A Critical Review by Kristen Bonney
My mother is a Kindergarten teacher and, like most elementary school teachers, has a deep appreciation for children’s books. The way she acts when she sifts through semi-glossy stacks of these things at garage sales is enough to convince me that she may even be downright obsessed. So, given her excellent taste in kid’s literature, I was shocked when I found a quality dinosaur book in the garbage outside her school storage closet this summer. After digging it out from the trash and scanning through it, I was immediately convinced that I had stumbled across a literary masterpiece.
In the past, I have had quite a pessimistic attitude toward the children’s literature that is getting published nowadays. I mean, when I was young I got to immerse myself in gems like ‘Chicka Chicka Boom Boom’ and ‘Love You Forever’. Kids today, on the other hand, have to suffice for the scatological ‘Captain Underpants’ and the nudity-filled ‘No, David’. If you haven’t heard of these “books”, save yourself the nightmares and stay far, far away from them. Maybe also stay away from the strange children who find them so amusing.
But this dinosaur book I discovered has given me hope. It gives me hope that there are newer children’s books out there that are uplifting in their messages as well as educational in their content. I was so impacted by this book that I brought it with me to school. This was the best decision I ever made because now I can share its pages with the Grebel community. I trust that you all will find these snippets from ‘The Day the Dinosaurs Died” by Charlotte Lewis Brown nothing short of inspiring.
In the past, I have had quite a pessimistic attitude toward the children’s literature that is getting published nowadays. I mean, when I was young I got to immerse myself in gems like ‘Chicka Chicka Boom Boom’ and ‘Love You Forever’. Kids today, on the other hand, have to suffice for the scatological ‘Captain Underpants’ and the nudity-filled ‘No, David’. If you haven’t heard of these “books”, save yourself the nightmares and stay far, far away from them. Maybe also stay away from the strange children who find them so amusing.
But this dinosaur book I discovered has given me hope. It gives me hope that there are newer children’s books out there that are uplifting in their messages as well as educational in their content. I was so impacted by this book that I brought it with me to school. This was the best decision I ever made because now I can share its pages with the Grebel community. I trust that you all will find these snippets from ‘The Day the Dinosaurs Died” by Charlotte Lewis Brown nothing short of inspiring.
I remember learning in elementary school that the first thing that you should think about when writing a story is the ‘hook’. You need to grab the reader’s attention from page one. Also, you should give them an idea of what the story is going to be about. So what better way to start a book about complete and utter destruction than with a T-Rex gnawing away at a bloody Edmontosaurus? That sure grabbed my attention.
The suspense is killing me.
I really like the use of onomatopoeia here.
The detail is great. Brown just does not hold back and that, in my opinion, is what makes a great writer. And, if the words aren’t descriptive enough for young readers, the illustrations should help them visualize the scene better.
I love a book that mixes narrative with cold, hard science.
I’m glad we are given the opportunity to get a little attached to this kind herd of Triceratops before they are brutally killed.
Lilo and Stitch teaches children that “family means no one gets left behind”. This book teaches kids that this rule simply cannot apply in an apocalyptic situation which is an important exception for kindergarteners to become aware of.
Perseverance does not always pay, kids. Sometimes you avoid the flames but still end up drowning in the giant tidal wave that follows them. That’s life.
Some dinos just want to watch the world burn.
I also learned in school that most stories, at some point, reach an extreme low point before the conflict is resolved. I don’t know if you can get much lower than eating dirt so this is a great example of that.
There are not many stories that are resolved when everyone dies and that’s what makes this story so wonderfully unique.
But, do not be discouraged or depressed children! There is, at last, a happy ending. And this happy ending involves rats taking over the world. I guess your attitude toward that will depend on how fond you are of rats.
In conclusion, this book is an encouragement to us all that our future children are going to be well off in the literature department after all. I think these amazon reviews sum it up beautifully:
“In this book, Charlotte Lewis Brown brings to life a realistic view of a part of history that fascinates young minds. The story is gripping in its realism.”
“Some people are just idiots and can't handle anything but Disney saccharine.”
Realistic, educational, fascinating, tastefully non-Disney; I couldn’t agree more. I don’t know what’s up with the kid whose mom made this review:
"Every time my son sees this book, he cries and puts it in the freezer.”
Hmm. Maybe he doesn’t like rats?
In conclusion, this book is an encouragement to us all that our future children are going to be well off in the literature department after all. I think these amazon reviews sum it up beautifully:
“In this book, Charlotte Lewis Brown brings to life a realistic view of a part of history that fascinates young minds. The story is gripping in its realism.”
“Some people are just idiots and can't handle anything but Disney saccharine.”
Realistic, educational, fascinating, tastefully non-Disney; I couldn’t agree more. I don’t know what’s up with the kid whose mom made this review:
"Every time my son sees this book, he cries and puts it in the freezer.”
Hmm. Maybe he doesn’t like rats?