Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kid scientist can see real dinos in fun educational series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
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Dino Dana
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 25 parent reviews
Parents say this TV show is a delightful blend of education and entertainment, centering around a young girl who showcases curiosity about dinosaurs while emphasizing positive family dynamics and moral lessons. While some viewers noted the potential scariness for younger children, the overall consensus praises its strong female lead, diverse representation, and engaging storytelling that resonates well with both boys and girls.
- cute and educational
- strong female lead
- diverse representation
- positive family dynamics
- engaging storytelling
- suitable for various ages
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 3 kid 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?
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
- Premiere date : May 26, 2017
- Cast : Saara Chaudry , Nicola Correia-Damude , Michaela Luci
- Network : Prime Video
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , STEM
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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