Summary:
Facts about dinosaur varieties are told through rhyming poems that also contain humor. These poems feature popular, well-known varieties like Tyrannosaurus Rex and lesser known ones such as the Minmi. The first poem in the book explains the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous eras of dinosaurs. The last poem describes theories for their extinction. A "Glossarysaurus" shares facts of each dinosaur at the end of the book and there is also a listing of dinosaur-related museums and further reading.
APA Reference:
Florian, D. (2009). Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric poems and paintings. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books.
My Impressions:
This is the type of book that makes children love to read. Florian really understands kids! His mix of humor and fact must appeal perfectly to kids minds. You can see this successful combination in the poem "Barosaurus": "From nose to tail I’m ninety feet— / Hey kid, ya wanna ride?”. Beyond the use of rhyme, the language is rhythmic, making it very fun to read and read again. The paintings which include collage elements are beautiful and interesting. Their quirky details invite a child (or adult, like me) to pour over the pages for aesthetic entertainment. In the paintings you might see a Giganotosaurus eating electronics ("giga-bites") or the intelligent Troodon with a graduation cap on its head and books in its claws. I LOVED this book and will be looking for an excuse to give it as a gift to some lucky boy (or girl).
Professional Reviews:
K-Gr 3-- Set in spreads of dreamy dinosaur art, these 20 playful paleontologic poems overflow with wit and useful information. "What kept the Spinosaurus warm/When it was colder than the norm?/Spines much like a solar panel./(And long underwear of flannel.)" Sandwiched between two general poems entitled "The Age of Dinosaurs" and "The End of Dinosaurs," the entries describe individual species. Each selection includes a helpful pronunciation guide as well as the meaning behind the dinosaur's name. In muted colors with unexpected details, the ethereal artwork differs from the bold, aggressive pictures found in many dinosaur books. Created on paper bags with a variety of media, this collage art expands on the humor found in the verses. Back matter includes a "Glossarysaurus" that provides more information for each dinosaur and details about its extinction, and a page of dinosaur museums and fossil Web sites. This smart marriage of dinosaurs and poetry will delight a wide audience.
Roach, J. (2009). [Review of the book Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric poems and paintings, by D. Florian]. School Library Journal, 55(5), 94. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com
Florian's free-flowing, witty collection of poems and collages about dinosaurs is a giganotosaurus delight--perhaps his best work ever. The poems marry facts with a poet's eye for detail: the Brachiosaurus was "longer than a tennis court" and the Ankylosaurus says, "We like spikes and we like scutes/(Bony plates we wear as suits)." Small experts will appreciate the "Glossarysaurus" at the end, but the heart of the book is in its humor, the spontaneity of both illustrations and poems, and Florian's slightly askew view of the Mesozoic creatures. A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton spews cutout images of things a T. rex might actually have eaten, along with a tumble of other things (newspaper clippings, a boot, a building), while the text ends with a great pun CI find it terrific/ That it's T-rex-tinct"). The tiny (20-inch) Micropachycephalosaurus stares up at a huge display of his enormous name spelled out phonetically, in illuminated caps and as a rhombus. Art and text will encourage aspiring paleontologists and poets to parse these pages again and again. Ages 6-up. (Mar.)
[Review of the book Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric poems and paintings, by D. Florian]. (2009). Publishers Weekly, 256(3), 60. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Library Uses:
Dinosaurs in the Library: Collaborate with a classroom to measure and mark the lengths of the dinosaurs featured in Dinothesaurus. Additional research will be necessary for some of the dinosaurs. Use the display to introduce the book to other classrooms when they visit the library.
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