Dinosaur Train: We Are a Dinosaur Family

PreS-K—Adult viewers may take issue with a series that aims to impart science facts while featuring dinosaurs, loosely living in a prehistoric way, who frequently board a magical train that transports them to recreational sites and different prehistoric time periods to discover unfamiliar creatures or plants. Most preschoolers, though, will be fascinated with both the dinosaurs and the trains. The action centers on a family of pteranodons with four children, one of whom is an adopted T-rex. The female characters engage in traditional gender role activities: Mom does the housework; the cheering girls like pretty, shiny things; while the boys are known for their collecting and classifying skills and for generating hypotheses. The eight episodes focus on family relationships and events like socializing with grandparents, going on a first camp-out, enjoying a first sleepover, and having a babysitter for the first time. The dino children notice differences among the species, so viewers can absorb facts about the prehistoric world. The computer-generated animation is appealing, and the characters are stylized enough to give them human expressions. Preschoolers will relate to the situations and likable characters.—Constance Dickerson, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, OH