Dino-Hockey (Dino-Sports)

PreS-Gr 2In this fast-paced and wild hockey championship, the carnivores in red jerseys (Meat-Eaters) take on the herbivores in green (Veggiesaurs). Clever rhyming couplets keep the game lively and slip in facts about dinosaurs ("Socks and jerseys keep them warm/cold-blooded beasts in uniform") and the sport of hockey ("Safety pads protect their bones./Some have helmets of their own"). The players' names are highlighted in the appropriate team color throughout the text, enabling everyone to keep track while learning which species eat meat and which eat plants. The digitally rendered illustrations, featuring sculpted, wide-eyed creatures, lack polish but do bring out the chaotic spirit of the match. They also accentuate funny details, including a frenzied pileup of fans doing the wave. Just like in a real hockey game (or real dinosaur gathering), aggression takes over at times. However, the dodo bird makes an excellent referee and breaks things up right away: "Stego fumes inside the booth, /as Raptor searches for his tooth." The start of soccer season on the final page hints heavily at a sequel. An amusing pairing of a sporting event and prehistoric beasts.Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.