BERNARD MOST has written and illustrated many popular children's books, including The Cow That Went OINK, If the Dinosaurs Came Back, How Big Were the Dinosaurs?, Whatever Happened to the Dinosaurs?, and Where to Look for a Dinosaur. He lives in New York.
Certainly Jurassic Park swept away any possible doubt about dinos' enduring popularity: though extinct, T. Rex and his pals are here to stay. Most's seven books about these fabulous creatures have done much to enhance youngsters' enjoyment and understanding of the topic; his latest offering handily continues that tradition. Familiar objects (book, toothbrush, bulldozer, a baby's crib) are ingeniously juxtaposed with dino likenesses to illustrate the book's opening sentence, ``It's hard to imagine how big some of the dinosaurs really were.'' Most's customarily playful, vividly hued artwork blends perfectly with kid-friendly lingo for painless edification. Noting, for example, that the Mamenchisaurus's neck was ``longer than a school flagpole,'' Most suggests that ``this is a dinosaur worth saluting.'' The concept of size reaches its zenith in a triple-page fold-out spread: one side compares the relative proportions of a Seismosaurus and an Apatosaurus; the reverse shows a gaggle of children capering on a dino's tail. A mammoth delight. Ages 3-8. (Apr.)
PreS-Gr 2-Most takes children's fascination with dinosaurs and applies it to their own world. A Stegosaurus's plates are compared in both shape and size to a school crossing sign. Ankylosaurus is shown waiting in front of a school bus. Diplodocus could simultaneously slam dunk a basketball at both ends of the court with his head and tail. Bright, bold, uncluttered watercolor and pen cartoons with spare text make this book ideal for group sharing as well as independent reading. Simple pronunciation guides untangle the tongue-twisting names while the horizontal format (with a pull-out page) subtly enhances the subjects' bulk. A Most welcome addition to his already impressive dinosaur collection.-Claudia Cooper, Ft. Stockton Independent School District, TX
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