November 15, 2022
A roundup of, mostly, the usual (extinct) suspects with basic facts to go along. McDonald sets the scene with looks at the three periods of the Mesozoic era plus a diverse trio of generic paleontologists at work. She then goes on to introduce 18 dinosaurs, mostly paired on the page or spread but not always to scale--some in brief, others with fact boxes and somewhat longer descriptions--from the very early Nyasasaurus parringtoni to the semiaquatic Spinosaurus. Young dinophiles may enjoy chewing over the occasional discussion question ("Would you rather have a long neck or a spiked tail?"), but those who relish scenes of rending and tearing in their prehistoric fare will be disappointed by the bland art, which presents its toothy subjects in static poses, rendered with pale patterns and tones (except for the multihued plates running along the back of Stegosaurus, the name banners outshine the creatures they identify) and often set against minimally detailed natural settings. A set of young museum visitors clustering around a skeleton in the final scene is racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A bland also-ran with anemic art. (sources, further reading) (Informational picture book. 6-8)
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Starred review from April 1, 2023
Grades K-3 *Starred Review* McDonald ages up her popular board books with the Hello, World! Kids' Guides series (2 titles). She retains the original series' bright colors and playful style, but her fact-filled narrative writing gains a definite air of sophistication. Happily, the welcoming presentation ensures that kids won't be deterred from digging into this edifying title. Following an invitation to go back in time to meet some dinos comes a breakdown of their geologic time period: the Mesozoic era, which McDonald visually divides into its three periods through stacked illustrations (the desertlike Triassic, a more verdant Jurassic, and the lush Cretaceous). Next, she explains the role of paleontologists--likening them to detectives--in uncovering what we know about dinosaurs today. Then it's time for the really good stuff. Several double-page spreads introduce different dinosaurs, typically paired contemporaries, with "The Stats" sidebars offering fast facts and engaging, reader-directed questions. Popular dinos mix with the less familiar (Herrerasaurus, Deinocheirus), and curious kiddos will get a good sense of the Mesozoic's shifting environment as well as how dinos evolved with the changing times.
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