent but loving tribute to a city whose residents have seen it all but sometimes miss what’s right in front of them, too. Ages 8–up. (Nov.)