From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-Each of these series titles offers basic facts about a particular dinosaur species. Large, wide-spaced print and short sentence structure indicate reluctant readers as the target audience. The language is stilted and unexciting, with overused commas and repetitive sentence patterns. These features make the text marginally easier for new readers to decipher, but the result is an awkward reading experience. Some facts are presented in a misleading manner. Utahraptor is a related species of dromaeosaur, not "a very big Velociraptor," as stated in that volume. The uncluttered layouts add a bit of appeal, with photographs, drawings, and diagrams of average quality. Facts about the species are presented with some context, including basic information about dinosaur relatives, environment, and archaeological discoveries. The author uses "maybe" and "possibly" when describing a behavior that scientists are still unsure about, and occasionally discusses the factors that led to such assumptions. Like the "Discovering Dinosaurs" series (Bridgestone), these titles are serviceable additions, but offer nothing special. The "True Book" series (Children's) features superior texts and illustrations.
Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
