Dino Tracks (Arbordale Collection)

The writing is clever and original and the illustrations are extraordinary. Friends of mine purchased the book for their children and the kids loved it. Highly recommend this and other books written by Ms. Donald.

How do we know that the creatures which we call “dinosaurs” actually lived? Of course, today we have all kinds of dinosaur fossils, but originally people in the late 1800s decided that huge monsters of some kind must have existed because they unearthed strange bird-like but very large prints set in stone. Author Rhonda Lucas Donald’s rhyming text, which can be sung to the tune of “Over the River and Through the Woods,” not only tells about how dinosaurs once roamed the earth but also describes how some of the earliest dino track finds were made in Hadley, MA, after a farm boy plowed up a field. Children always seem to enjoy reading about dinosaurs. What dinosaurs made the tracks, and what do scientists think they were doing when they made them? The word “dinosaur” means “fearfully great lizard,” although scientists believe that dinosaurs were actually not lizards but a different kind of reptile. Young readers will be able to step back in time and follow dinosaur tracks around the world, especially using the pictures by illustrator Cathy Morrison, to help them visualize what the ancient animals might have looked like. Creationists will appreciate the fact that the text itself says only things to the effect that dinosaurs lived “down by the river of long ago.” However, the four-page “For Creative Minds” section in the back of the book does have references to common the evolution-based claims that dinosaurs lived from about 250 million to 65 million years ago and that today’s birds are descended from dinosaurs. A teaching activities guide with additional material is available at the publisher’s website.

The dinos roamed the banks of the river, their heavy feet sinking into the mud and sands. In time the river would disappear, yet something would remain behind. "T'was quite long ago in Hadley, Mass., / a farm boy plowed a field. / What he turned up, created a fuss -- / what had his work revealed?" The dino footprints made so long ago, had turned to stone. The boy's eyes widened at the sight of the massive tracks. Three-toed fossilized prints were all around him. What could they tell the world about the dinosaurs that made them? There would be much more to learn than he ever expected.Some of the dinos traveled alone, while others formed herds. You can even figure out "what it might eat" by looking at the tracks. Amazing! Some of the tracks are massive, while others might only span a few inches. Many at the water's edge could have been aiming to catch that fish as the dragonfly flitted overhead and the turtle swam beneath the water. "Down by the river where crocs were thick. / are tracks of dainty feet. / They skitter on by--it's best to be sly-- / or hungry crocs they'd meet." What else could those tracks made long ago tell us about how the dinos lived?This is a fun look at some of the things fossilized dinosaur tracks can tell us. The amazing full-color, full-page artwork definitely lends a hand in telling the story of those dinos long ago as they made those tracks. The tale itself is a story in rhyme, with ballad stanzas (the 2nd and 4th lines rhyme). Newly independent readers can tackle this beginning nonfiction book with a bit of assistance with unfamiliar words such as "squeezed." In the back of the book are several activities, including some that can be downloaded and printed from the publisher's website. This would be an excellent book to read and discuss in the homeschool or classroom setting.Grades K - 3This book courtesy of the publisher.

K picked this book up at his school library.K loves his dinosaurs so when he picked this book I was intrigued as to what dinosaur tracks we would be reading about.I really like the way the scientists would look at the tracks and say okay this is what they could have been doing. Such as they were laying under ground. I can not think of the dinosaur as I do not have the book in front of me.We got to learn a little bit more about the dinosaurs and the tracks that they have made. But I would have liked to have read about what dinosaurs left what tracks exactly. Such as a brontosaurs, triceratops that type of thing.But overall a great read, K truly enjoyed the story being read to him.

My Review: This story rhyme book gives an account of dinosaur’s footprint.“T’was quite long ago in Hadley, Mass., a farm boy plowed a field. What he turned up, created a fuss – what had his work revealed?Across the cast surface of stone so hard, huge three toed prints abound.They looked like a bird, but the size – my word!Fossil dino tracks he’d found!”The tracks of the dinosaurs show how they move and eat. Some tracks shows a lone dino or a herd of dinosaurs. Some tracks measures higher than a small tire and other’s a few inch dot. While some show a gliding bump in the sand with short hop and walking on all fours. Dinosaurs lived in warm places but their tracks were also found in the North Pole.If you have children that love Dinosaurs then this is the book for them. Explore the activities in the back of the book, the Dinosaurs True or False activity – All dinosaurs walked upright on two feet. Dinosaurs’ puzzles and scientists – How do we really know that dinosaurs once roamed this earth? Dinosaur Tracks – Who big is the footprint of a dinosaur? Learn about Dinosaurs locations around the world. I recommend this book.FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Sylvan Dell Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.