Dinosaurs has a couple of really cool things that together make it great.
First of all it is a popup book, and popups of big, fanged dinosaurs chasing GIANT herbivores makes for a really exciting page opening experience. When Liam first opened the wrapping on this book, we thought “this book isn’t going to last five minutes”, and indeed within (literally) minutes, a scaly bird had been ripped off from one of the pages. But surprisingly it has been very well looked after since, and no other real damage has been done. Still, I don’t expect it to last a really long time in the face of the high usage that it is getting.
Secondly, whenever you turn one of the popup pages, the book makes noises. Scary, Carnivore hunting through the forest noises.
But, for me the best part is that each double-page popup is accompanied by a detailed informational page. This informational page has a solid paragraph on each dinosaur shown in the popup, using big words and potentially difficult concepts. And Liam loves me to read these to him. “Read the Tyrannosaur one to me dad!”. He is also pretty keen on the Allosaurus (the lesser known awesome predator from the Jurassic period). This part is full of information to keep the kids happy and interested. It has text like

Allosaurus was the biggest of the Jurassic meat-eaters: twice the size of Ceratosaurus. Its huge three-clawed hands were as large as a human head, and its razor sharp, serrated teeth were perfect for tearing flesh from bone.

Liam loves that part.

Overall, this book is never going to be a keeper; in fact it is probably going to be a tattered mess in 6 months. But in the meantime Liam is getting immense enjoyment from it and learning something interesting at the same time. I fully recommend it.

Dig Dig Digging

Alex Ayliffe (Illustrator). Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) 2002, Hardcover, 32 pages, $9.16

My boys have loved this book for a really long time. It has gone through periods of sitting unread on the shelf, but recently it has been rediscovered and it is being reread regularly. I love the very memorable rhythm of the words, and for one of our car trips we went through the whole book purely by memory!

Pictures The pictures are seemingly created from lots of bits of paper cut out and glued together. It gives a very particular stylised look to the pictures that I enjoy and that the boys enjoy too.

Words The words that go along with the pictures on each page are fun and evocative. They have a rhyme that is not too forced and has made it easy for Liam to memorise.

Adults reaction I still don’t mind reading this (even after having read it many times). I could even say that I had enjoyed reading it. (The enjoyment has worn away now after the number of times that I have read it)

Kids reaction Liam (my three year old) has probably listened to this book at least a couple of hundred times. He knows the words by heart and can recite it to himself. He loves looking through the pages and reviewing the pictures. Henry (my one year old) is just starting to love it, and is starting to prefer to read it, rather than just point at things in the pictures.

Overall A clear winner. I would recommend anyone with young boys to get this and give it to their boys as a special present that will be very well received.

The Alien Invasion Survival Handbook

W. H. Mumfrey. How 2009, Paperback, 224 pages, $2.57

Is this book a tongue in cheek look at defending ourselves from the ‘popular culture’ of Alien existence? Or could it in fact be a very well researched account of what we know of alien invasion? This book might appeal to the alien obsessed teen boy to the still alien /sci-fi obsessed adult boy, it is full of facts from exhaustive research from sources such as known sightings, Government documents and sci-fi literature, the author has pared back and compiled all the facts and come up with a fantastic, hilarious and quite possibly useful alien invasion resource.

Book review by Kathreen Ricketson of whipup.net

The Little Yellow Digger (Read by Reading Series)

Alan Gilderdale (Illustrator). Scholastic New Zealand 1993, Paperback, 32 pages, $37.42

This book has had a long life so far, it was given to me by my sister as a hand-me-down from her kids who are a few years older than mine. She knew that my boys are both obsessed with diggers and so it is not surprising that they both enjoy reading this book.

It is a lovely book . The pictures are captivating enough for Henry (my one year old) to stay interested and the story is fun for Liam (my four year old) too. Both of them like leafing through the pages on their own too.

Pictures The pictures are watercolours and are quite attractive though messy. Probably not my favourite part of the book, but Henry loves them.

Words It is written in a beautiful natural rhythm that is a pleasure to read aloud. I don’t mind reading this a couple of times in a row. It really is that fun.

Adults reaction I like it a lot!

Kids reaction Liam liked this a lot for a short period when he was about 2 and a half. He has only wanted to read it occasionally since then. Henry on the other hand is just starting to get into it now and asks for it occasionally, but we really only read it if I suggest it.

Overall It is a fun book to have on the shelf, but it just hasn’t had the staying power with the kids, for reasons that I don’t understand.