Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs (Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs (Just Us Books)) [Paperback]

Sharon M. Draper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1994 | Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs (Just Us Books) (Book 1)

When Ziggy gets the word that the trip to Camp Caesar is on, he can't wait to tell his friends, the Black Dinosaurs. But the four pals couldn't know what excitement awaited them. In this third adventure, the boys learn a lot about American, Naive American, and African-American history.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-4-When their basketball court is vandalized, Ziggy and his three friends form the Black Dinosaurs to solve the mystery. Obviously intended to present positive role models and to create African American pride, the 11 short chapters are packed with black heritage. "Tuskeegee" and "Nigeria" become secret passwords, slave history is revealed by old Mr. Greene (who serves as the red herring), Jerome's grandmother furnishes African musical heritage, and Ziggy provides the Jamaican influence. Unfortunately, such grand designs often degenerate into didacticism resulting in characters who are too good to be true. And Mr. Greene, who is brusque with the boys almost to the point of rudeness at their initial encounter in the library, uncharacteristically becomes their great ally and confidant. And this after they frighten him terribly with a fake police raid! A minor flaw (but one that dinosaur experts will catch)-the apatasaurus is twice illustrated as a Tyrannosaurus rex. However, the plot moves quickly, Ziggy's character provides humor, and the situations will appeal to children. Simple vocabulary and large-print text are appropriate for reluctant readers.
Claudia Cooper, Ft. Stockton Independent School District, TX
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Sharon Draper is a two-time Coretta Scott King Award-winning author, most recently for Copper Sun, and previously for Forged by Fire. She's also the recipient of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Author Award for New Talent for Tears of a Tiger and the Coretta Scott King Author Honor for The Battle of Jericho and November Blues. Her other books include Romiette and Julio, Darkness Before Dawn, and Double Dutch. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she taught high school English for twenty-five years. She's a popular conference speaker, addressing educational and literary groups both nationally and internationally. For more information visit her online at www.sharondraper.com. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Just Us Books (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0940975483
• ISBN-13: 978-0439574648
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,763,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sharon Draper is a two-time Coretta Scott King Award-winning author, most recently for Copper Sun, and previously for Forged by Fire. She's also the recipient of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Author Award for New Talent for Tears of a Tiger and the Coretta Scott King Author Honor for The Battle of Jericho and November Blues. Her other books include Romiette and Julio, Darkness Before Dawn, and Double Dutch. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she taught high school English for twenty-five years. She's a popular conference speaker, addressing educational and literary groups both nationally and internationally.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read aloud for teachers!, July 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs (Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs (Just Us Books)) (Paperback)

I had the pleasure of meeting the author, Ms. Draper, shortly before she was voted Teacher of the Year, and she shared her motivation for writing Ziggy: she wanted something for her African-American son to read that he'd enjoy. Well, he got it in this book. And, my second grade, white, boys and girls LOVE this book. It is a fast-moving mystery about Jamaican Ziggy and his crew of pals, their secret clubhouse, and some bones... The students get a kick out of the "Hey, mons" too! Well worth the 5 bucks. Buy it now!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Especially great for boys!, February 15, 2010

By 

GrannyX7 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadows of Caesar's Creek (Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs (Aladdin Paperback)) (Paperback)

While this book is great for boys and girls, I think it's especially fun for boys. Ziggy is a cool, funny kid with quirky eating habits. His buddies are equally engaging and personable. Together, they have formed a little club called 'The Black Dinosaurs' and they seem to end up in the middle of mysteries, mysteries they just have to solve. The author has thrown in interesting little tidbits of history so the kids learn while enjoying themselves. In this episode, these city kids end up at an over-night camp, afloat in a canoe (without an oar) and running from.... something.

My little grandson (5-but an excellent reader) is on his third Ziggy book. He really enjoys the fact that they are about boys. It's great to have a series for when he finishes one and wants another of the same. I think would be interesting for kids 4-9.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent children's series, October 18, 2011

By 

Glenda D. Hunter (Illinois) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shadows of Caesar's Creek (Clubhouse Mysteries) (Paperback)

My 7 year old son really enjoys the Clubhouse Mysteries series. He reads the book without any prompting from me. He even asked me to order more of the books.