How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? Book

I have read a boatload of children's books lately. Some are mine, which Mom located for me. Others, I just feel are beautiful. Outside of my childhood collection, dipping into baby territory began in appreciation of local authors of all kinds. Now, I feel that all visually and emotionally beautiful books are worth knowing, regardless of their target ages. A niece & nephew finally came into our family, too and I give them several books that I think will thrill them. A new discovery are Americans, Jane Yolen & Mark Teague. Jane resides part-time in Scotland. They published "How Do Dinosaurs Count To Ten?" in 2004 and it is far more sophisticated than this board book looks like it would be.

I was going to give three stars for text and drawings being expectedly simplistic and too brief to say much. I skipped, out of the corner of my eye, camouflaged writing; guessing it was the artist's signature or copyrighting. I think I would have examined everything at a second reading. An unknown reviewer pointed out that Mark drew actual dinosaur species; not generalized caricature shapes. Most astoundingly: the full scientific names of each dinosaur are embedded on all of these pages! Talk about not dumbing-down a toddler's shape, colour, and counting exercise. They diversely represent the real prehistoric animals! I was impressed when I was alerted to that.

Familiar household rooms shaken-up with absurdly-oversized creatures, is a fun style and Jane's humour makes you smile, too. Although she needn't have chosen Six dirty socks; I love the rest of her rhyming examples! Her input, too, is cleverly and musically educational. Especially the Stegosaurus holding a train: A track, an engine, and seven cars! This unobtrusive book packs a valuable punch. I am keeping mine, for ten handy dinosaur names!