Basher Basics--Dinosaurs

July 23, 2012
Adding to the Basher Basics series of small-format guides, Basher introduces readers to dinosaurs, organizing them by common characteristics. The dinosaurs speak for themselves: “With my prey cornered, I jack my jaw wide open like a bear trap, sink my top row of pearly whites in, and chop like a hatchet,” reports an Allosaurus that appears in a section on “meat crunchers.” In addition to the lively monologues, Basher provides bulleted facts about each dinosaur, including size, the period in which it lived, and when it was first discovered by paleontologists. Of course, for many readers, it’s all about Basher’s distinctive style, with his cute, digital figures that look like they might have jumped out of arcade games. Ages 3–up.

September 1, 2012
The umpteenth volume of Basher Basics features a representative assortment of dinosaurs and dino-cousins strutting their stuff. Grouped into "Veggie Munchers," "Meat Crunchers," "High-fliers" and "Water Lovers," 26 dinos and proto-reptiles each step up in turn to flex their attributes: "I'm one happy swimmer--a fish-chasin', air-breathin', fully oceangoin' reptile. Very 'plesio' to meet you!" Bulleted lists of basic facts sandwich each testimonial and add to the typically substantial informational load. Basher's cartoon portraits, on the other hand, don't add much beyond cuteness. Though recognizable in general form, the prehistoric creatures all float over monochrome pastel backgrounds and are rendered in a flat, stylized way with the same smooth surface textures and similar squints and smiles. Ten dinos get a curtain call in a small foldout poster at the end. Weather publishes simultaneously. Green supplies plenty of grist for the dino-mill; Basher's formulaic visuals, not so much. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-11)

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