Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp: (I Can Read Book Series: Level 1)

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Danny and his pet dinosaur have been delighting children since 1958--almost the Jurassic Age to today's preschooler. There's a reason for that. To adults, this dinosaur, so different from the scary guys in Spielberg-land, may seem a bit of a wimp, but he, his friend Danny, the kids in their neighborhood, and the reassuring stories of their simple adventures, are a gentle introduction to the dinosaur universe.

In fact, as a review copy of this reissue lay on my desk, a very grown-up 17-year-old wandered over and remarked "Danny and the Dinosaur. Cool. I remember him. Those books were rad."

Rad indeed. This time author-illustrator Syd Hoff takes us along as Danny and his unnamed companion go off to sleep-away camp. The big guy fits right in; nobody even minds when he wins a race with a single step.

He does his part, though. When the campers go boating, "The children rowed little boats. Danny rowed the dinosaur." When they get tired on a hike, the whole group and counselor Lana hitch a ride home on his back.

ANNOTATION

Danny and his friend the dinosaur go to summer camp together.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In 1957, Harper published its first I Can Read title, Little Bear, written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Large type, simple vocabulary, chapter-like divisions, and decorative pictures made Little Bear perfect for emerging readers￯﾿ﾽthey could read the story comfortably and not feel overwhelmed by the text. Following suit came such classics as Peggy Parish's Amelia Bedelia series, Lillian Hoban's books about Arthur the monkey, and Syd Hoff's popular Danny and the Dinosaur. Many books in this series are special in the depth of emotion evoked - Little Bear, the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel, and Daniel's Duck by Clyde Bulla, to name a few - and all are enjoyed by children of all ages. Preschool - Grade 1.

SYNOPSIS

Danny goes to the museum where his wish comes true - a friendly dinosaur comes to life and spends the day playing with him. As the dinosaur says, after one hundred million years, it's good to play outside! The two have a monstrously good time eating ice cream, going to a ball game, and playing hide-and-seek with Danny's friends. When the day comes to an end, the dinosaur must return to the museum, even though Danny wants to keep him as a pet. After all, the museum needs him, and, Danny realizes, the dinosaur probably wouldn't fit in his house!

FROM THE CRITICS

Language Arts

It is a great pleasure to see what miracles can be wrought with simple words, imagination, and understanding of children.

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

First published in 1958, Danny and the Dinosaur has become a classic. The uncomplicated drawings look like they were colored with crayon, and look like something a child would create. The text describes Danny's daylong adventure with a dinosaur in easy to read text with audio tape. Part of the "I Can Read" series.

Children's Literature - Jeanne K. Pettenati

This selection is part of the "I Can Read" series. It tells a mildly amusing story of a dinosaur who accompanies his friend Danny to camp. The dinosaur does predictable things and the campers respond in predictable ways. Children may be interested in several readings, but it is unlikely that this story will sustain their long-term interest. The book is not up to the level of other in this series.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2Hoff's classic characters are back. This time, Danny and his friend the dinosaur go to summer camp together. They enjoy typical activities such as races, letter writing, water sports, and marshmallow roasting, and then go to sleep. Character development is limited to demonstrating that the dinosaur has a huge appetite. The full-color cartoon illustrations complement the text and show both African American and white children, but lack continuity. On one page, the dino is large enough to carry all the campers on its back; on another, it is small enough to eat at the table and hold a fork. Children may overlook details like this, but they will definitely miss the novelty and charm of the original Danny and the Dinosaur (HarperCollins, 1958). Not a necessary purchase unless you have a large early-reader collection or many fans of Syd Hoff's work.Sharon R. Pearce, San Antonio Public Library, TX

Kirkus Reviews

Danny and his dinosaur (who, although he has been Danny's friend since 1958, has never been given a name) are off again, this time to summer camp, and everyone has a wonderful time, including readers. Danny's dinosaur makes everything more fun—racing (he needs to take only one step to win), rowing (he's the boat), hiking (he can offer all the tired hikers a ride home), eating a lot of toasted marshmallows (guess who eats the most?), or sleeping under the stars (no cot is big enough for a dinosaur). Hoff's simple prose and cartoon illustrations make a delightful book for beginning readers, with enough difficult words—ketchup and pizza—to keep the story interesting, and enough clues in the illustrations to ensure new readers success. Every collection will have room for this welcome addition to the popular series.