I Am Allosaurus

PreS-Gr 2–Simple, repetitive text and engaging illustrations follow an allosaurus from birth to adulthood. Three-word sentences feature basic vocabulary and consistent structure: “I am Allosaurus. I can hide. I am Allosaurus. I can hunt.” The simple sentence structure makes the book accessible to the earliest readers, while dynamic drawings provide excitement. Two-page spreads depict the dinosaur exploring its world with caution, then becoming more active as it grows. The young dinosaur hunts and eats a dragonfly. The adult allosaurus chooses a large stegosaurus as its prey. Physical features are conveyed accurately, with just the right touch of personality in the protagonist’s eyes. Clear, uncluttered layouts focus on the allosaurus with a good variety of perspectives as it interacts with other creatures in the prehistoric setting; the other animals are not identified by species. The final illustrated spread shows its skeleton in a museum: “I am Allosaurus. I am extinct.” A closing section provides details about the allosaurus and lists the time periods when it existed, expanding on the intentionally limited information. This could be useful to teachers, parents, and caregivers.