Dino Dana: A Field Guide into Science and Adventure

Linked to the Amazon Prime TV series Dino Dana, this book’s unique approach will appeal to fans of the show. Its field guide format, told in the first person, features 36 different dinosaurs, presented alphabetically. The juvenile font and conversational style text lend authenticity as a child’s field guide. Beginning with an explanation of how to use the guide, the book also includes maps, timelines, comparative size charts, notes, and newspaper and textbook clippings. Illustrations consist of collages and colour photographs, some of which are of toy dinosaurs which have been superimposed onto modern backgrounds, such as sidewalks, playgrounds, farms, homes and parks, making it look as if the dinosaur is roaming in the author’s neighbourhood.

Two to three double-page spreads are devoted to each dinosaur. Besides the pronunciation of the dinosaur’s name and a world map which indicates where the dinosaur once lived, there is information about its size (e.g. the Dracorex hogwartsia, named after the wizarding school in the Harry Potter series, was three wands high and two brooms long) and its special physical characteristics as well as some dino trivia. Experiments conducted by Dana are outlined step-by- step, but since there are no real dinosaurs on which to try the hypotheses out, Dana must try her best to simulate the experiments using what she has on hand. For example, when she wants to find out if the T-Rex was a carnivore or a herbivore, she analyzes “dino poop” found outside her grandmother’s barn and comes to the conclusion that the poop “COULD be from the T. rex because the T. rex ATE dinosaurs that ate hay!” Other experiments describe dinosaurs fighting over beef jerky and Dana’s wondering whether she could ride a hippodraco (spoiler alert: she is successful!). Both of these scenarios are impossible, but this is where imagination comes into play and where fans of the TV show will have more of a connection to the book than will other readers. After awhile, the novelty of the book’s approach wears off, though very young readers will still enjoy it.