Dinosaurumpus!

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
This appealing new book from Down by the Cool of the Pool author Tony Mitton and Giraffes Can't Dance illustrator Guy Parker-Rees gets kids romping and stomping in a mammoth-sized dinosaur dance party!

As the repeat phrase goes, when there's a "shake, shake, shudder... / near the sludgy old swamp, / the dinosaurs are coming. / Get ready to romp." Soon, Triceratops are "jumping up and down doing dinosaur hops," the Deinosuchus is spinning on her tail "with her snip-snap grin," and a fang-gnashing Tyrannosaurus barges in to playfully "join in the romp." Of course everyone's invited to join in this rollicking dinosaurumpus that promises to give "a sizzle and a zing," but after a while even the most enthusiastic revelers get tired. But what's "the only noise in the deep of the night" that'll keep you from sleeping? Dinosaur snores, of course!

With vim, vigor, and plenty of reptilian rumbas, Dinosaurumpus! is a rip-roaring read that'll have kids shaking their tail feathers. Cheerful watercolor illustrations from Parker-Rees are perfectly suited to Mitton's rolling rhymes, making this a slam-dunk addition to story time and perfect for reading aloud. With happy dinos like these ready to boogie, your child's dance card will always be full! Matt Warner

ANNOTATION

A rhyming tale of Triceratops, Brontosaurus, and even Tyrannosaurus gathering at the swamp to dance.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Where can you find a Deinosuchus that practically pirouettes on its tail and a T-Rex that bounds gracefully through the air? Between the pages of Tony Mitton's Dinosaurumpus, where dinosaurs run, boom, shake, and shudder their way to the "sludgy old swamp" and rock the night away. Mitton's delightful rhyme and Parker-Rees's whimsical illustrations will make children want to join in the dance while they learn about some of their favorite prehistoric pals. By the time the romp is over, and the dinosaurs are fast asleep, kids won't be able to shake that jumping, thumping Dinosaurumpus beat!

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

According to Mitton's (Down by the Cool of the Pool) jazzy rhyming picture book, dinosaurs can cut a rug with the best of them. Triceratops, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus and more get a groove on to create the "Shake, shake, shudder" heard and felt "near the sludgy old swamp," site of the "dinosaur romp." The pronunciation of some dinosaur names may slow the rhythm of the verse at first, but upon repeated readings, the lines scan more smoothly, creating a fun read-aloud. Parker-Rees (Giraffes Can't Dance) relishes in making the prehistoric beasts look light on their feet; even a giant, menacing-looking T-rex joins in with joyful abandon and some limber moves. The artist uses a playfully bright palette to highlight some of the dinosaurs' key physiological features (Stegosaurus's back plates; Styracosaurus's spikes), and simultaneously give the creatures anthropomorphic expressions and mannerisms. This one may not have the scope of Carol Diggory Shields and Scott Nash's Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp, but the thought of the Jurassic monsters transformed into toe-tappin' twirlers makes for great fun. Ages 3-6. (Mar.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature - Janice DeLong

Dancing Dinosaurs twist, stomp, swing, clatter, and generally gyrate across all the colorful pages of this delightful volume. Rhyming, rapping text introduces the prehistoric characters one at a time. Cavorting onto the boldly colored page, each new dinosaur creates its own rhythmic moves. " Shake, shake, shudder, near the sludgy old swamp. The dinosaurs are coming. Get ready to romp" concludes the introduction and creates anticipation for the next creature to appear. Deinosuchus, Brontosaurus, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus and others are dancing up a storm when, huge Tyrannosaurus "whallops" onto the scene, presumably to crash the party. What he really wants to do is join in the fun. Mitton and Parker-Rees have created a lively combination of poetry and pictures that will have children clapping and snapping their fingers from the first page to the last. This volume offers the perfect opportunity for classroom teachers or parents to prove that poetry comes in many forms and can be lots of fun. 2002, Orchard Books/Scholastic Inc,

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-In a kinetic and goofy rhyming story, various denizens of the dinosaur world gather to join in a noisy, wild dance. This is another successful read-stamp-shout-giggle-sing-aloud from the author-illustrator duo who created Down by the Cool of the Pool (Orchard, 2002). This title shares with its predecessor an ever-increasing frenzy until the final few pages, when the "rompers drift together/and tumble in a heap-/`til finally the dinosaurs/are all fast asleep." From the swoop and "Eeeeeek!" of the pteranodon and the tail-thumping "Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!" of the brontosaurus (kids will no doubt offer its proper name) to the high-kicking "Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!" of the T. rex, each animal presents a fine opportunity for vocal and physical silliness that will be welcome wherever blood-stirring activity is needed. The colorful, eye-popping illustrations are sure to entice, and the recurring appearance of two small furry mammalians, while inaccurate from a natural history standpoint, provide a wry counterpoint to the action. A caveat for read-alouds: many of these names-deinosuchus, deinonychuses, and even styracosaurus-will not trip off the tongue without a fair amount of practice.-Dona Ratterree, New York City Public Schools Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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