Dino-Hockey

October 1, 2007
Meat-Eaters and Veggiesaurs face off in this lighthearted but slim tale starring a sizeable roster of hockey-playing dinosaurs. Wheeler (Mammoths on the Move) presents a quick-fire play-by-play using exclamation point-studded rhymed couplets, albeit with mixed results. Much of the verse is action-driven and ably reflects the high-stakes, high-speed nature of the game ("Tricera slips. He spins. He reels!/ Watch out-check! And Raptor steals!"). Yet other passages are bland or static ("The score is tied now, 1 to 1./ The winner could be anyone"). And on some occasions, the author seems hard-pressed to pull off the rhyme: "Another face off. Veggies rule!/ Allosaurus starts to drool." Gott (What Do Teachers Do After You Leave School?) comically conveys the on-ice antics and competitive spirit among a wide array of prehistoric players with combative, bug-eyed expressions, and he wisely changes up the perspective for the viewing audiences at home, though a drab palette mutes the action somewhat. After some brawls and penalties along the way, the Veggiesaurs win the championship, ending the season. (Readers, however, are invited to stay tuned: "Buy your tickets! Don't delay./ Dino-Soccer starts today!" Though diehard dino or sports fans may be enticed by the prospect of another contest, others are more likely to pass. Ages 4-9.

December 1, 2007
PreS-Gr 2-In this fast-paced and wild hockey championship, the carnivores in red jerseys (Meat-Eaters) take on the herbivores in green (Veggiesaurs). Clever rhyming couplets keep the game lively and slip in facts about dinosaurs ("Socks and jerseys keep them warm/cold-blooded beasts in uniform") and the sport of hockey ("Safety pads protect their bones./Some have helmets of their own"). The players' names are highlighted in the appropriate team color throughout the text, enabling everyone to keep track while learning which species eat meat and which eat plants. The digitally rendered illustrations, featuring sculpted, wide-eyed creatures, lack polish but do bring out the chaotic spirit of the match. They also accentuate funny details, including a frenzied pileup of fans doing the wave. Just like in a real hockey game (or real dinosaur gathering), aggression takes over at times. However, the dodo bird makes an excellent referee and breaks things up right away: "Stego fumes inside the booth, /as Raptor searches for his tooth." The start of soccer season on the final page hints heavily at a sequel. An amusing pairing of a sporting event and prehistoric beasts.Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 17, 2007
Meat-Eaters and Veggiesaurs face off in this lighthearted but slim tale starring a sizeable roster of hockey-playing dinosaurs. Wheeler (Mammoths on the Move) presents a quick-fire play-by-play using exclamation point-studded rhymed couplets, albeit with mixed results. Much of the verse is action-driven and ably reflects the high-stakes, high-speed nature of the game ("Tricera slips. He spins. He reels!/ Watch out-check! And Raptor steals!"). Yet other passages are bland or static ("The score is tied now, 1 to 1./ The winner could be anyone"). And on some occasions, the author seems hard-pressed to pull off the rhyme: "Another face off. Veggies rule!/ Allosaurus starts to drool." Gott (What Do Teachers Do After You Leave School?) comically conveys the on-ice antics and competitive spirit among a wide array of prehistoric players with combative, bug-eyed expressions, and he wisely changes up the perspective for the viewing audiences at home, though a drab palette mutes the action somewhat. After some brawls and penalties along the way, the Veggiesaurs win the championship, ending the season. (Readers, however, are invited to stay tuned: "Buy your tickets! Don't delay./ Dino-Soccer starts today!" Though diehard dino or sports fans may be enticed by the prospect of another contest, others are more likely to pass. Ages 4-9.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2007
The game begins at half past six, / when dinos grab their hockey sticks. Rhyming couplets set the scene for a fantastical sports event: a hockey game played between opposing dinosaur teams: the Meat-Eaters and the Veggiesaurs. Gotts action-filled paintings amplify the sports moves and the players comically exaggerated expressions, from the scowling face off between T. Rex and Tricera to the jubilant postgame celebration, covered by eager dino newscasters. Kids new to hockey may need help visualizing terms such as assist and check, but even if they dont have a full grasp of specifics, manychildren will be caught up by the inventive premise, the slapstick humor, and the energy in the words and pictures. By sorting teams by herbivores and carnivores, this also sneaks in a science lesson that isreinforced with a scoreboard visual. A final page promises a soccer-field sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)