Today we have the larger-than-life picture book Titanosaur: Discovering the World’s Largest Dinosaur by Diego Pol, Jose Luis Carballido, and illustrated by Florencia Gigena.
- At 11.8 x 11.8 inches it is physically bigger than most picture books.
- It is written by the actual paleontologists who dug up the dinosaur. Their excitement about the find bounds off of each and every page.
- It features the biggest dinosaur ever found (so far)
- It is likely to appeal to readers far outside its recommended age range
There is also much to admire, starting with the end papers which feature a map of South America to show where the dinosaur was discovered. It really helps readers get oriented.
The story itself starts with a gaucho and his dog discovering a big bone on his ranch. What follows is an inside look at how a dinosaur skeleton is dug up and processed.
Accompanying the main text are sidebars that pull out keywords and explain them. For example, the first sidebar explains what a gaucho is, the second defines the word paleontologist, the third discusses how dinosaur bones are fossils. Although sidebars are standard in many nonfiction texts, these are particularly well done.
Florence Gigena’s illustrations are also top notch. They give continuity to the look and and expand the story. The best image by far is one of a man lying on the ground next to a femur to show how immense it really is! Another cool feature shows the placement of certain bones inside the skeleton of a transparent dinosaur. If that isn’t enough, there are many color photographs of the finds and team nestled in the artwork.
Titanosaur rises above the competition. It will enthrall youngsters already passionate about dinosaurs, but will also grab the attention of anyone interested in science or how scientists work. Dig up a copy today!!
Age Range: 5 – 7 years
Publisher: Scholastic Press (February 26, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1338207393
ISBN-13: 978-1338207392
Disclosure: This book was provided by our local library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.
Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.
