Can You Tell a Triceratops from a Protoceratops?

November 1, 2013

Gr 2-3-Each book focuses on two dinosaur genera from a single group, using comparisons and contrasts to highlight key features and behaviors. Extra-large bold text and fairly simple vocabulary and sentence structure make the information accessible to young readers. Shifts from one species to another and back again flow logically and smoothly. The comparison of Tyrannosaurus's two fingers to Allosaurus's three, for example, leads into a discussion of how scientists think each animal found food. Though occasionally oversimplified (such as the statement that Velociraptor and Deinonychus "looked a lot like birds"), most explanations and analogies are effective. The photographs and illustrations are not especially striking and a few are below par. However, the majority of the images support the information effectively. By encouraging readers to notice similarities and differences, the set engages them with age-appropriate critical thinking, making this set a natural choice for Common Core use.

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