From Publishers Weekly
The talented team that brought readers Patrick's Dinosaurs and What Happened to Patrick's Dinosaurs? have collaborated on a highly imaginative, humorous picture book interpretation of the early days of paleontology. Professor Potts and his family find some large bones on a trip to the American West in the late 19th century. They excavate, label and ship the bones back East, where the Professor tries again and again to assemble them and make some sense of his discoveries. Savvy youngsters will identify with Potts's young son, who clearly knows his dinosaurs, and will bask in their own knowledge as the skeletons of a triceratops, tyrannosaurus rex and brontosaurus take shape. The professor enlists his wife's help in making a "skin" for his prehistoric beast and finally proudly unveils an amazing beast, the "TRIBRONTOSAURUS REX," decked out in a crazy quilt of colored sailcloth. An afterword places the story within the context of "mix-ups in the real world of science," making the book not simply entertaining, but informative as well. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-- Fossilized dinosaur bones are like pieces to a puzzle, and scientists have not always put the puzzle together correctly. The Carricks' beautifully illustrated new book concerns a fictitious paleontologist, Professor Potts, and his struggles to construct a dinosaur from unidentified fossilized bones. First he builds a Tricerotops, then a Tyrannosaurus Rex, then a Brontosaurus; but all of his constructions seem to him too incredulous to have really lived. Finally, he combines all of the bones into one creature with the help of his wife, who sews a patchwork skin for it. He then presents his discovery to the world as a "Tribrontosaurus Rex." Carrick adds a helpful follow-up note explaining that although her tale is fictitious, its premise is true. She gives examples of paleontological "goofs"--the Iguanodon whose thumb was thought to be a nose horn, the Brontosaurus with the wrong head. Carrick's premise is all well and good; it's the implied snappy resolve which never materializes. Potts' imaginary construction is no more or less amazing than the real dinosaurs he constructs, and one wonders why he settles for the creature that he did. There's not enough outrageousness to make the final revelation of the creature truly astonishing. As it is, the concept the author wants to convey works, but the story's ending packs no punch. --Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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