An amusing adventure story, The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek employs a variety of literary devices. The title character represents a literary type dating back many centuries: the wandering helper who arrives on a scene, renders aid, and then immediately departs. In addition, George's befriending of the twins allows Lampman to explore for young readers the emotional joy of acquiring a devoted friend, the gratification of receiving help from this friend, and the pain of separation. Occasionally she uses irony to heighten dramatic tension or lend a touch of wryness. For example, George's limitations of mind sometimes result in clearer thinking.

And Joey's assumptions that the bespectacled Mr. Smith is just an amiable businessman and that the sharp-eyed Mr. Jones, who intently watches Mrs. Brown hide her money, is "a crook" only set up the reversal to come.

As a gesture towards plausibility, Lampman offers a...