Not that this seems to phase them in the least.
But it's so great to see a dinosaur book for the very, very young, that can be enjoyed in a visual way, with little punches of info that make both the identification of dinosaurs, and their unique traits, a Jurassic breeze.
I've long-adored the 'block' series of books (the books really are the shape and size of a large block!) and in Dinoblock, Franceschelli and Peskimo combine once again in this beautifully-crafted book.
Opening with a full double-page spread fold out (the pages are card), we meet two kids at a natural history museum, exploring a variety of dinos in their natural habitat.
As they meet each dinosaur, they are likened to something children will easily recognise. 'I have a neck like a goose ...' introduces us to the Coelophsysis, which did, indeed, have a long neck like a goose.
'I have a back like tents on a hill ...' introduces us to the Stegosaurus, whose back does indeed resemble a hill studded with tents.
As each new dinosaur is introduced, the two connecting pages are drawn together by trimmed page edges, that run cleverly alongside the initial illustration. For example, a recto page edge is cut to the curve of a whale's back, and when the page is turned, that same (verso) page edge curve traces the lines of the Diplodocus.
A clever book with perfectly kid-centric illustrations and striking colour and design.
This book may seem pricey for a board book, but with a 5cm thickness, and endless beautifully-crafted pages, it's well worth it.
Title: Dinoblock
Author: Christopher Franceschelli
Illustrator: Peskimo
Publisher: Abrams, $19.99 RRP
Publication Date: 1 July 2015
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781419716744
For ages: 1 - 4
Type: Board Book
