Dinosailors

From School Library Journal: PreSchool-Grade 2- A half dozen dinosaurs head out to sea with humorous (and gross) results. Rhyming text tells the story with a fairly strong rhythm and a usually even flow. Verses are peppered with sometimes clever "dinowords": "Dinosailors need a break./They shiver, ache, and dinoshake./Though winds die down to just a breeze,/They still have wobbly dinoknees." Though overdone on occasion (e.g., "dinosault" for somersault), this device adds to the playful tone of the narrative. Fine's gouache-and-watercolor illustrations add a great deal of humor and appeal. Facial expressions convey the sailors' delight or dismay without detracting from their dinosaur essence. The pictures have plenty of amusing touches, such as the bandanna-wearing, eye-patched stegosaurus and the brachiosaurus with a life jacket and neck ring. After rough waters and too much food, the dinosaurs head for the rails, and a wordless spread depicts six blasts of vomit against a glittering sunset. This image will either repulse or tickle readers, and may render the book a little less comfortable as a storytime choice for some. After giving up on sailing, the "dinobunch" comes up with a new plan, taking over a train on the final page. Nancy Shaw's Sheep on a Ship (Houghton, 1989) is a more subtle example of the animals-at-sea premise, but the attractive illustrations and subject matter should make Dinosailors a hit. - Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR - Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.