DINOSAURS IN DISGUISE

A small, light-skinned blond boy has a theory that the dinosaurs are just in hiding until the moment is right for a reappearance.

“Dinosaurs ruled the earth for millions and millions of years. // If they could do that, they could survive one fiery blast.” The boy also has no trouble guessing why they went on the down low—at first, they were scared of all the changes. And when people showed up, well, hiding seemed like a good idea. And then it just got to be natural. Throughout, Munsinger’s watercolors “hide” the dinos in plain sight, and the youngest readers will be yelling out their locations enthusiastically. That caveman with the tiny arms and green tail? A dinosaur. And that third camel from the left? That gray pyramid? The knight’s steed? The Statue of Liberty? Yep, all dinos. But while many things about today’s world would suit the beasts (fast-food drive-thrus and supermarkets), these are outweighed by some serious cons: office stress, pollution, traffic congestion, the fast food itself. The planet may need some serious work before the dinos come out of hiding, and in the meantime, the boy will keep their secret. Munsinger gives the dinos personalities without feeling the need to dress and accessorize them like people (unless that’s their disguise). And the subtle environmental message goes down easily.

An If the Dinosaurs Came Back for modern times.