Dinosaurs On My Street

PreS-Gr 3—According to the narrator of this inventive picture book, "dinosaurs have suddenly appeared on the streets" of his hometown. An alphabetical list of 30 prehistoric animals follows, each with a few key facts facing a full-page illustration of the creature in action. The computer-generated artwork is lively and fun, showing the animals engaged in various activities around the city. A pack of Velociraptors make off with a soccer ball, for example, while a long-necked Omeisaurus reaches for a basket of fruit on a high balcony. It's no disaster scene, though: the citizens seem to take it all in stride, while the young narrator can be spotted in many scenes, along with a few other kids who appear on multiple pages. The contrast between the subtly detailed city tableaux and the intruding dinosaurs is amusing without being overdone. Several creatures are shown in spots that reflect their qualities; Suchomimus fishes in a pond, for example, while a herd of Protoceratops bury their eggs on the city beach. Other scenes are lightly whimsical, as when Olorotitan's crest matches the colors of the hat of the lady next to it. Each dinosaur description includes pronunciation and size, with a scaled illustration, and further details appear on a two-page chart in the back. Ending simply with the last dinosaur on the list, however, seemed rather abrupt. The illustrations are center stage, though, and provide plenty of strong appeal for dinosaur buffs.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR