  | Tiny Dino Author: Freedman, Deborah | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
A small but mighty bird declares it is a dinosaur! But no one believes that dinosaurs still exist. The tiny dino explains to his animal friends via dynamic bursts of dialogue that birds are in fact dinosaurs, and the book's back matter further explains the characteristics that connect birds to their prehistoric ancestors.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 2.00 Points: .5 Quiz: 516358 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (05/01/22)
School Library Journal (05/01/22)
Booklist (+) (03/01/22)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 05/01/2022 PreS-Gr 1—While countless picture books feature dinosaurs in all kinds of stories, fewer focus on the connection to their descendants. This story previews with a triceratops, a T. rex, and a burning meteor in the background but really gets started when teeny but enthusiastic hummingbird bursts onto the title page proclaiming "I'm a dinosaur! I'm a dinosaur!" in response to "Did you know that dinosaurs STILL roam the earth?" A turtle questions this claim as the wee bird's feet are "too small to stomp and clomp" but the hummingbird remains undaunted, demonstrating how similar its feet are to the T. rex's. A frog and a mole further contest the bird's assertions but it proves that what it lacks in size it makes up for in fierceness. The appearance of a crocodile (who denies being a dinosaur) briefly startles the "tiny dino" but soon more parallels are drawn ("Look, I have scales on my toes. And you have scales on your feet!") to establish a family tree connection and declare their cousin status. Freedman uses occasional bursts of orange and pink, textural watercolor splashes, and changes in speech balloon/font size to convey emotions and emphasize statements on spreads that are otherwise awash in cheerful greens and blues. Fainter line-drawn diagrams of dinosaur anatomy and other pertinent information appear in the backgrounds, illustrating the comparison concepts without overwhelming the action. An author's note provides a few more characteristics that dinosaurs and birds share, mentions their common ancestors as well as the extinction event, and supplies a short list of resources about dinosaurs. VERDICT This is another charmer from Freedman, seamlessly mixing nonfiction, humor, a meditation on interconnections, and a lot of heart.—Yelena Voysey - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 03/01/2022 *Starred Review* Tyrannosauruses and triceratopses may be long gone, but a tiny hummingbird bursts into view with some news for a nearby turtle: “I’m a DINOSAUR!” The turtle is skeptical. Didn’t dinosaurs have huge clomping feet? The hummingbird points out that its feet look remarkably similar to a T. rex's. But don’t dinosaurs have giant bones, a frog wonders? The bird responds that the important thing is bone structure, not size. The remarkable comparisons continue, until a mole finally thinks that it has the last word: Aren’t dinosaurs fierce? When the hummingbird declares with intensity that it is so, so, SO FIERCE, they can’t help believing it. Things get more complicated when a crocodile wanders onto the scene (“I am not a dinosaur!”), but the hummingbird remains prepared to shed light on the situation. The spritely story is an appealing introduction to the concept of modern birds evolving from their dinosaur ancestors, quietly illustrating the core evidence in entertaining fashion. The watercolor artwork is soft in texture but bold in color and construction, cleverly inserting wispy scientific sketches behind the main action, making it easy to see comparisons and comprehend the basic concepts. The characters are also flat-out darling, and their adamant declarations beg to be read aloud. It's an absolute delight to learn and laugh with this curious animal crew. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
