Stomp and Chomp: My First Book of Dinosaurs

by Simon Mole (Author) Matt Hunt (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Bold, bright, and brimming with facts, this hilariously droll introduction to the prehistoric world will enthrall new dinosaur fans and ignite their curiosity.

Did you know that Giganotosaurus had a tongue big enough to be your bed? That plant eaters evolved at different heights to assure there would be more than enough food for all--with each nibbling at a different point on the tree?

Thirty exuberant poems, divided into four fact-packed sections, put readers up close and personal with species from T. rex and Triceratops to Stegosaurus and Velociraptor. Some have lines of terrible teeth, while others sport feathery peacock tails. All thunder off the page in vibrant illustrations pitched to poems that ring with humor and heart, while relaying well-researched facts about dinosaur anatomy, diet, herd behavior, and more.

Young devotees will demand to read this energetic tribute to the dinosaurs, in all their larger-than-life glory, over and over again. Back matter includes a time line and information about the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.

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Kirkus Reviews

Amusing and imaginative.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3--Award-winning children's poet and author, Mole, brings dinosaurs to life with his lyrical and rhyming verse that includes interesting facts and pronunciation guides for about 30 different dinosaurs. The book is divided into four sections: "Meet the Dinosaurs," "Eat or Be Eaten," "Dinosaur Families," and "The End. Or Is It?" Included are favorites like Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptor, as well as lesser known dinosaurs such as Baryonyx (Bair-ee-ON-iks), "Swift sprinter/ Tail flicker/ River watcher/ Quick dasher/ Fish grabber/ Flesh ripper/ Best hunter/ Gets dinner!" and Coelophysis (SEE-lo-FIE-sis), "You're a slowpoke and I'm so faaaaast./ If we had a race, you would come in laaaaast." Exuberant poems are aptly matched by bold and dynamic artwork. Hunt uses a variety of mixed media to brightly illustrate full-page dinosaurs in all their larger-than-life glory. The book closes with a dinosaur time line as well as a description of how fossils are found and an invitation, "Maybe the next incredible discovery/ will show us that something in this book isn't true./ Maybe it will be found by somebody reading this book./ Somebody like YOU!" Pair this with older favorite dinosaur poetry titles, including Jack Prelutsky's classic, Tyrannosaurus Was a Beast and Douglas Florian's, Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings. VERDICT A great introduction to dinosaurs for young children. The lively text and colorful illustrations make it a wonderful read-aloud that will engage young readers and ignite their curiosity about these prehistoric creatures. A welcome addition for homes, schools, and libraries.--Carole Phillips

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes




Simon Mole
Simon Mole is a children's poet and UK National Poetry Day ambassador. He is the author of I Love My Cat and I Love My Bike, illustrated by Sam Usher, Kites, illustrated by Oamul Lu, and other books for children. His interactive tutorial videos delight thousands of children and teachers each year. He lives in England.

Matt Hunt is the author-illustrator of Message in a Bottle and illustrator of The Pirates Are Coming! by John Condon, Little People, Big Dreams: Stephen Hawking by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, Quiet Down, Loud Town! by Alastair Heim, Walrus in the Bathtub by Deborah Underwood, and many other highly acclaimed books for young readers. He lives in England.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781536231243
Lexile Measure
N/A
Guided Reading Level
N/A
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
October 20, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF003050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures
JNF037050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Fossils
JNF042010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Poetry | Humorous
Library of Congress categories
Dinosaurs

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