Dinosaur Countdown - Hardcover

Oldland, Nicholas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1554538343 ISBN 13: 9781554538348

Publisher: Kids Can Press, 2012

Synopsis

In this simple and clever picture book from Nicholas Oldland, small children will have fun counting backward, as they're introduced to different dinosaurs grouped from ten to two, and a final, single dinosaur. Then, in a unique twist, the book goes on to ?zero? dinosaurs as well (because ?they're extinct, silly!?). Each number gets its own two-page spread, where it is both written as a numeral and spelled out as a word within the illustration's description (for example, ?ten striding velociraptors?). The dinosaur names are appropriately long and tongue-twisting, one of the things young children love about dinosaurs --- but not to worry, there's a pronunciation guide at the end of the book! And the dinosaurs are all actively engaged, ?sauntering? and ?soaring,? ?rearing? and ?roaring.? A couple of spreads offer clues to something extra on the page to search for (a ?looming predator? on one, ?and what's that flying overhead?? on another), to keep the counting activity fun and not too repetitive.
Oldland's fresh, playful and lively artwork will keep young eyes engaged, an important task as they begin to learn to count. This book is an excellent choice for an interactive preschool or kindergarten early numeracy or counting lesson. It also works for first lessons on prehistoric animals or on animal biology in general (herbivores and carnivores are both mentioned, for example). And it makes a terrific vocabulary stretcher, as children use visual cues to figure out what it means that a tyrannosaurus is ?towering? or a stegosaurus is ?lumbering.?

About this title

About the Author

Nicholas Oldland earned a degree in fine arts at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada, and enjoyed success as a commercial artist and filmmaker before taking up the role of creative director at Hatley, a popular apparel company. Big Bear Hug is his first picture book.

Nicholas Oldland earned a degree in fine arts at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada, and enjoyed success as a commercial artist and filmmaker before taking up the role of creative director at Hatley, a popular apparel company. Big Bear Hug is his first picture book.

From Booklist

“Ten striding velociraptors (and one looming predator).” So begins this countdown book that includes both the familiar (Tyrannosaurus) and unfamiliar (Parasaurolophus) and demands careful discrimination between such similar types as Deinosuchus and Deinonychus. Delightfully colorful verbs describe the dinosaurs’ actions (lazing, soaring, lumbering) and introduce scientific concepts (“munching herbivores”). Illustrated in earth tones, the dinosaurs are in all manners of striped and polka-dotted patterns, subtly emphasizing that no one really knows what dinosaurs’ colors were. Stark against clean white backgrounds, the animals are easy to count. Two spreads even introduce addition: “Seven sauntering parasaurolophus (and what’s that flying overhead?).” With the clever inclusion of zero, Oldland both emphasizes an important mathematical concept and the scientific concept of extinction. A worthy addition to the dinosaur collection. But here’s a tip: before storytime, adults will want to check out the pronunciation key at the end of the book. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Patricia Austin

Edition details

• Publisher: Kids Can Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1554538343
• ISBN 13: 9781554538348
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 24
• Illustrator: Oldland Nicholas