The Dinosaur Expert

April 15, 2018
Timely intervention keeps a young science enthusiast's career ambitions on the rails in this fourth outing for Mr. Tiffin's class.A born naturalist ("She even collected owl pellets. And she took them apart"), Kimmy eagerly shares her knowledge about dinosaurs and fossils on a trip to the museum--until she's silenced by classmate Jake's disparaging remark that "girls aren't scientists." No sooner does her perspicacious teacher spot her sudden change, though, than he leads her to a specimen of Gasparinisauria, a dinosaur named, she reads, in honor of paleontologist Zulma Nélida Brandoni de Gasparini. Even Jake admits that that is "awesome," and for the rest of the visit Kimmy becomes a positive fount of information about raptor toes, Stegosaurus brains, and other dinosaur lore. "When I grow up," Kimmy declares, "I want to be just like her." Mr. Tiffin's "I think you already are," cements the teachable moment. Kimmy, her teacher, and Jake are white, but along with capturing his characters' changing moods and responses with artfully angled faces and other body language, Karas portrays the rest of the class with diverse features and skin tones. A gallery of women paleontologists of the past and present makes an apt closer.A pivotal moment in a child's life, handled with grace and sensitivity rather than conflict or ineffective lecturing. (Picture book. 6-9)

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July 1, 2018

K-Gr 3-Kimmy is a child with a keen interest in science and history who collects fossils in her spare time. When her class visits a natural history museum, Kimmy is thrilled to find her personal interests and public life merging on a topic so dear to her heart. Throughout the museum tour her head buzzes with information she can hardly wait to share about dinosaurs, and she speaks with knowledge at several exhibits. But then a careless word from a classmate, who thinks that girls are not scientists, leaves Kimmy quiet and stops the tidal wave of information she was so ready to share with her peers. As the class continues the tour, Kimmy sees many photographs of male paleontologists and proceeds to lose her nerve to communicate the information she is excited about. Soon an encouraging word from an observant teacher saves the day, and reignites her enthusiasm. He points Kimmy in the direction of a placard with photos and information about an award-winning female paleontologist. Kimmy's confidence is restored, and she is validated when her classmates see that scientists can be girls. This story is illustrated with great care and attention to detail from page one, and the text and artwork work together in harmony to bring home powerful messages about gender equality, evolving to improve, and being careful with the feelings of others. VERDICT Attention-grabbing from its dinosaur-bone-covered endpapers to its closing spread of additional information on female paleontologists, this is a welcome addition to picture book collections. Best suited for one-on-one and small group sharing.-Lauren Younger, Nicholson Memorial Library, Garland, TX

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 1, 2018
Grades K-3 *Starred Review* A field trip to the natural history museum with Mr. Tiffin's class? That's perfect for Kimmy, who collects fossils. She impresses Jake, a classmate, with how much she knows about dinosaurs, but when she mentions wanting to become a scientist, he responds, Girls aren't scientists. Surprised and deflated, Kimmy goes quiet. Looking at photos of paleontologists of the past, she sees only men. But in the next room, Mr. Tiffin calls her over to see an exhibit sign with photos of the woman scientist who discovered that dinosaur fossil. Hopeful again, Kimmy confides to her teacher, I want to be just like her, and receives a heartening response. An appended two-page section features Kimmy's favorite paleontologists, six women currently working in the field and one girl from the nineteenth century: groundbreaking fossil scientist Mary Anning. While all the picture books in the series about Mr. Tiffin's class are well worth reading, this one is special. Karas uses gouache, matte medium, and pencil to illustrate a setting unfamiliar to many children, while sensitively conveying Kimmy's emotions even when, disheartened and doubting herself, she stops talking for a while. Written with clarity and finesse, the story concludes with a pitch-perfect line. A beautifully crafted picture book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)