A Day at the Dinosaur Museum by Tom Adams - ADVISABLE

Adams, Tom A Day at the Dinosaur Museum, illustrated by Josh Lewis POP UP and LIFT THE FLAP NON-FICTION Templar Books (Candlewick), 2017. $18.99. Content: G.  

Visit the dinosaur museum, where the exhibits literally pop out of the page.  Designed like you are reading the plaques, information is given in short pieces, with lift the flaps for further info , maps and dials and mini books (like brochures).  

This book was so interesting, I found myself re-reading pages - like running around a museum looking at this display and that display.  The book illustrations include shadows of “other visitors” so you don’t feel like you are alone in the museum.  This was a lot of fun, a great introduction to dinosaurs and a fun “hands-on” activity book.  

EL, MS  ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian

Too Big to Hide by Stacy McAnulty -- ADVISABLE

McAnulty, Stacy Too Big to Hide (The Dino Files #2), illustrated by Mike Boldt, 128 pages. CHAPTER BOOK.  Random House, 2016. $4.99. Content: G.

Frank and Sam are cousins staying with their paleontologist grandparents for the summer. (Well, their grandparents and their pet dinosaur, Peanut.) When a giant fossil is found on their land, a film crew shows up to make a documentary. But how can Frank and Sam hide their dinosaur from the curious film-makers? And why does it seem like the film-makers have a secret of their own?

This is a fun addition to the chapter book series. The dinosaur facts sprinkled throughout the story add to the fun, especially for paleontology-loving boys and girls.

EL (K-3) -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist

A Mysterious Egg by Stacy McAnulty -- ADVISABLE

McAnulty, Stacy A Mysterious Egg (The Dino Files #1), illustrated by Mike Boldt. Random House, 2016. $4.99. Content: G.

This chapter book introduces Frank and Sam, cousins staying with their grandparents for the summer. Gram and PopPop run a dinosaur museum and orchestrate digs on a ranch in Wyoming, which means plenty of paleontological fun for Frank and Sam. But all that fun becomes hard work when Gram discovers a dinosaur egg which actually hatches, and Frank and Sam must team up to protect the baby dino.

This is an amusing start to a new series. While the hatching dinosaur baby is, of course, far-fetched, the unusual setting feels authentic, and the paleontological tidbits are likely to interest many dinosaur-loving girls and boys.

EL (K-3) -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist

Apex Predators by Steve Jenkins - ESSENTIAL

Jenkins, Steve Apex Predators NON FICTION PICTURE BOOK, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2017. $17.99. Content: G. 

With large pictures and short descriptions, Steve Jenkins teaches about the Apex Predators - those predators so powerful and ferocious that no one hunts them.  Both extinct and modern, we learn about tigers and sharks and the Komodo dragon, the apex predator dinosaurs - like the giant Tylosaurus, and the Utahraptor, extinct mammals like the giant short-faced bear and the marsupial saber-tooth, and even extinct predatory birds like the giant Teratorn or the flightless terror bird.  

Each illustration includes a scale reference with a drawing of an adult human male standing beside the predator, and a little tidbit of “further information” about each one.  At the end, there was an "apex predator face off" - both on land and on sea, to see how a modern predator would stand up against an ancient one.   This would work great in a middle school or elementary classroom as a springboard for further study of a species or as a discussion in a science class about these unique creatures. There is a mention at the end that man is the deadliest predator that ever lived. Includes a bibliography and websites you can visit for further information.

EL, MS - ESSENTIAL  Lisa Librarian

The Good Dinosaur: A Berry for Arlo by Disney Press-ADVISABLE

Disney Press, The Good Dinosaur: A Berry for Arlo. Disney Hyperion, 2015. $12.99. BOARD BOOK.

Spot finds some berries and wants to take them to his berry-loving friend, Arlo. His friend, however, isn’t the only dinosaur who loves berries. Will Spot be able to bring Arlo some berries?

The pictures are colorful and reminiscent of the Good Dinosaur movie. The text is simple and easily readable to toddlers. A great read aloud for young children and their parents. 

PreK - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.

Dinosaur Rocket! by Penny Dale - OPTIONAL

Dale, Penny Dinosaur Rocket! Nosy Crow, 2015. $15.99 PICTURE BOOK Content: G

Dinosaurs in space! Come along as dinosaurs prepare and launch a rocket into space. From lift off to a moon landing, these dinosaurs are taking an extraordinary journey into the galaxy. 

Outstanding illustrations are done a disservice by overly simplistic writing that is more annoying than amusing. However, readers may enjoy the fantastic illustrations and absurd story idea enough that perhaps they may be able to overlook mediocre writing.         

EL (K-3)—OPTIONAL AEB

Monsters on the Run by Kevin Sherry - OPTIONAL

Sherry, Kevin   Monsters on the Run (The Yeti Files, book 2)  123 pgs. Scholastic Press, 2015. $8.99. Language: G ; Mature Content: G; Violence: G

Without any character introductions, Sherry dives right into the story. Yeti Blizz and his cousin Brian play a game they call Image Scrimmage, where contestants draw a series of creatures, each one worse than the last, till the worst of all is conceived. When a letter from Loch Ness arrives, asking for help to find a friend for Vanessa, the monster who lives there, Blizz and his friends use magic from Tobin the leprechaun to travel back 65 million years. But prehistoric life is full of dangers they aren't expecting. At least they are armed with a picture of the winning creature from Image Scrimmage.

Part graphic novel, part beginning chapter book fantasy, this book has a pacing I found very disjointed, but the central light-hearted, madcap adventure resolves around a good deed: friends problem-solving together to help a friend in need. Give it to fans of Mighty Robot and Captain Underpants. However, to better understand who the characters are and what cryptid is represented by each, read the first book first. 

EL - OPTIONAL. Reviewed by P.K.Foster, teacher- librarian

Can You Tell a Tyrannosaurus From an Allosaurus by Buffy Silverman-ADVISABLE

Silverman, Buffy, Can You Tell a Tyrannosaurus From an Allosaurus. Pgs. 32. Lerner Publishing, 2014. $25.26. INFORMATION.

What’s the difference between a Tyrannosaurus and an Allosaurus? What did they eat? How did they find food? How did they attack and eat their prey? This book answers these questions and more. A great compare and contrast text for young, independent readers. With diagrams of the dinosaurs and information side-by-side for each one, readers will easily learn how to compare and contrast in a fun and easy way. With additional sources for information and a glossary, teachers will have an easy time using this in the classroom. Great for fans of dinosaurs or those interested in them. EL - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.

Can You Tell a Stegosaurus From an Ankylosaurus by Buffy Silverman-ADVISABLE

Silverman, Buffy, Can You Telll a Stegosaurus From an Ankylosaurus? Pgs. 32. Lerner Publishing, 2014. $25.26. INFORMATION

What’s the difference between a Stegosaurus and an Ankylosaurus? What did they eat? How did they find food? How did they attack and eat their prey? This book answers these questions and more? A great compare and contrast text for young, independent readers. With diagrams of the dinosaurs and information side-by-side for each one, readers will easily learn how to compare and contrast in a fun and easy way. With additional sources for information and a glossary, teachers will have an easy time using this in the classroom. Great for fans of dinosaurs or those interested in them. EL - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High