How Do Dinosaurs Learn Their Colors? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague. Published by Blue Sky Press, 2006. ISBN 0-439-85653-1. $6.99. Board book.
You may not believe dinosaurs begin to learn colors "with a red fire truck tucked under the bed" but your preschool grandchild may accept that. He or she will probably be more engaged by the dinosaurs, big and bold on every page, than by the simplified color associations. The dinos, with their proper Latin names printed inconspicuously on the scenery, are more interesting than purple towel or pink ball. Part of the dinosaur series of bestsellers by Jane Yolen, this volume is put together fairly well. The pictures are kind of fun, juxtaposing modern items like a ping-pong ball and paddle next to a castle or dinosaur. You'll probably find it a fun read attractive to the three to five year old crowd.
How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague. Published by Blue Sky Press, 2006. ISBN 0-439-85653-1. $6.99. Board book.
Well, on this one you're really going to suspend your disbelief. Even children will find it a little hard to swallow. Another part of the well-received series, this one was odd. I'm not sure why I'm more or less okay with dinosaurs bouncing pink balls as in the Color book. But I'm completely sure why the picture of Lambeosaurus riding a tricycle the size of his head is a tough one for me. The dinosaur pictures are fine and I really like the idea of their proper names appearing on the page, unobtrusively. The drawings seem a little stilted to me from time to time, but I can get past that. Don't get me wrong, I realize this series is reaching for laughs and giggles. There's humor in a lot of them, and kids seem to enjoy them. This one? Maybe I'll find a five-year-old and ask her.
Scoubidous, Boondoggles & Lanyards by Corrine Pyle, illustrated by Sara Perez, photography by Debi Harbin Photography. Published by Tangerine Press, an imprint of Scholastic, 2005. $5.99. ISBN 0-439-84316-2. Craft kit and booklet.
I was attracted to the title of the craft kit, Scoubidous, Boondoggles & Lanyards because it chucked me back to my childhood. So what are those things? Think back to weaving/braiding flat strings of plastic-coated cloth fiber, 36 inches long. You made geegaws that hook to your belt. Then you hung keys or a whistle there. You wore them around your neck or wrist, remember? I spent many summers sitting under the shade of a tree while Park District activity counselors taught us how to make them. My test group and I were tremendously disappointed when we tried the new version. It has an appealing look in pink purple and aqua. While the drawings and photographs are well-produced, the instructions are indecipherable. We sat here, three or four of us ranging in age from 21 to 57, attempting to do any of six projects. No way. Some of the materials listed or pictured on the package are not inside. The materials that are tend to be poor quality so they don't hold the design shape. The instructions don't match pictures. The age range for this kit is eight years and up. I didn't have an eight year-old handy, and granted, we adults are not the target audience. But I would advise you pass on this and buy something you can do together that even an adult can handle.
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