Parents' Guide to

Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp

By Peter Lewis, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Bright artwork captures many dinosaur particulars.

Book Carol Diggory Shields Science 2000
Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 3+

Based on 1 parent review

Gamer4056
Gamer4056 Adult
October 23, 2018
age 3+

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

A lively gathering of the dinosaurs--set to a jukebox beat--to attend the dinosaur stomp is told in verse by Carol Diggory Shields. Scott Nash's bright, cartoony artwork faithfully captures many dinosaur particulars, so as well as being a swinging doo-wop tale, the book is also a glancing introduction to the great lizards.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Give credit to Carol Shields for putting a little music into some mighty daunting scientific terminology: the proper names of dinosaurs. Who would have ever thought that duckbill and supersaurus would have ever sounded so sweet, or that there even existed a rhyme for late Cretaceous? For those who will be reading this book aloud, be forewarned: Give it a preliminary reading so as not to break the flow of the verse by stumbling over plesiosaurs and Cenozoic.

Beyond the fantastical coloration Scott Nash has bestowed on the dinosaurs, he has given each a distinct personality that captures their notable characteristics. There are lots of smiles here, and big round eyes, but pentaceratops has his five horns and diplodocus looks like she belongs in a swamp.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the different dinosaurs. Which one would you want to be? Why? How could you learn more about them?

Book Details

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