When Dinosaurs Walked the Earth

PreS-K–Long ago, the world was populated by a variety of dinosaurs, all doing their best to survive from one day to the next. Small dinosaurs with plant-based diets spent their time searching for greens to eat, while larger, meat-eating dinosaurs hunted for smaller dinosaurs for their meals. But events did not always occur exactly as one might expect, and that is just how things sometimes were when dinosaurs walked the earth. This comic picture book is well-suited to be read aloud thanks to its thoughtful design and engaging presentation. Its bright, colorful illustrations appear in primary hues; they are reminiscent of a child’s early sponge paintings, and they depict fictionalized dinosaurs in several humorous situations. These images are the primary focus of the story, but the narrative is an important complement to the book’s visual appeal. The text itself is repetitive in design yet it often surprises by describing an event that counters what is expected. With the narrative’s repetition comes the opportunity for readers to interact with the text, either by speaking sentences together or by being invited to speculate about upcoming plot points. Several font sizes are also used throughout the book, which adds to the dynamic nature of the printed text.