Originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.
*This post has been updated with my new format,
thanks to the Ultimate Book Blogger Plugin on July 8, 2015.*
Finalist in the ‘Children’s Religious’ Category of the USA Book News “Best Books 2011” Awards
Recommended to Margaret by: Veritas Press
Read from January 25 to November 15, 2012 — I own a copy
My first glimpse of Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs was from the Master Books catalog/website. Second was on a recommendation of finding it in the Veritas Press catalog. Third was in conversation with my sister when she said that this would be an excellent book for her oldest son. I just knew even before I got my hands on it that this was going to be something full of fascination. I am not disappointed and not surprised to find something so great from Master Books and New Leaf Publishing Group.
This is a special book and not one to leave out with the little ones. There are fragile bits with envelopes that open and present the letters they are hiding as well as lift-the-flap type doors and booklets. Your eyes will be treated to a feast with all the different shapes and textures on each page in addition to the fabulous illustrations of dragons, dinosaurs and similar lore. While this book is a juvenile non-fiction, I would aim at around six or older with a child that can know how important it is to be very careful with all the bits within to make it last for years to come. (My three-year-old can enjoy it, but I wouldn't leave her alone with it. She might get carried away and misplace a letter or internal document that is half the fun.)
Content ranges throughout the book with many different topics. The size of the book makes looking maps or large pictures very attractive. From geography to archaeology the details are awesome. This book could be used to spark an interest or as a whole resource if you're not delving terribly deep into the history of dragons and dinosaurs. From full page double opening spreads to illustrations and artifact photography there is plenty to please your vision.
A dragon timeline provides very neat information that would make designing a spring-board for jumping into fictional accounts easy. Learning about translations of accounts and even a page with dragon names in various languages is fun for the mind. I love now at my age, but I know my young-self would have loved this! Ending the book with a questions and answers page on dragons in the Bible is great and a wonderful way to leave it off.
I have yet to see anything that quite compares to this book. It is really incredible and you have to see it in person to really get the full effect.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/6imGi-W05KQ?rel=0
This review was originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.