Children's Picture Books

Dino-Baseball

By: Lisa Wheeler
Illustrated by: Barry Gott
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Publication Date: April 2010
ISBN: 978-0761344292
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: February 2010

Let’s play ball! All the dinos are heading to Jurassic Park for the big one between the Green Sox and the Rib-Eye Reds. The anxious fans are arriving on foot, on buses, on the subway and are rushing through Gate A heading for their seats. The tailgaters, Reds fans for sure, are chugging down soda and throwing a big steak on the grill. The excitement was building and the game hadn’t even begun. A few practice hits ‘n throws and everyone was ready. “Hat on hearts as anthem plays. T. Rex cries while Leso sways.” Dino-baseball is about to begin…get your programs and prepare to yell. Here we go Dinos, here we go! Stomp, stomp!

First at bat is Troodon.
He taunts the pitcher, “Bring it on!”
The pitch is good. He swings with grace,
then hustles ‘round to second base.

It’s an easy double and the Sox are on the alert. It promises to be a good game, but by the fourth inning it’s turning into “a pitcher’s duel” and “both teams are running out of fuel.” A scoreless game is boring the restless crowd until Stegosaurus splits a bat. When the Green Sox manager objects to a call the crowd is on their feet. He waves his arms this way and that and that way and this. Then “he calls the ump a nasty name and gets ejected from the game.” Soon it’s the top of the sixth and the Sox have three to the Ribs zippo. By the eighth they fall behind and in the ninth they are tied. Can Apatosaur save the day or are the Ribs going to be throwing steaks on the grill at their celebration party?

No doubt about it, Lisa Wheeler and Barry Gott have another winner on their hands. I love reading these dino books because they are vibrant, exiting and just plain old fun. The billboard on the field easily separates the carnivorous dinosaurs (the Rib-Eye Reds) and herbivores (the Green Sox) with a list. Most serious dino fans could probably tell you who is who without consulting the list, but if they love baseball they are going to be really excited to read this book. Believe it or not, dinos and baseball are a winning combination. Hmmmm, let’s see …which team did Compsognathus play shortstop for? If you know that, you really are a dino-baseball fan!

Quill says: A ripe-roaring good time at the ballpark is in store for readers of Dino-Baseball!