With thoughtful reverence to the passing of time and acknowledgment of the evolution of humanity, new picture book team, Yvonne Mes and Syliva Morris, introduce young readers to the fascinating realm of Palaeontology and beyond.
As we follow the compositional breakdown of the little dinosaur and the fossilisation of her bones, we are witnesses to the wonders of time, nature and chemistry.
It's an intoxicating mix, this making of precious
gems, an occurrence that is rare and wondrous. Mes skilfully tempers the
science with modern day reality, transporting us to present day outback
Australia, Lightening Ridge where life is hot and dusty. A far cry from the
cool forests that the little dinosaur roamed some 65 million years ago.
Yet although much has changed, little dinosaur’s
spirit lingers as depicted by Morris’s ethereal portrayal of her, curiously
observing the miners, wondering what will become of her precious remains. Will
she be rendered to some piece of human adornment or shelved and forgotten in
some dusty museum?
She needn’t have worried for her gifts are dutifully
restored and pieced back together until she is recognised for what she always
was and will be; an iguanodontid and the most complete opalised dinosaur
fossil ever found!
This moment of discovery is both surreal and sublime
for both the readers and little dinosaur, not to mention of momentous
significance for the Australian Opal Centre in outback Australia.
Based on fact and true findings, The Opal
Dinosaur is an adventure back in time and into the future. Sensitively hued
illustrations capture the drama and beauty of the Cretaceous period in Gondwana
land in soft shimmering tones. Mes’s narrative is an engaging balance of
information and emotion. Readers can’t help but feel invested in little
dinosaur’s well being and entranced by her transformation from Fostoria
iguanodontid to a rare and regal opal.
I loved both her tale and the careful before and
after knitting together of a millennium of stories. The endpapers and
information facts pages alone are enough to fill up on providing fascination,
fun and fact enough to enthuse and entertain dinosaur addicts, budding
scientists and anyone who just loves sparkly pretty things. This is not just
your run of the mill book about dinosaurs.
To truly experience this special Australian dinosaur, explore the CSIRO especially curated, Teacher Notes.
Title: The Opal Dinosaur
Author: Yvonne Mes
Illustrator: Sylvia Morris
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2024
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781486316793
For ages: 5 – 9
Type: Picture Book
