Dinosaur Habitat [Hardcover]

Helen V. Griffith (Author), Sonja Lamut (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

When Ryan and Nathan suddenly find themselve s in a misty world of dinosaurs, giant insects and a smoking volcano Ryan wants to stay forever and Nathan wants to go h ome immediately. The dinosaurs have plans of their own for t he brothers, however. '

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4ATime travel, dinosaurs, and two feisty brothers combine to offer a fast-paced, exciting adventure story. When eight-year-old Ryan's terrarium is knocked over, the plastic dinosaurs he has carefully placed there not only come to lifeAthey also become huge. Ryan and his 12-year-old brother, Nathan, soon find themselves inside the world of prehistoric creatures. Their realistic escapades range from humorous to edge-of-your-seat scary. The budding scientist, Ryan, who clearly knows his dinosaurs and their habits, wants to stay in this amazing new world, especially after a baby hadrosaur bonds with him. Nathan must force a departure when a volcano begins to erupt and a T Rex discovers them. An unusual fossil is the means of transport between the two worlds and once back in the safety of their bedroom, both boys are content to know that they still have a way to return to their Jurassic world. This is a well-crafted, easy read that provides excitement, laughter, and thrills for the "not ready for long chapters" crowd. Not as charming as some of the classic miniature-world stories, it nevertheless offers solid, likable characters with a plausible plot and the universal appeal of dinosaurs. A great read aloud and a fine addition to the fiction shelves.ABeth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. Things haven't been easy for 12-year-old Nathan since his mom went back to work. First of all, he has to come straight home after school to baby-sit his pesky eight-year-old brother, Ryan, which means no time to hang out and shoot baskets. And worse, since their mom appropriated Nathan's room for an office, Nathan has to share a room with Ryan and contend with Ryan's weird dinosaur terrarium and endless chatter about prehistoric life. A freak event lands the brothers in Ryan's terrarium and brings the dinosaur habitat to life, a once-in-a-lifetime experience with adventures and fun, touching and scary. Ryan never wants to leave, but Nathan knows better, especially when the Tyrannosaurus rex comes a little too close for comfort. As they navigate the prehistoric landscape, the brothers learn a lot about dinosaurs--and each other. This is a fine addition to the endless dinosaur canon, and readers will enjoy the fantasy of meeting and getting to know dinos from a closer view as well as appreciate the developing relationship between the two brothers. Shelle Rosenfeld

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (April 14, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688153240
• ISBN-13: 978-0688153243
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,876,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Title Does Not Tell All, April 27, 2000

By 

Cheryl (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dinosaur Habitat (Avon Camelot Books) (Paperback)

As the mother of a 5yr old who is a serious dinosaur enthusiast, it is sometimes challenging to find stories about the subject that can hold his interest and that don't repeat the same old facts. Dinosuar Habitat was a wonderful tale that combined an exciting adventure with the normal struggles of being the older sibling. Even as an adult, I found myself eager to get to the next chapter, as I was reading one or two each night to my sons before bedtime. I was unsure of the book when I saw its title; thinking that it was more about different types of dinosaurs and the environment in which they lived. However this is a great fantasy story with the prehistoric facts woven in. Two brothers find themselves mysteriously within the terrarium that belongs to the younger brother, Ryan. This isn't just an ordinary terrarium, but one in which Ryan has placed small toy dinosaurs to create a dinosaur habitat. Ryan is thrilled once he realizes he and his brother are back in dinosaur time.

The plot is not just about the two boys finding their way through the habitat and trying to get home. Rather, it also describes the usual rifts that can occur between brothers and the love that is between them despite the frustrations and disagreements with each other. Ms. Griffith's portrayal of the two brothers was right-on; from the way they spoke to each other and interacted, to Nathan's own musings as the older brother. When we finished the book, we found ourselves wishing for a sequel adventure back to the terrarium.

4.0 out of 5 stars My son says let me think...., August 9, 2009

By 

Nora E. Schwartzmartin (Amherst, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dinosaur Habitat (Avon Camelot Books) (Paperback)

Unfortunately he then got distracted by TV- I think he liked this and I liked that it was more novelesque than nonfiction.

3.0 out of 5 stars No where to run, April 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Dinosaur Habitat (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book. The relationship between the two brothers is a typical relationship. This book is adventurous and fun. You are always wandering what dinosaur you will run into next. This is a book I would definitely put on a booklist for students to read.