Dinosaur Countdown

July 23, 2012
Oldland (Big Bear Hug) offers a bare-bones (no pun intended) counting book that features an array of dinosaurs as it works its way down from “ten striding velociraptors (and one looming predator)” to zero: “no dinosaurs (they’re extinct,
silly).” The simple formula—brown and green dinos appear against a white backdrop along with the pared-down phrases—is enhanced by playful staging: “six soaring pterodactyls” fly in chaotic circles, and “five smiling deinonychus” look gleefully deranged as they display their teeth. At times, Oldland takes the easy way out—three spreads are broadly dedicated to carnivores, herbivores, and (worst of all) “dinosaurs,” with no IDs provided for the beasts on those pages. Ages 2–6.

November 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 1-Oldland counts down from "10 striding velociraptors" to "1 lumbering stegosaurus" as dinosaurs cavort all over the pages, eating, sleeping, playing, and flying. The page for zero shows a dinosaur skeleton. "None. No dinosaurs. (They're extinct, silly!)" There is no background to all of the different dinosaurs that are drawn solely in shades of green and brown. Most of them seem to be smiling, even when showing their teeth, and the words "herbivore," "carnivore," and "predator" are used but not defined. This title works as a concept book about counting and as a nonthreatening intro to dinos.-Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2012
Oldland provides dinosaur lovers who are learning to count down from 10 with some fodder, but there is no story here, nor a capital letter to speak of. Beginning with 10 and counting down to "none / no dinosaurs / (they're extinct, silly!)," Oldland presents readers with some good word choices and vocabulary: towering, lumbering, rearing. The eight "munching herbivores" have plants in their mouths, but the four "roaring carnivores" just have open mouths full of teeth. Sadly, a glossary is lacking. The featured species include Deinosuchus, pterodactyls, Deinonychus, Tyrannosaurus and Stegosaurus. The black-outlined Photoshopped dinosaurs will be the draw for kids. Patterned in earth tones of greens, browns and tans, they feature dots, stripes and splotches, along with somewhat goofy (and toothy) grins. They are easy to count against the stark white background, although some pages have more than the stated number: "ten / striding velociraptors / (and one looming predator)" and "seven / sauntering parasaurolophus / (and what's that flying overhead?)." The creatures fill each spread, with the numeral in the top left-hand corner, the text on the right. A pronunciation guide is given, but parents just joining the dino bandwagon will have to flip back and forth, as it is on the last page, and, unfortunately, there is no further information about the dinosaurs. Large collections with popular dinosaur sections may want to add this, but otherwise, it is one to miss. (Picture book. 2-5)

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October 1, 2012
Preschool-K 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013
"Ten / striding velociraptors / (and one looming predator) / Nine / lazing deinosuchus." The countdown ends at not "One" or even "Zero" but "None," appropriately enough, given the reptiles' fate: "Theyre extinct, silly!" The book may speak only to dinosaur devotees, but it's a clever concept, and the dinos--clearly outlined and set against stark white backdrops--couldn't be more countable.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)