The Four Corners of Time

Gr 4–6—This entry in the series finds Jenna, Caleb, and Ari with a new time map of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona, home of the Grand Canyon. It can take them back in time more than 500 million years. The children are drawn in an expressive cartoon style, while the depictions of nature are detailed, realistic, and richly colored. There is a great deal of scientific and historical information in the story, but it is conveyed through rather stilted, expository dialogue, with no additional end materials. In between, however, are vicious dinosaur battles, attacks from giant amphibious fish, and attempts by other time travelers to steal the time map. Children, especially those with an interest in prehistoric life, may be too engaged by the lively time-travel story line to mind a little didacticism.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY