Dinosaur Trouble

I’ll admit, I side-eyed *Dinosaur Trouble* at first—another talking-dino story? But within minutes, Sachs’ narration hooked me. His pterodactyls sound like posh British aristocrats who’ve never *deigned* to touch the ground, while the apatosaurs lumber through lines with the weary patience of teachers dealing with unruly students. The real delight is how King-Smith weaves social commentary into the silliness: when a T. rex (gasp!) befriends an apatosaur, the outrage isn’t just about species—it’s about *class*. It’s clever, but the pacing stumbles slightly in the middle; the conflict drags just enough that my six-year-old started fidgeting during the "philosophical" dino debates. That said, the production shines where it counts. The sound effects—wings flapping, distant roars—are sparse but immersive, never overwhelming the dialogue. And Sachs’ timing? Flawless. His delivery of the line *“Two legs! How… *undignified*”} had me snorting coffee. My only gripe is the ending, which wraps up a tad neatly, as if King-Smith got nervous about letting the satire bite too hard. Still, for a 72-minute listen, it’s a masterclass in how to make prehistoric creatures feel *human*—flaws, prejudices, and all. Perfect for kids who’ve outgrown *How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?* but aren’t ready for *Jurassic Park*’s gore.