Parents' Guide to

Dino Dana

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Kid scientist can see real dinos in fun educational series.

TV Amazon Prime Video Comedy 2017
Dino Dana Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 3+

Based on 22 parent reviews

lkpres
lkpres Parent
July 27, 2022
age 6+

Scary for a 5 year old

This is a neat show, but I am surprised "violence and scariness" is rated as "not present"--being chased by a CGI T Rex, as in episode 1, is pretty scary. After a couple of episodes it's clear the main character is never in danger (dinos simply don't attack her); but still, you are watching cute baby dinosaurs be hunted, and you pretty much have their point of view as frightening-looking predators search for them, realize where they are hiding, bash against and start to break the barrier between them, etc. It was too scary for my 5 year old.
1 person found this helpful.
sanyuly
sanyuly Adult
September 7, 2020
age 4+

Fantastic, Inclusive, POC, Female-led Show!

It's not easy to find a POC female-led kids show that doesn't involve princesses and romance. This show does everything right! From the blended family, to Dana's practical clothing with lots of pockets to hold her gear, to her excitement and curiosity to investigate all things dinosaur, and her willingness to get dirty, this show addresses so many things that other shows are not willing to touch. They don't white-wash Dana's uncle and aunt (Ravi and Anjali) by naming them, for example, Robert and Angela. They make tomato sauce with their Italian grandmother and use spicy peppers in Indian dishes with Uncle Ravi. Dana's step-dad (who she just calls dad) is a nurse who crochets. Dana's mom is a vet who handles boa constrictors with no fear. In the Dino Dana movie Dana's sister faces a tough decision on deciding whether to live with her separated mother or father. (It is so important for kids to see all kinds of families represented on screen other than the traditional nuclear family!) I could go on and on about all these little details that make the show so relatable and realistic. They never detract from Dana's dino experiments and only serve to add layers of realism to her adventures.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 22 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Nine-year-old DINO DANA (Michaela Luci) loves everything about dinosaurs, and she's hard-pressed to find a book she hasn't read on the subject. So when a clerk at the library offers her his own Dino Field Guide to peruse, she can hardly believe her luck. Imagine her surprise when she discovers that not only does it challenge her to learn more about dinosaurs, but it also allows her to see them walking around her own neighborhood! Now Dana can use what she observes about the dinosaurs' behavior to answer her questions about them and to help her solve problems that come up in her own experiences.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (22):
Kids say (3):

Just like Dino Dan before it, this combination live-action/CGI presentation will delight young dinosaur enthusiasts. The prehistoric creatures come to life in full color and size in and around Dana's home and community, dodging traffic on the roads and navigating the bookshelves at the local library but only visible to her. While the concept feels hokey to adults (Really? No one else sees that T. rex lumbering down the street?), preschoolers will eagerly overlook these kinds of logistical questions.

Dino Dana also does well in passing the baton from previous paleontologist-in-training Dan to a female scientist with all the know-how and enthusiasm of her predecessor. She's a great ambassador for girls in STEM learning and in the broader theme of following your passion in life. What's more, she enjoys a positive relationship with her older sister, Saara (Saara Chaudry), who encourages her interests.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about science. Kids: Are you fascinated by dinosaurs like Dana is? What other science subjects interest you? How does studying science help us understand the world around us?

  • How does Dana apply what she learns about dinosaurs to problems in her life? Why is it important to learn lessons from our experiences? When have you done so? How does this help us become a better problem solver in the future?

  • Dana is surrounded by people who foster her interests. Who encourages you to follow your dreams? Where do you find inspiration and information about the subjects that interest you? Do you have role models, either in general or in those specific fields?

  • Families can talk about curiosity. Why is it an important character strength?

TV Details

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