Amazon.com

"How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light? Does a dinosaur slam his tail and pout? Does he throw his teddy bear all about? Does a dinosaur stomp his feet on the floor and shout: 'I want to hear one book more!'? DOES A DINOSAUR ROAR?" Most certainly not. Dinosaurs give their mommies and daddies big hugs and kisses, tuck their tales in, and whisper "Good night!"

Every sleepy little dinosaur will recognize the tricks of the trade in these bedtime shenanigans. The chuckle factor is sky-high here, with giant, full-page pictures of cleverly identified Tyrannosaurus rexes, triceratopses, and Pteranodons. A variety of human mothers and fathers trying to put their dinosaur children to bed will bring the point home that the story may have something to do with human kid behavior as well. This good-natured nighttime book is sure to be a winner (even though it might inspire a few noisy dinosaur antics), especially as it's written by Jane Yolen, prolific Caldecott Medalist author of Owl Moon. Yolen and Mark Teague have teamed up to create a fun, silly, playful read-aloud. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (60)

A book to make bedtime a little easier.
This book is now a favorite of my two and half year old daughter. She asks me to read it to her at least once a day. The premise of the story is to show the proper way to say goodnight. The first half of the book shows dinosaurs acting up at bedtime (hmm kind of reminds me of my daughter) and the second part shows dinosaurs saying goodnight nicely. The pictures of the dinosaurs really crack her up. She loves the opening picture of the dinosaur in the tub and the one of the dinosaur holding a toy train. The pictures are so charming that I am sure they will have adults smiling too. The text is simple enough for a small child to memorize and the names of the dinosaurs are included on the page with their picture to provide even more learning oppurtunities. This book has made my daughter so crazy for dinosaurs that I intend to take her to a dinosaur exhibit at our local science museum. The best part of this book is that it has actually made my daughter go to bed with less resistance. When she starts to act up I just quote a line or two from the book and she settles right down. Last night she told me "goodnight mama dinosaur." We love this book.

Beautifully Illustrated
The first thing that comes to mind when I look at this book is how beautifully illustrated it is. The images are rich, engaging and a delight to absorb.

The book covers ten dinosaurs -- Allosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Apatosaurus, Corythosaurus, Dimetrodon, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus, Trachodon, Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex. All of them appear so friendly that your child just might invite them for a sleepover. Moreover, they are anatomically correct, insofar as they can be for cartoon like illustrations.

One of the most interactive pieces of the book is that each illustration has hidden within it the name of the dinosaur. Everytime my son and I read this book he seeks out the dinosaur's name. It's a dino I Spy game for him.

He's also fascinated with the fact that he can match the dinosaurs from the inside covers (front and back) with those within the story.

Of course, beautiful illustrations are important, but so is the story line. This one is done well. The illustrations show the dinosaurs engaging in all sorts of antics to avoid going to sleep. However, the point of this is to question whether or not dinosaurs show "naughty" bedtime behavior. They do not. In the end, dinosaurs "tuck in their tails" and "whisper, 'Good night!'

Overally, I would highly recommend this book for dinosaur loving preschoolers! It is beautiful, interactive and well written.

Dinosaurs act up at bedtime too!
This imaginative book features a large cast of "real" dinosaurs acting as naughty as real kids do when it's bedtime. I loved the pictures of exasperated parents as a huge brontosaurus throws covers on the floor or a tyrannasaurus rex runs around the room. My second grade niece, a good reader, handles the text with ease but isn't too old to be tickled by the concept. Younger siblings like this one too. Inside the front cover is a chart with small drawings of the characters and their scientific names--an educational bonus!

How do you think?
I'm always pleased when an author and an illustrator of equal talents are placed together by a clever editor so as to produce a wonderful piece of picture book art. Jane Yolen is the author of, honest to goodness, more than two hundred books for both children and adults. Just pause a while and marvel at her consistency, if you will. Mark Teague may not have that many works under his belt, but what he lacks in proliferation he makes up for in downright fabulous illustrating. If you've read his charming "Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters From Obedience School" then you are aware of how amazingly adept this man is. Taking those monstrous creatures co-opted by children as their favorite animals, Yolen and Teague have created a book that proves what we've suspected all along. Your children are merely little dinosaurs in disguise.

The premise of this book is simple. Sleepy dinosaurs do NOT want to go to bed at night. The book ponders just how exactly these dinos do say their goodnights to their parents. The parents in this book, by the way, are always human while their dinosaur offspring fill their bedrooms from ceiling to floor. So how do dinosaurs say good night? Well, they can insist on reading one more book. They can fall onto their beds in tears. They can slam their tails about and pout too. But no, my friends. In the end, dinosaurs do none of these things. Instead, they give their parents a big kiss and a hug, tuck their tales into their beds, and say good night. Just like a good little dinosaur should.

The hope after reading this tale is that kids will understand that all the naughty behavior exhibited by the dinosaurs in the early parts of the book will be negated by the good behavior exhibited at the end. How well this works, I do not know. One thing is for certain, however. Mark Teague is a genius. Oh, I'm sure Jane Yolen put a lot of work into this puppy as well. Yes yes. But Mark Teague... now there's a man who knows how children react at nighttime. These pictures are just a scream. Each father or mother than enters the dinosaur's room is usually accompanied by some cowering pet, either a dog or a cat. The dinosaur's rooms are outfitted as a child's would be too. Teague has helpfully included each animal's name (from the roaring Triceratops to the piggy back begging Ankylosaurus) somewhere in the picture too. I was also well pleased with the parents in this book. A good multi-racial cast, they don't give an inch to these plying crying dinos. And you haven't lived until you've seen a Tyranosaurus Rex kissing his Donna Reed look-alike mother. More recently popular dinosaurs, like the Velociraptor, do not appear in this tale. Probably a good idea in retrospect.

All in all, this is one of the most successful new bedtime books to come around the pike. For those kids bored to tears by the far calmer "Goodnight Moon", this will be just the exciting bedtime tale to get them tucked away for the night. A fabulous creation that fully lives up to its popularity.

You think it is difficult to put kids to bed? Try a dinosaur
I noticed that there are editions of "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" in Spanish and French, which is not surprising because the art of Mark Teague certainly translates into any language. Author Jane Yolen poses the questions regarding what happens when Papa or Mama comes to turn off the lights and send their dinosaurs to bed, and Teague comes up with the utterly charming images that will delight readers of any age. Part of the fun is that Papa and Mama are regular human beings, so when Papa shows up and points to his watch to a Tyrannosaurus Rex that takes up an entire page as a way of suggesting it is time to put away his toy train and go to bed, you just have to smile (note the family dog is about the size of one of the T Rex's toes). From the Stegosaurus that slams his tail and pouts to the Ankylosaurus that demands a piggyback ride, each of these two-page spreads will make parents happy that they just have regular human kids and not dinosaurs.

For children the fun will be in answering the question of the title and discovering that dinosaurs and little kids have a lot in common when it comes to resisting being put into bed. There is a slight risk that your kids might find a new way of prolonging the inevitable and find themselves imitation the Corythosaurus and falling on top of their covers and crying or stomping their feet on the floor and shouting they want to have another book read to them. But then "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" really covers all of the basic delaying tactics of children. Besides, it is clearly indicated that these tactics are a bit silly, even if you are a sulking Allosaurus or roaring Triceratops.

All of the illustrations in this book are a joy, including those inside the front cover where Teague shows all of these dinosaurs sitting atop their beds doing things like blowing bubbles or quietly reading a good book (okay, the Ankylosaurus is jumping on the bed, but clearly he is the high energy one of the group). "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" is the first in a series of similar collaborations between Yolen and Teague that includes "How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten?" "How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?" and "How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Room?" That last one is definitely the one I want to check out next, because I shudder to think what Yolen and Teague will come up for in those situations. You think getting a Dinosaur to say goodnight is difficult? That is nothing compared to getting them to clean their rooms. ... Read more

Book Description

Written and illustrated by the creators of the popular Dino Life Guides for Families, this book uses precise language and humorous illustrations to offer specific ways to be a friend and specific ways not to be one.A special section on how to deal with bosses and bullies has valuable information for young children going forth in the world and encountering these situations for the first time. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent book for Beginer Friends
My two boys love this book. Its a childs simplistic version of "How to be a Friend" and it is great. Right on their level and easy for them to relate to. The Arthur type characters are appealing to children and they make the book their choice for the evening and want me to read it again and again :) I have the hardback, it was a great find.

Great guide for all kids.
This book is an excellent tool for parents and teachers to use with kids in the often times daunting world of social relatedness. Even kids who are very social would enjoy the way these gentle reminders are presented. Highly recommended for the special needs arena of Aspberger's and High Functioning Autism. Our autistic son loved and responded well to the almost "social story" approach. This truly spelled out a lot of social do's and don't's for him. His typical sister loved it as well. As a parent I highly recommend this book be in every kindergarden and first grade and second grade classroom. I bought several copies. ... Read more

Book Description

Approx. 4 hours, 3 cassettes

When Nate Twitchell discovers that one of his family's hens has laid the
biggest egg he has ever seen, he is determined to see it hatch.And when it
does, neither he nor his parents, the townspeople, the scientists, or the
politicians from Washington are prepared for what comes out!





... Read more

Reviews (20)

Good book for dinosaur lovers!
My favorite part of this book is when the dinosaur hatches. Dr. Zeimer is so excited that he shows up in his bathrobe! No one knows what it is. Another scientist comes to figure it out. But the dinosaur is gone; then it pops out of a flower bed! The scientist was first impatient, then amazed. This book is very funny & exciting & makes you want to read on. Everyone would enjoy it, but especially people who are interested in dinosaurs. Douglas A., age 9

What a cool story!
This book was a good book because it holds your interest. It didn't have any boring parts. It didn't have any parts that went on too long, instead on every page there was something new to think about. I really liked it!

Nate Twitchel found an enormous egg under one of his hens one morning. It was so big Nate had to turn the egg for the hen.It took six weeks till it finally hatched.A dinosaur came out. News spread fast and soon people from across the country started coming to the Twitchel's house. The dinosaur got so big that the Twitchels had to send him away, but Nate got to go too. the dinosaur ended up in Washington D.C. and there trouble began. Read the book to find out how Nate solves his prolems.

Great Story in the Style of Henry Reed (But Better)
I read this when I was ten and again when I was thirty. And you know, I enjoyed it just as much the second time. The story's great and the writing's very good. Like "Henry Reed" and "Homer Price," but better. I wish Oliver Butterworth lived next door - he would've been a really fun and wise man to know.

Not Really a Dinosaur Book
Although on the surface this book is about a boy and his dinosaur, it is really about the freedoms promised to Americans by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Through Nate's story we learn about the power of free speach, and the importance of each voice in our political system. It is also a celebration of non-traditional learning experiences, and the joy of persuing education outside of school. The Enormous Egg is a great civics lesson and should be of particular interest to home schoolers.

A splendid book
I loved this book because it was a funny aventure. I thought the dinosaur, Uncle Beasley, was awesome. My favorite part was when he turmed over a truck on the highway. I thought it was funny! Nate was a cool guy because he rode the dinosaur and saved him from dying. Everybody would enjoy this book! ... Read more

Book Description

From the world's preeminent paper engineers comes an awe-inspiring tribute to the world's most beloved extinct animals and their 180-million-year reign on the planet!

More than 35 complex and stunning pop-ups include a massive T. Rex that springs out, flashing a startling jawful of jagged teetch.Turn the page and a ravishing raptor unfurls and appears to fly off the edge of the book.

This breathtaking pop-up book offers up-to-the-minute information on more than 50 dinosaur species.Six multi-layered spreads each feature one spectacular, large pop-up and several booklets of smaller pop-ups and text. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Happy and sad. Good and bad. Opposites take on a whole new meaning when illustrated by a gang of personable dinosaurs. A die-cut cover opens to reveal chunky pages full of delightful dinosaurs singing, dancing, lumbering, galloping, and gallivanting. On board pages with a die-cut cover. This book is a main selection of the Children's Book-of-the-Month Club. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Absolutely adorable!
This is our most recent Boynton Board Book and we are pleased once again. The dinosaurs are adorable with surprisingly expressive eyes. The rhymes are clever too. We read to our 5 month old each night before bed and this is yet another Boynton board book that is ideal. Her books are just the right length for short attention spans and the bright illustrations captivate our little one. Thank goodness for Sandra Boynton!!

Dinos!
I never really realized how many different types of dinosaurs there were until I read this book, even if they be 'dinosaurs crammed in an elevator.' This book mentions all sorts of dinosaurs, from big to tiny, smooth to spiky and hot to cold. The pictures used to illustrate each type of dinosaur are really wonderful. They are bright, bold, colorful, and, above all, cute. Like all the Boynton books I've read, the words in this book rhyme very well, effortlessly. The rhyming also helps to make the book flow well, and flow well it does. This is a classic Boynton book, and is a wonderful book.

Loggie-log-log-log

A Dinosaur Favorite that We Read Again and Again
I purchased this book for my daughter when she was only one, and we both quickly learned to love it. Then, when my son came along, this book became one of his favorites as well! The wonderful rhymes and adorable pictures make this book a true blessing for the parent who has to read it over, and over, and over... :-)

I was especially impressed by the small bit of musical score that is part of the rhyme "Dinosaurs singing a dinosaur song." Whenever we get to that page, my children love to sing the little tune that is written there!

Sandra Boynton is a wonderful children's writer, and this is a great example of her work. I highly recommend this book!

These dinos are friendly
Dinosaurs with different emotions, behaviors, sizes, colors, even times. Happy/sad, good/bad, early/later, weak/strong, cold/hot - you get the picture. We also like 1 2 3! and Barnyard Dance in this grouping. Almost all of the Boynton books are a hit at our house.

love it
Got it, love it. And we've read it to Alex so many times that he can almost read it along with us (and he's only 16 mos old!) He even points to the colors at the end and says 'bye-bye' when the dinosaurs "say goodbye, because they're through".
Another winner! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Welcome to James Gurney's fantastic lost world of Dinotopia, where humans and intelligent dinosaurs have lived together in harmony for centuries, undiscovered by the rest of the world. Now these New York Times bestselling books are available from HarperCollins. The Dinotopia books are a celebration of the imagination for readers of all ages.In 1862, biologist Arthur Denison and his young son Will are washed up on the shore of an uncharted island, where they discover humans and an ancient race of dinosaurs sharing a civilization of wonder and adventure.

... Read more

Reviews (46)

Absolutely Breathtaking
This book is one of the most incredible books ever written. I thoroughly recommend it to everyone. Of all the books which deserve cult status, this book is the most breathtaking.

The artwork is amazing! The paintings simply take your breath away. Whenever I want to escape, I read this book. Whenever I want to immerse myself again in the land of Dinotopia, I just look at one of the fabulous paintings and i'm there.

The book is accessible to everyone - there are characters which connect with every person on this earth. The story is magical and deserves greater praise than I could ever give it.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! PLEASE BUY IT!!!!!

PLEASE!

GREAT ILLUSTRATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!A SOON TO-BE CLASSIC!!!!!!!
A phenomenal book about dinosaurs living in peace and harmony on an island with generations of shipwrecked travelers. Not only does this book have a extrordinary plot, the illustrations couldn't be better! If you enjoy fantasy as much as much as just atensy-weensy bit, you'll fall in LOVE with this book. You'll read it to EVERYBODY! I've never heard of a book as extrordanary as this. A must read for all. Some other great books based on this are The World Beneath;Dinotopia Lost;and the series of short novels. READ THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

By far the best of the books
Dinotopia is the first of the Dinotopia series. Although it has a loose plot, it's mostly a mock-National Geographic style travelogue account of an island populated by both humans and dinosaurs. Buy the book for the beautifully detailed illustrations.

Great Memories
I first read this book when I was maybe eight years old; I read it over the course of a few days I was off from school, due to being sick. It was probably one of the best reads of my life (rivalling the first time I read Lord of the Rings). The illustrations were absolutely beautiful, and the story was truly engrossing. The way it was written was interesting as well; written in the form of a journal, but in a very human manner, as though it *was* a journal, rather than just a *story* written as a journal (does that make any sense).
Anyway, quite a few months ago I was home from school again, and out of boredom I picked it up off of my bookshelf. The illustrations are still absolutely beautiful, and the story is still truly engrossing. I read through it in maybe an hour, and was completely blown away. None of the magic which I had felt when I was but a young child had gone away; it was just as wonderful as ever.
If you have a child who is into dinosaurs, or anything fanciful, buy this for them to read or to read with them. It will stick with them (and you) forever...

BUY THIS BOOK
Anyone with an imagination, a love of art, or an interest in dinosaurs will love this book. The illustrations are the best I've ever seen in a book and the story is great. It reminds me of something H.G.Wells would write. I will take good care of this book and pass it down from generation to generation like a family treasure. ... Read more

Book Description

A day with a dinosaur

Danny's on the town with a real live dinosaur. From the ballpark to the zoo, these two are having one hundred million years of fun -- all in one day!

Reviews (16)

Dany and the dino
One day Danny decides to go to the museum where he meets a live dinosaur. Danny and the dinosaur then leave the museum and go exploring around town and have many adventures before it is time for the dinosaur to return to the museum.

The reason I only gave this book four stars is that I find the wording rather strained and awkward. Even though the words are not great, the illustrations are fun. Depending on the version, the illustrations are colored differently. The original (copyright 1958) has better colors in my opinion. They are a mix of pictures in shades of brown and pictures in full color. The main difference between the color quality in the original and reissue is that the reissue has a solid color, and the original almost look as if it were colored in lightly with crayons. I think the color in the reissue is harsher, and therefore prefer the previous. The drawing themselves are wonderful, cute and expressive.

So in my opinion this is a four star book because of the occasional awkwardness with the words and because of the way the pictures are colored in.

Loggie-log-log-log

Burned into my brain
This is a classic work, a brilliantly simple book, with a lovely fantasy story and exquisitely simple, highly memorable illustrations. Definitely a must for very young readers, especially dinosaur lovers.

Quite simply, Danny and the Dinosaur is forever burned into my brain as a favorite of my childhood, and now of my own children. It's Hoff's best, and I expect it will remain a classic for generations to come.

My two year old loves it!
This is one of the books we find him "reading" on his own. This is one of the most requested books he has (out of hundreds). It's a great read-aloud book because there's enough room to point out the words while your kid is pointing at the pictures. The whole Danny series is great, in fact.

My own book
I thought this book was alright but it was not the best book I have ever read. I liked the way Danny went to the museum and the dinosaur came to life and took Danny to all those places, including the baseball game that they went to. I wish that I could go and get my own dinosaur and we could do all that stuff, but since the dinosaurs are extinct I guess I could not do that. I still like the book.

Book and tape review
There are plenty of reviews of this book, I want to give my thoughts on the book and tape package available. There is a nice introduction and conclusion offered by the narrator and one side has page turn signals, while the other does not. While this is an unabridged recording, the narrator actually adds words on page 18, which may confuse the child trying to follow along in the book. Also, sometimes the narrator's child voices come across as whiney and nasal. However, all things considered, I feel this is a worthwhile purchase. ... Read more

Book Description

Here's a hands-on introduction to dinosaurs that invites preschoolers through first graders to lift and peek under more than 70 flaps! Vividly realistic panoramas bring the extinct world of dinosaurs to life and show kids how and where dinosaurs lived, what they ate, how they bred, and how they fought. With cutaway close-ups of fascinating dinosaur features and intricate, diorama-like scenes, this is the most dynamic and information-packed Great Big Flap Book ever! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great first dinosaur book for preschoolers!
My son, who is almost 4, absolutely loves this book! It's a perfect "first book" about dinosaurs because it's interactive and the text is short and simple enough to hold the attention of this age group. My son especially loves lifting the flaps that show the dinosaur bones! The last two pages of the book are especially cool. The left-hand page has a cleverly designed series of flaps that let the child "discover" a dinosaur skeleton. The facing page features flaps with letters of the alphabet - when the child lifts them, they see a dinosaur whose name begins with that letter. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in black-and-white. "With an entertaining blend of fact, farce, and fantasy, Osborne tells the story of Jack and his sister, Annie, who take a trip in a magic tree house and land in a time 65 million years ago. They find dinosaurs and volcanoes and adventure. Veteran storyteller Osborne builds the power of reading into the story: it's the books in the tree house that give the kids the magic to travel and see far, far away."--Booklist.
... Read more

Reviews (37)

Great intro to chapter books
I bought this book for my 4 year old who is wild about dinosaurs. He loves being read to and needed something a little more advanced than picture books. This book was a great start because the subject matter was something he was interested in, he could easily comprehend what was being read, and it could be finished in one sitting. There were enough pictures in the book to maintain his interest.

After reading this book, we have embarked on a new Magic Tree House adventure a day. My son looks forward to this time so much. Thank goodness the books are at the library! The books can be read by a parent in about a 30 minute sitting. I recorded Dinosaurs Before Dark on tape for my son to listen to any time since it is his favorite of the series so far.

Also to extend the reading activity at home, we created a Cretaceous period dinosaur diorama. My son loves acting out the story with his own dinosaurs...

The Magic Treehouse Rules
I happen to love these books. I read them to my seven year old son. He could probably read them to himself, but we enjoy spending the time together, and it gives him a chance to imagine the awesome setting that Osborne presents in each of her books. Each Magic Treehouse book takes the reader on a different adventure to a place where kids can learn about dinosaurs, pirates, mummies, and even ninjas. The list of places goes on because the Magic Treehouse has about 29 books to the collection. To start out I bought the first 3 to see if he liked them, and so far we have read one book each night. He was begging me to get all of the books in the series, so I had to go back to the book store last night and buy about 10 more!! I think I'll hold out and get him the rest for Christmas. These books are great for kids who are learning to read, and also those who are moving out of picture books. Like I said, it's fun reading and finding out what kind of mess that little Annie girl is going to get the pair into each time! I give this series a 10! Thanks Mary Pope Osborne for thinking of our kids.

This is the best book ever!
My second grade class loves these books. You learn alot about dinosaurs in this book. I like Annie because she always talks to the animals. And Jack wants to learn about everything, like I do.

My 4 year old's first chapter books
My 4-year old received 2 of the Magic Treehouse books for Christmas this year. I looked at them and thought there was no way he'd be able to comprehend a book with chapters. But I read through it myself and found it an easy read with a fairly simple storyline. So I started with this, book #1, and read it to him. We were able to read it in one sitting, and he followed it just fine. He was so excited that I brought him to the bookstore to pick out a new Magic Treehouse book today. He asked "will Jack and Annie be in this book too?"
He doesn't really read books himself, but as a read-together book, this was wonderful. A great intro to books with more words than pictures. I plan to start collecting this series for him and reading them together at least once a week (if I could afford to buy one a day I would do that).

The Magic Tree House #1
THE MAGIC TREE HOUSE #1 THIS IS A STORY ABOUT TWO KIDS WHO FIND A MAGIC TREE HOUSE. THEIR NAMES ARE JACK AND ANNIE. THEY COULD SEE THE TREE HOUSE BECAUSE ANNIE BELEVES IN MAGIC AND JACK LIKES BOOKS. THE MAGIC TREE HOUSE TAKES THEM TO LOTS OF COOL PLACES. I GIVE THIS BOOK A **** (4 STARS). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Everything about The Big Book of Dinosaurs is off thecharts--the size of the book itself, the elaborate two-page spreads, the color models, and even the oversized type. Children can experience the amazing powers of these prehistoric beasts--the jagged teeth of the ferocious meat eaters, the slashing claws of the Deinonychus, and the long-necked Barosaurus that could reach five-story-high treetops and may have had eight hearts. Yet, like the dinosaurs themselves, there is nothing threatening or intimidating about this highly informative book. The text is brief and succinct, only conveying facts that children find interesting. (There's even an index for quick searches offavorite dinos.) The lifelike illustrations give young readers a solid sense of what dinosaur fossils and skeletal systems look like as well as clear mental pictures of how these creatures appeared in "real-life" millions of years ago. (Ages 4 to 7) --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Everything your preschooler wants to know about dinosaurs
Just like dinosaurs themselves, this book is BIG -- big type, big format, big pictures. The kids will love it. What preschooler doesn't love dinosaurs? One trip to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City had my son, at age three and a half, talking a blue streak about stegosauruses, elasmosauruses, tyrannosauruses, and Heaven knows what else. "The Big Book of Dinosaurs" is organized into categories such as meat-eaters, boneheads (pachycephalosaurus and his ilk) and gargantuans such as brontosaurus. The double-page spreads with gorgeously illustrated dinosaurs are sure to hold a child's attention, and the text is succint and easy for them to understand. It's a great read-aloud book for the preschool to first grade set. There's a very good index at the end of the book with proper pronunciations of all the dinosaur names that will have your preschool paleontologist rattling them off like a pro. Highly recommended for all children between three and six.

A good first book but not for the very young...
This is a beautifully illustrated book with lots of great pictures. The pages include lots of facts about dinosaurs and show pictures of both very live looking dino's as well as their skeletons. It is a good book to continue a child's interest in the subject. The end of the book includes a index with name pronunciations (very handy!). Some of the pictures are a little "too realistic" for the younger set. All in all, a great starter book for my 5 year old's interest in dinosaurs. ... Read more

Book Description

Following the hugely successful Walking with Dinosaurs and Walking with Prehistoric Beasts, DK dives into the past to swim with prehistoric reptiles and mammals in Chased by Sea Monsters. Exploring the underwater world where he "encounters" amazing creatures, Nigel Marven presents a unique record of a lost world never revealed before now. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Providing a fine focus on evolutionary proceedings
This gorgeous presentation explores the prehistoric world in search of sea-based monsters and is published to coincide with the BBC program of the same name; but familiarity with the TV show is not required for a separate appreciation of this book. More than just another dinosaur guide, Chased By Sea Monsters focuses on life in ancient oceans during each prehistoric period, providing a fine focus on evolutionary proceedings.

Bigger, meaner and deadlier
Nothing, not the carnivorous dinosaurs of the past, nor the imagined sea serpents and monsters of maritime history, nor the great white shark, salt water crocodile, killer whale and leopard seal of today can compare to the horrifying hunters of the prehistoric oceans. You will feel a lot more comfortable about going out for a swim or an afternoon boat ride knowing that such behemoths are extinct today!

The Dunkleosteus is school bus-sized armored fish with razor sharp bladed jaws for cutting through anything in its path. The mighty Liopleurodon is a true monster, largest and most powerful of the Pliosaurs. The deadly Mosasaurs where the real sea serpents of their day, and some where large enough to dispatch an adult tyrannosaur easily. The Basilosaurus, the first of the large whale species, is not a harmless plankton eater but a fearsome high speed hunter. And most frightening of all is the Megalodon, a gargantuan ancestor of the great white that makes its modern day relative look like a tuna.

If you're a paleontology buff like me or a fan of BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs series, this book is for you. The digital designs of the monsters are excellent and very well realized. And the fun-loving Nigel Marvin provides a great narrative. My only question is when does the DVD of the series come out?

Another excellent book is Sea Dragons by Richard Ellis. ... Read more

Book Description

The Dinosauria provides a state-of-the-science view of current world research on dinosaur behavior, evolution, and extinction. Its internationally renowned authors, all specialists on the various members of the Dinosauria, contribute definitive descriptions and illustrations of these magnificent Mesozoic beasts. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

All It Is Cracked Up To Be And More!
What more can I say for this book than has already been said? The first book of it's kind (that I know of), The Dinosauria is the perfect introduction into SERIOUS paleontology. If you want to know more about dinosaurs than you learn from Jurassic Park, this is the place to start. Be warned though, a basic knowledge of the science of paleontology is needed as the book does go deeper into the realm of true science than in other popular books. The Dinosauria layed the foundation for works that would follow, and again this is the perfect introduction for someone who wants to get more serious about the real science of the Dinosauria.

A professional reference book
This work was a bit tedious, as any book of this magnitude can be, especially to someone without a PHD, like me. If, however you are aspiring for that PHD, or are a very serious amateur paleontologist, this book is great. It is the most in-depth book I have ever found on the subject. Most books are significantly watered down, as their intended audience is often teenage or younger. This book supplies enormous quantities of information in a fairly usable format. I just wished that there had been more illustrations, perhaps some pictures of different excavation sites and more actual fossil examples, instead of mere drawings. Perhaps this was done for cost effectiveness, as this book is very expensive for someone on a budget. The bone anatomy is very well shown though, and can be studied with the help of this book. I would recommend it for anyone who is serious about paleontology, but please, if you are not, check out another book, as this one may be a dissapointment with a! big price tag.

An outstanding reference book on dinosaurs.
Since this book represents a first synthesis ever of dinosaur biology and evolution, it is inveluable reference source for any professional vertebrate paleontologist, geologist, student and interested amateur.
The recent explosion of knowledge based on the more and more spectacular finds of dinosaurs throughout the world has been channelled into this book and revized in full scale. Dinosaur taxonomy has been trimmed by elimination of more than 250 genera and almost 500 species making the data usable for further research purposes.
Each of the world's experts on dinosaurs, write on its on speciality and a group of dinosaurs.
The book is very detailed, comprehensive, with a lot of illustrations (there might have been more) and a massive bibliography containing more than 2,500 entries.
This book is a "must" for every expert and dinophile as well ... Read more

Book Description

Two nifty novelty books showcase beloved stories in a format that is fresh, fun, and floatable! These puffy, pliable books feature full-color pages encased in clear plastic. Perfect for the teething toddler and sophisticated enough to engage the slightly older child, these shiny padded books offer the best in waterproof reading. The Little Engine That Could and the much-loved Dinosaur Roar! are classics indeed. These all but indestructible books are perfect additions to any family library in the rough-and-tumble years of early childhood. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A real joy! A great addition to your child's library.
The dinosaurs in this book are friendly and cute. The pictures work well with the writing. The almost repetitive nature of this book make it easy for children to remember and read the book themselves.

My son loves this book. Even now whenever he sees something dinosaur, he'll say "Roar"!

There are so many books for children out there, it's hard for me to say one is a must have over the other. However, this is one that children will love. I found it well worth the money we spent on it.

A fun book, good words and rhyming!
This is a great book for early reading and for fun time with the kids! My son loves it, while my daughter only likes it. It is fun to read with lots of sounds and a variety of "roars".

The graphics are colorful and nice with colorful dinosaurs that and smile a lot, and not scary - dinosaurs can easily go over the "top" and get scary for kids if not done right. The words are few, and go well together with quick rhyming and therefore good for early reading.

Most of all, it is fun! My son is now almost 4 and still pulls this book out and still has a lot of fun while we read it. Your results may vary, because I'm a good "roarer"!

A Great Little Book
This is a small board book that features some nifty dinosaur illustrations accompanied by some simple rhymes. This book has quickly become my 2-year old son's favorite book, and he carries it around the house and always wants us to read it to him.

Large vibrant illustrations
This book captivates with it's large vibrant illustrations of dinosaurs. My 17 month old loves looking at the pictures while I read it. In my opinion, it is the best illustrated board book I have ever seen.

Wonderful book for pre-schoolers
I have two boys, 5 and 8, and they've both loved this book. The pictures are wonderful and the copy is fun to read together. My boys love to shout, "Dinosaur roar!" My youngest still reads it regularly. And he recently insisted on giving a copy to his 3-yr-old cousin for her birthay. Now, it's my neice's favorite book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From water "woodlice" as big as a platter to Diplocaulus withboomerang-shaped heads, from the colossal titanosaur to Neanderthal "cave people," the world of prehistoric animals is mind-boggling. Budding young paleontologists will find everything they need to know to begin their studies with Dorling Kindersley's impressive Dinosaur Encyclopedia and Dinosaur Hunter CD-ROM. Divided into four sections--Fish and Invertebrates, Amphibians and Reptiles, Dinosaurs and Birds, and Mammals and Their Ancestors--the thick volume describes just what kinds of critters have walked, swum, slithered, and flown the earth. Breathtaking photographs, realistic models, and full-page reconstructions of prehistoric environments allow the reader to enter the mysterious landscapes of these ancient behemoths, while comprehensive and easy-to-use text explores how animals evolved, how scientists find and use fossils, and when, where, and how various creatures lived and died. A timeline bar enables readers to determine the geological era in which a given animal lived, fact boxes provide a quick profile of the main creature featured in each animal entry, and a large reference section provides a fossil timeline, paleontological processes, biographies of leading scientists, and tips for the amateur fossil hunter. Wow! All this, and fun to read, too! (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

in the words of evan my 7 yr old
"BRILLIANT"......

EVERY THING ABOUT THIS HE LOVED...
DETAIL,PICTURES,INFORMATION..

I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY 7YR OLD. REALLY A VERY GOOD BOOK
FOR ANY CHILD INTERESTED IN DINOSAURS

EXCELLENT BOOK , THIS IS OUR SEC. COPY DUE TO FIRE
Our son got this book for his ninth Birthday after showing a steady interest in Dinosaur's since he was old enough to play with toy dinosaur's. He had already memorized all their names and habits etc... but this book has taught him so much more, he is always coming up to his mother and I telling us somehing new he learned about them. On his tenth Birthday Nov 1st of 2002, our house burnt down and his first posession that he asked about was if his Dinosaur book is ok, alone with it's CD-ROM. Unfortunatly, it didn't make it. I'm visiting this site today to looking at the price in order save up to replace it for him, as my wife is a house-mom, and I got laid off of work three weeks before his birthday/the fire. I will be back to buy it again maybe sometime in febuary.

Misleading Title!!
The title of this book is misleading, I was expecting hundreds of pages on dinosaurs but that's not what I got!! Nevertheless it has good information on the prehistoric life and evolution of : Fish and invertebrates,amphibians and reptiles,dinosaurs and birds and mammals and their ancestors. The reference section in itself is almost half the book; among other things it includes a geological time chart, biographies of geologists and a good glossary. I really do think that this book should have a different title.

quiet informative , full of pics
this is a great book , especially for beginners to start to learn , it has alot of facts and alot of pictures . this is not a dinosaur book however , it doesent have alot of words , except for words under the pictures . this book is very informative , and a great way to get started to learn . this book helped me greatly in a earth science paper , got a 93 . this book is highly recommended for the beginner , or if your just intrested in learning about the mythic creatures. ... Read more

Book Description

Count down with a crowd of Paul Stickland's rowdy dinosaurs!In this cheerful counting book by best-selling illustrator Paul Stickland, a group of colorful dinosaurs count their way down from a boisterous ten to a sleepy one. As they wear themselves out with all the reptilian roughhousing, their numbers dwindle the perfect way to introduce subtraction to very young children. Finally, there are only two grouchy dinosaurs left. One is taken home, so then there is one. The very last sleepy dinosaur snuggles down, but a loud surprise awaits him. His nine prehistoric pals plan a noisy reunion their last trick!The bright colors, rhyming text, and silly characters in this book make for jolly family lap reading. It is also a great tool for teachers looking for fun ways to introduce the concepts of addition and subtraction. Longer than most picture books, this 48-page Jurassic jaunt is certain to delight Paul Stickland's growing crowd of dinosaur devotees. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not quite what we'd hoped.
The book is cute and the text is fun. However, I bought this book expecting the illustrations to be as creative and detailed as Dinosaur Roar. It was a let down in comparison.

What coud be better than counting Dinosaurs.
My son loves dinosaurs and is learning to count so this book is quite appealing. I love the illustrations myself and the rhymes are fun and easy to read.

terrific, fun book
This book is one of my 3 year old son's favorites at the moment (especially the picture with the dinosaur who ate too much). The illustrations are very bright and colorful. Text is simple but fun for counting down from 10 to 1.

Excellent for preschoolers!
"Ten terrible dinosaurs standing in a line..." I haven't read this book to my three year old son in several months yet the words are still memorable. One of his preschool teachers had brought it in and it was an instant hit with the class! It introduces young children the concept of counting backwards. Also, with the bright colors and action words a young child's vocabulary may be increased. Overall, a wonderful book for children and their parents! ... Read more

Book Description

"Ms. Frizzle warps her students back to the late Triassic period, where they begin a journey forward through time in search of Maiasaura eggs. . . .Sidebar information provides the hard science, timelines, and maps of continental drift. . . . Grades two to five." ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An Adventure Millions of Years in the Making!
As if Ms. Frizzle's field trips weren't time-consuming enough, now she's decided to take her class back to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth! Has the Friz gone mad? Who knows what kind of animals stalked the very land we stand on millions of years ago? This joyful journey to the Jurassic could end up a perilous predicament in the past!

Written in 1994, "The Magic School Bus: In the Time of the Dinosaurs" is yet another wonderful collaboration between Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. It's Visitor's Day in Ms. Frizzle's class. Parents, relatives and friends are coming to see the students' work in all things dinosaurs. But not before the Friz makes a special announcement.

"Our class has been invited to a dinosaur dig," she informs her students. "We'll be leaving right away."

And, just like all the other field trips Ms. Frizzle has taken, this one ends up being bigger than originally planned. So big, in fact, it can only be described in prehistoric terms!

The students learn all about fossils (anything left from ancient animals or plants), as well as the scientists who study them (paleontologists). They also get to see how these scientists go about their work, using chisels and shovels and burlap and plaster. Then the real adventure begins when the Friz suggests to the class that they all go looking for some Maiasaura nests. And the only way to do that, of course, is to blast into the past!

Students will recognize some of the more well-known dinosaurs featured in this tale - Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex. But they will also be introduced to lesser-known plants and animals from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods - Cycads, Ferns, Elasmosaurus, and Lambeosaurus. Each different geological period represents a variety of creatures, habitats and temperatures.

Were dinosaurs part of a herd (meaning, did they live in packs?), or were they solitary creatures? Were some dinosaurs caring parents, or did they leave their young to fend for themselves? What brought about the end of a species that existed for so many millions of years? But most importantly, will Ms. Frizzle's class ever return to the present day?

As with every book in the "Magic School Bus" series, Cole and Degen wrap up their latest narrative with two things: 1) "From the Author's Desk and the Artist's Drawing Board" helps distinguish fact from fiction in the story; and 2) another clue as to the next riveting field trip the Friz has planned for her class. To weather that storm, the students had better be packing umbrellas and windbreakers! Things could get a little foggy!

Six excellently executed books into this series, and Cole and Degen haven't missed a beat. The writing is superb, the story engaging, and the artwork as clever and informative as ever. Parents and children alike will delight in a story that offers all the thrills of an amusement park ride, yet all the comforts of a favorite reading chair. So hop aboard the magic school bus!

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "Goodness gracious, we've reached the Late Cretaceous!"

Not accurate information, be careful using this one
The info in this book doesn't follow the Bible facts about the creation of Earth, man and animals. Be careful using this book. Make sure it follows an explaination to your youngster about Bible truths. This is a FICTION book and not based on facts.

While I usually like Magic School Bus books; not this one!
There are so many "info-narrative" books about dinosaurs for children I was disappointed in this one. I am sorry to be the dissenting opinion but I am not impressed with this book. I would use a different book.

The Frizz and Co. in the Land that Time Forgot, via Heinlein
It is not surprising that this is one of the best-selling children`s science series`. My five-year-old loves the pictures and story, while the seven-year-old also appreciates the plethora of facts, as well. The engaging and humorous text is packed with information and complemented by lively and amusing illustrations. The boys love the cartoon bubbles and the short "reports" by the kids in the story. The indomitable teacher, Ms Frizzle and her morphing wardrobe challenges her students on these amazing fieldtrips.

IN THE TIME OF THE DINOSAURS is about: dinosaurs and fossils. Obviously too broad a subject to cover thoroughly in this slim volume, but there`s plenty to whet the appetite. There is a real paleontologist at a real dig. And the bus turns into a time machine. The colorful charts and final class display keep us in perspective. The kids always have questions about something. Thank you Ms Frizzle, Ms Cole, and Mr Degen for answering and encouraging them.

great presentation of just the right amount of information
My son, who is 3 and a half, loves this book. Everytime we go to the library he asks to borrow it again. It's time to own it now. ... Read more