Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones

written and illustrated by Byron Barton

genre: realistic fiction

theme: palaeontology

summary: A simple text that describes the stages a palaeontologist takes to retrieve dinosaur bones; finding them, digging them up, packing them carefully, transporting them to a museum and putting them together to form a dinosaur. It is written in a repetitive format that allows young children to understand this complex process.

grade level: This book is appropriate for preschool through second grade.

characters: multiple palaeontologists

comments: Dinosaurs is a topic many young children are fascinated with, however the informational books can be too complicated or lengthy for them to sit through. This book shares information but in a style that keeps even the most active three year old engaged. The pictures are simple and big and bright while the words have a sing-song feel. It's a great book to introduce children to the scientific factual side of dinosaurs.