Dinosaurs from Head to Tail

December 15, 2014
Dinos rendered as cut-paper collages in bright, mostly primary colors pose next to basic facts about each in this gallery for younger devotees.Set up as a guessing game, each entry opens with a spread-sized body part-"What dinosaur had jaws [head, neck, tail, etc.] like this?"-that gives way with a page turn to a full-body view. Along with identifications ("A Tyrannosaurus!"), Roderick supplies three to six simply written sentences of descriptive information for each. The long-clawed plant eater Therizinosaurus and crested Parasaurolophus join the main roster of usual suspects, as does a flying Pteranodon with the proper note that it was not a true dinosaur but a "cousin." Seven other dinosaurs come in for cameos on a closing spread. The digitally assembled visuals reflect the narrative text's simplicity; the dinosaurs, ranging in color from vivid scarlet to clear, pale blue, are made from just a few jaggedly cut pieces and sport the same wide, free-cut round eyes. Moriya adds knobbly textures and subtle brush strokes to the surfaces and places the figures in minimally detailed settings composed of mixed photos and cut paper. One more addition to the thundering herd, easier on the eye than many and as suitable for reading aloud as alone. (Informational picture book. 4-6)

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July 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 3-Roderick challenges young dinosaur lovers to identify the animals from one of their prominent features. Toothy Tyrannosaurus's jaws and spiky Stegosaurus's back may be familiar, but Therizinosaurus's claws and Parasaurolophus's curved crest will likely stump most children. Each spread following the close-up reveals the entire dinosaur set in a prehistoric landscape. A paragraph of facts about the animal will please older children ready for more than a guessing game while adult readers will appreciate the pronunciation guidance for unfamiliar names. In addition to the eight dinosaurs that are featured, seven others receive a one-sentence introduction next to a small portrait. Moriya's digital collage illustrations incorporate photos and textures. The dinosaurs resemble figures made from construction paper. In fact, some viewers may be inspired to wield scissors and glue to produce their own prehistoric panoramas. VERDICT A fine choice for a basic introduction to dinosaurs that engages and informs young listeners.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2015
Preschool-G This guessing game of a picture book invites little ones to deduce the name of a dinosaur based on a close-up image of one of its notable features. Following the page turn, kids are rewarded with a two-page illustration of the dino and a paragraph containing numerous facts. Moriya depicts the dinosaurs and their landscapes in colorful cut-paper collages, which feature textured paper that resembles dinosaur skin, as well as comically buggy eyes, which give the animals a charming, cartoonlike appearance. Though the bright colors and cartoonish appearance might turn off ardent dino fans, the illustrations are hard not to love, and use enough defining details that, in spite of their simplified appearance, the dinosaurs are still recognizable. The sentences, in a large, easy-to-read font, are short, to the point, and stuffed with useful vocabulary and interesting tidbits of information. Adorable and fun, this will likely please budding paleontologists. Since it's full of factual information, it definitely belongs on the nonfiction shelves, but its eye-catching illustrations mean it will likely be well suited to picture-book collections as well.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)