DINOSONGS:Poems to Celebrate a T.Rex Named Sue~BOOK/CD

From School Library Journal
Gr 3-6-Seven short poems on the life and times of "SUE," the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil yet discovered, are offered in this slim, lavishly illustrated volume. Each selection creates an imaginary scene starring Sue from birth to death to resurrection as a museum exhibit. The rhyming couplets with the most child appeal describe the mature Sue in action-hunting and consuming prey, and fighting off competitors and other natural enemies. The most effective and exciting poem is "Battle with the Triceratops." Cartoon-style paintings, in which primary colors predominate, appear throughout. Pages of poetry set against Cretaceous scenery alternate with textless picture spreads, most of which depict a sharp-toothed, yellow-orange skinned Sue menacing other dinosaurs. The last page provides brief background information on the Tyrannosaurus and other Cretaceous creatures. The accompanying 10-minute CD is well done, with excellent sound quality. Susan Sarandon reads the poems in a clear and expressive voice to a musical background written and composed by Russ Landau. Although the poetry is well written, the audience for which it is intended is questionable. While the vocabulary is difficult, the colorful illustrations seem aimed at younger children. Jack Prelutsky's Tyrannosaurus Was a Beast (Greenwillow, 1988), which is funny and informative at the same time, has more consistent child appeal, as does Lee Bennett Hopkins's Dinosaurs (Harcourt, 1987; o.p.). Dinosongs will find its greatest use as a family read-aloud, or, perhaps, as a souvenir for those lucky enough to actually view SUE's exhibit.