There is something about the ridiculousness of dinosaurs acting like people that tickles my funny bone in a way that other animals just can’t quite reach, so I was pretty chuffed to see Dinosaur Dig by Penny Dale arrive in my letter box.
While Dinosaur Dig is quite removed from what I’ve come to expect from Penny Dale, usually a master of farm animals who mostly act like farm animals, it still flaunts her distinctive illustrative style.
Opening with a single dinosaur operating a digger “One Dinosaur digging, Digging a hole. A very big hole. Dig! Dig! Dig!”, the story progresses with each additional page, adding a new species of dinosaur as well as a new piece of heavy machinery to the mix. This, along with the rhythmic prose and great use of sound words (Clatter! Sploosh! Thump!) combine to make Dinosaur Dig a delight to read aloud, whilst boasting big appeal for any kid who likes dinosaurs or diggers or a combination of both!
The board book format suggests a younger readership and the rhythm definitely lends itself to a young audience, however Dinosaur Dig would find an enthusiastic following with many 3 – 6 year olds as well.
Overall, I still think Yolen and Teague are the masters of the ‘dinosaurs acting human’ genre (after all, their dinosaurs have human parents!), but Dinosaur Dig has definitely made it onto our regular-reads shelf and will be enjoyed for many a bedtime to come!
- this review by Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg
Title: Dinosaur Dig
Author/Illustrator: Penny Dale
Publisher: Nosy Crow, $12.99RRP
Publication Date: 2012
Format: Board Book
ISBN: 9780857630995
For ages: 0-6
Type: Picture Book