The Greatest Dinosaur Ever

August 15, 2013
Guiberson presents arguments as to why each of 12 dinosaurs should be considered the greatest--tallest, longest, fastest, smartest, best-armored, etc. Each spread introduces a different species, Spirin's oils making each dinosaur, in its earth-toned, scaly glory, come to life in its habitat. The pattern of the text makes it easy for children to chime in with every page turn: "I was the greatest. I had the longest spikes at the end of my tail. They were sharp and strong and as long as a third grader. On my back I had 17 stunning plates shaped like kites. / I, STEGASAURUS, ...was the greatest dinosaur of them all." From the well-known and common dinos to the lesser-known, like Leaellynasaura and Therizinosaurus, Guiberson provides the pronunciation under each name. Of the final three species--Archaeopteryx, Oviraptor and Microraptor--two fly, and all are depicted with feathers. Some of the "greatest" designations may be cause for dispute, but in that case, readers may enjoy giving evidence for their own candidates. Though they have a rather antique look, Spirin's illustrations are lifelike, and most give readers a good sense of the dinosaurs' comparative sizes. While there is no gore, these creatures sport wide-open, toothy mouths (sometimes enclosing prey). Backmatter presents thumbnails and quick information: name's meaning, pronunciation, size, period and location. Dino lovers will learn how their favorites stack up. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from September 1, 2013

Gr 1-4-This book poses the question, "Who was the greatest dinosaur that ever lived?" Each beautifully illustrated page declares "I, -, was the greatest of them all!" The succinct text describes the superlative characteristic (biggest herbivore, stongest teeth, fastest runner) of the species and offers the gross, interesting, and informative facts that dinosaur-obsessed readers want to know. Each name includes a pronunciation guide (exactly what adult readers want). The text includes a mix of familiar and obscure species including "the first dinosaur to say I was a bird," the best parent, and the longest spikes. Every full-spread illustration, in oil paint on paper, shows the dinosaur in its richly depicted habitat. Observant children will learn as much from the detailed, painterly images of groups of animals moving together, hunting prey, and adapting to new environments as they will from the text. The dreamy quality of the art keeps these giant predators from being too scary. Whether read aloud or pored over individually, this book is sure to please anyone who has ever wondered about dinosaurs.-Leila Sterman, Chappaqua Library, NY

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2013
Grades K-3 Which dinosaur was the greatest? In a few sentences on a richly illustrated double-page spread, 12 dinosaurs take turns explaining why each deserves the title greatest. The question comes down to what the term really means. Sauroposeidon, for instance, was the tallest, while Spinosaurus was the longest, and Tyrannosaurus rex was the strongest. Oviraptor claims to have been the best parent, while Ankylosaurus boasts the best armor, with bony plates, a club on its tail, and even armored eyelids. Grand in scale and distinguished in appearance, the beautifully executed oil paintings offer richly detailed views of prehistoric times in varied locales. Through the creatures' monologues and the brief but informative notes appended, children will learn a few facts about a dozen dinosaurs, and in the end, they are the ones encouraged to choose the greatest of all. From the writer and illustrator of Life in the Boreal Forest (2009) and Frog Song (2013), here's another handsome book for the science shelves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)