Samantha Gray (1)

The Eye Wonder series educates children on a variety of nonfiction topics through a clever combination of photographs, illustrations and pictures, small text blurbs, and side bars. This entry in the series is all about dinosaurs, a subject sure to please most children. The book is divided by topic, rather like mini-chapters, where each one is introduced with a title and occupies a two-page spread. Subjects range from the types of dinosaurs and their skeletons and skin, to fossils and how archaeologists find and preserve dinosaur remains. The text is equally balanced with a variety of illustrations. Most of these are computer generated interpretations of what the dinosaurs may have looked like, although a liberal use of photographs are included when available, such as in the sections about dinosaur bones and museums.

I enjoy these books, and moreover, I appreciate the way they teach on educational topics in a manner that is easy for children to approach and understand. The book covers a wealth of information without overwhelming the young reader. My daughters, as young as they still are, delight in poring over it and others in the series, and the dinosaur one is a special favorite. The only aspect that bothers me is the heavy use of computer generated images in this particular book. I would have preferred more photographs of skeleton or sketches of assumed dinosaurs, but I believe the format is more appealing to children, so I understand why editors chose that route. Aside from this small quibble, the book is well-produced and attractive, and sure to interest the kids.… (meer)