Tommysaurus Rex

Author: Doug TenNapel

First line: Good coffee, babe.

Why you should read this book: Ely is the ultimate outsider, a little boy whose only friend is a disobedient dog who gets run over by a car on page 12. Sent to his grandfather's farm to recuperate from his loss, Ely discovers and befriends a real live Tyrannosaurus Rex. In his efforts to teach the community to love and accept his new pet as he does, Ely must develop self-confidence and self-respect, as well as learn to see things from other people's point of views.

Why you should read this book: You're one of those people who get so irritated by an unrealistic depiction of humans and dinosaurs in the same picture that you'll never get into the story.