Copyright Date:
2015
Edition Date:
2015
Release Date:
03/01/15
Illustrator:
Moriya, Kwanchai,
Pages:
1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN:
1-7713-8044-6
ISBN 13:
978-1-7713-8044-7
Dewey:
567.92
Dimensions:
24 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
School Library Journal
(Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)
PreS-Gr 3 Roderick challenges young dinosaur lovers to identify the animals from one of their prominent features. Toothy Tyrannosaurus's jaws and spiky Stegosaurus's back may be familiar, but Therizinosaurus's claws and Parasaurolophus's curved crest will likely stump most children. Each spread following the close-up reveals the entire dinosaur set in a prehistoric landscape. A paragraph of facts about the animal will please older children ready for more than a guessing game while adult readers will appreciate the pronunciation guidance for unfamiliar names. In addition to the eight dinosaurs that are featured, seven others receive a one-sentence introduction next to a small portrait. Moriya's digital collage illustrations incorporate photos and textures. The dinosaurs resemble figures made from construction paper. In fact, some viewers may be inspired to wield scissors and glue to produce their own prehistoric panoramas. VERDICT A fine choice for a basic introduction to dinosaurs that engages and informs young listeners. Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato
ALA Booklist
(Fri May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)
This guessing game of a picture book invites little ones to deduce the name of a dinosaur based on a close-up image of one of its notable features. Following the page turn, kids are rewarded with a two-page illustration of the dino and a paragraph containing numerous facts. Moriya depicts the dinosaurs and their landscapes in colorful cut-paper collages, which feature textured paper that resembles dinosaur skin, as well as comically buggy eyes, which give the animals a charming, cartoonlike appearance. Though the bright colors and cartoonish appearance might turn off ardent dino fans, the illustrations are hard not to love, and use enough defining details that, in spite of their simplified appearance, the dinosaurs are still recognizable. The sentences, in a large, easy-to-read font, are short, to the point, and stuffed with useful vocabulary and interesting tidbits of information. Adorable and fun, this will likely please budding paleontologists. Since it's full of factual information, it definitely belongs on the nonfiction shelves, but its eye-catching illustrations mean it will likely be well suited to picture-book collections as well.
From one dinosaur's head to another's tail, this informational picture book challenges readers to guess which prehistoric creature each of eight different body parts belongs to. (For example, What dinosaur had claws like this?) For each question, the answer is given on the following spread, with an overview that includes the name of the dinosaur, an illustration of the entire animal in its habitat and facts about the featured body part, such as why it looked the way it did and how scientists believe it was used. The colorful and eye-catching collage illustrations by Kwanchai Moriya offer a unique and friendly approach to the ever-popular subject of dinosaurs. The creatures are a mix of the popular (Tyrannosaurus) and the lesser-known (Therizinosaurus) and allow children the satisfaction of guessing some correctly while learning about others. A pronunciation guide accompanies the first mention of each dinosaur's name. There is also a bonus spread at the end of the book containing a quick look at seven more intriguing dinosaurs. Balancing a captivating picture book experience with just the right level of information, it is an ideal bridge between a basic concept book and a detailed encyclopedic book. It would work perfectly in a group lesson on prehistoric creatures or on animal bodies, with the highly engaging, interactive guessing-game component providing a way of enlivening the classroom discussion. It could also be used individually by higher-level readers as an interesting nonfiction choice or a reference book.