A Trip to Dinosaur Time

This book fosters the development of the process of prediction as the end of the story does not come to a full close, but allows the reader to imagine his or her own ending.

• Author: Michael Foreman
• Year Published: 2003
• ISBN: 0-7636-2104-8

Science Topics

• Earth Science

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

• Prekindergarten

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

• Kindergarten

Summary

This book tells the story of a little boy named Tom who travels back in time and finds the dinosaurs. He ends up bringing back a dinosaur egg when he returns home, but must find a way to get the dinosaur back to its mother once it has hatched.

Evaluation

• Appropriateness: Medium
• Authority: Low
• Accuracy: Low
• Liteary Artistry: Low
• Appearance: Medium

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

This book fosters the development of the process of prediction as the end of the story does not come to a full close, but allows the reader to imagine his or her own ending.

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

The book provides students with opportunities to ask questions about time travel and about dinosaurs; however, the children are not really able to find the answers to their questions about these topics either in the book or through other means.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

The book doesn’t give a whole lot of scientific facts or explanations so children are encouraged to think for themselves and come up with these explanations on their own.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

The book addresses the topics of time travel and dinosaurs in a very simple and fictional way. The topics might be appropriate for very young students, but the lack of accurate scientific information might be problematic for older students.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

No, this book is not based on sound scientific principles. People cannot travel back in time, nor can they bring dinosaur eggs back to present time where the dinosaur egg could hatch into a full-grown dinosaur. No, this book is not accurate because the scientific principles it discusses cannot happen. Some dinosaurs might have been born through an egg, but other dinosaurs might have been born through a live birth. In addition, we do not know how time travel works or if it is even possible, therefore it is difficult to tell f it is accurate.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

The book does not distinguish between fact and fiction because the entire book is fiction. Dinosaurs did exist, but the interaction between the little boy and the dinosaurs is fiction. The book tells the story in a way that does not make it clear what is fact and what is fiction.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

The illustrations are clear and colorful. They are somewhat accurate in depicting the dinosaurs and represents various types of dinosaurs.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

This book is written at the level of my students in a creative and exciting way that my students would enjoy.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

There is no multicultural component either in the story or in the illustrations. The boy and his mother are middle class and white. They are the only characters other than the dinosaurs. I did not identify any stereotypes within this book.

Is the book free from gender bias?

There is gender bias in this book in the main character being a little boy being interested in time travel and dinosaurs, topics that are typically associated with boys. Another gender bias is in the role of the mother being the caretaker of the little boy.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

This book does not show a close association between science and other disciplines. A possible subject that could be tied in is having the students do a writing assignment in which they predict what might happen next in the story, but there is no clear connection.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

This book presents a positive attitude towards science in that the story is fun and exciting for kids. The book does not discuss technology.