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wolfiegrrrl's reviews
241 reviews
Dino-Baseball by Lisa Wheeler, Barry Gott
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
There isn't much in the way of real plot for this Dino Sports series, but the rhymes are fun.
It's a nice way to introduce different types of dinosaurs to kids who are interested in learning their names. But aside from just listing names, showing basic size differences, and categorizing the dinosaurs as meat-eaters and plant-eaters... it's very surface level.
I can't even say these books are that great at explaining the sports these dinosaurs are participating in. It's pretty clear that this series is for kids who already know the terminology well enough to understand what's happening in the story. Older kids will probably have an easier time of parsing it out, but younger kids are definitely more invested in looking at the pictures and learning whether the meat-eaters or the plant-eaters are going to win this time!
I will say that the concept of this dinosaur fantasy world is fascinating. Poor Dodo is the baseball umpire this time and gets "called a nasty name" during a heated confrontation for his troubles. I wonder why he keeps coming back to this role as the lord of the rule book. Does he get a kick out of watching the dinosaurs struggle through one power play after another? The structure of this society is firmly in his hands. Does he feel a sense of purpose - or perhaps power himself - knowing that the dinosaurs have to obey his word as law during the game? We may never find out!
It's a nice way to introduce different types of dinosaurs to kids who are interested in learning their names. But aside from just listing names, showing basic size differences, and categorizing the dinosaurs as meat-eaters and plant-eaters... it's very surface level.
I can't even say these books are that great at explaining the sports these dinosaurs are participating in. It's pretty clear that this series is for kids who already know the terminology well enough to understand what's happening in the story. Older kids will probably have an easier time of parsing it out, but younger kids are definitely more invested in looking at the pictures and learning whether the meat-eaters or the plant-eaters are going to win this time!
I will say that the concept of this dinosaur fantasy world is fascinating. Poor Dodo is the baseball umpire this time and gets "called a nasty name" during a heated confrontation for his troubles. I wonder why he keeps coming back to this role as the lord of the rule book. Does he get a kick out of watching the dinosaurs struggle through one power play after another? The structure of this society is firmly in his hands. Does he feel a sense of purpose - or perhaps power himself - knowing that the dinosaurs have to obey his word as law during the game? We may never find out!
Dino-Soccer by Lisa Wheeler, Barry Gott
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
There isn't much in the way of real plot for this Dino Sports series, but the rhymes are fun.
It's a nice way to introduce different types of dinosaurs to kids who are interested in learning their names. But aside from just listing names, showing basic size differences, and categorizing the dinosaurs as meat-eaters and plant-eaters... it's very surface level.
I can't even say these books are that great at explaining the sports these dinosaurs are participating in. It's pretty clear that this series is for kids who already know the terminology well enough to understand what's happening in the story. Older kids will probably have an easier time of parsing it out, but younger kids are definitely more invested in looking at the pictures and learning whether the meat-eaters or the plant-eaters are going to win this time!
I will say that the concept of this dinosaur fantasy world is fascinating. The fact that the Pterodactyl twins are allowed to fly during the soccer game feels like cheating to me. Also, rest in pieces to the little meat-eater who was about to get utterly WRECKED by the Apatosaurus doing a bicycle flip kick.
It's a nice way to introduce different types of dinosaurs to kids who are interested in learning their names. But aside from just listing names, showing basic size differences, and categorizing the dinosaurs as meat-eaters and plant-eaters... it's very surface level.
I can't even say these books are that great at explaining the sports these dinosaurs are participating in. It's pretty clear that this series is for kids who already know the terminology well enough to understand what's happening in the story. Older kids will probably have an easier time of parsing it out, but younger kids are definitely more invested in looking at the pictures and learning whether the meat-eaters or the plant-eaters are going to win this time!
I will say that the concept of this dinosaur fantasy world is fascinating. The fact that the Pterodactyl twins are allowed to fly during the soccer game feels like cheating to me. Also, rest in pieces to the little meat-eater who was about to get utterly WRECKED by the Apatosaurus doing a bicycle flip kick.
Dino-Hockey by Lisa Wheeler
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
There isn't much in the way of real plot for this Dino Sports series, but the rhymes are fun.
It's a nice way to introduce different types of dinosaurs to kids who are interested in learning their names. But aside from just listing names, showing basic size differences, and categorizing the dinosaurs as meat-eaters and plant-eaters... it's very surface level.
I can't even say these books are that great at explaining the sports these dinosaurs are participating in. It's pretty clear that this series is for kids who already know the terminology well enough to understand what's happening in the story. Older kids will probably have an easier time of parsing it out, but younger kids are definitely more invested in looking at the pictures and learning whether the meat-eaters or the plant-eaters are going to win this time!
I will say that the concept of this dinosaur fantasy world is fascinating. I'm particularly interested in the fact that the meat-eaters keep trying to eat the plant-eaters during the hockey game... and everyone just accepts this as a risk they're willing to take for entertainment. The poor Dodo is trying his best to referee for the game and it was admittedly hilarious that this tiny bird kept locking these larger dinosaurs in penalty boxes like they're rabble-rousing children.
It's a nice way to introduce different types of dinosaurs to kids who are interested in learning their names. But aside from just listing names, showing basic size differences, and categorizing the dinosaurs as meat-eaters and plant-eaters... it's very surface level.
I can't even say these books are that great at explaining the sports these dinosaurs are participating in. It's pretty clear that this series is for kids who already know the terminology well enough to understand what's happening in the story. Older kids will probably have an easier time of parsing it out, but younger kids are definitely more invested in looking at the pictures and learning whether the meat-eaters or the plant-eaters are going to win this time!
I will say that the concept of this dinosaur fantasy world is fascinating. I'm particularly interested in the fact that the meat-eaters keep trying to eat the plant-eaters during the hockey game... and everyone just accepts this as a risk they're willing to take for entertainment. The poor Dodo is trying his best to referee for the game and it was admittedly hilarious that this tiny bird kept locking these larger dinosaurs in penalty boxes like they're rabble-rousing children.
Monsters in the Bathroom by Caleb Burroughs
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
"They didn't say wipe." - words of wisdom from the preschooler I tutor
Aside from that very important missing detail, this book is great for teaching kids proper hygiene habits. I especially like how the ending tells kids that it's okay to use the toilet at night. Better than wetting the bed and worrying about it!
Aside from that very important missing detail, this book is great for teaching kids proper hygiene habits. I especially like how the ending tells kids that it's okay to use the toilet at night. Better than wetting the bed and worrying about it!
Elmo 'n' Daddy by Michael P. Fertig
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
A sing silly song book with several renditions of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" and a cute story with everyone's favorite little red monster.
Elmo's Emojis: A Book of Faces and Feelings! by Sesame Workshop
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
A cute way to teach young children about emotions and feelings.
Which Witch Is Which? by Michaela Muntean, Tom Brannon
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Oscar being the smartest troll in the room is always a delight!
How to be a Grouch by Caroll Spinney
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Who doesn't love Oscar the Grouch? If you're a fan, this book will probably be entertaining to you. The punchline at the end took a while to get to, but it was still cute. I love the funny illustrations. Smiling George, the black sheep of the Grouch family, really made me double-take the first time I read this with the preschooler I tutor.
Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Castle by Richard Platt
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Growing up, I read this book cover to cover more times than I can count. The labels and descriptions are humorous, and the illustrations are so detailed that I kept coming back to it. I have used it for multiple school projects on castles and medieval history throughout the years. It's an excellent book for curious kids and adults who love learning about these topics, and I'd go one step further (from personal experience) and say it's a great reference for artists as well!
Llama Llama I Love You by Anna Dewdney
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
I have read this at least three times now with the preschooler I tutor. It's a simple rhyming book about the different types of valentines one can buy or make, and the different ways one can deliver them.