Dinosaurs at the Supermarket

This book starts off with having children wonder what exactly a fossil is. They start off the story with mentioning that it could be a dinosaur-related fossil because dinosaurs died out a millions of years ago and used to roam the area.

Author: Lindsay Camp
Illustrator: Clare Skilbeck
Year Published: 1993

Summary

Laura is a little girl with a shy crocodile as a pet. One day she finds what she believes to be a dinosaur fossil in her backyard. Soon after that she sees dinosaurs following her everywhere.

Evaluation

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

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

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

Yes, it does. At the beginning children ask themselves if the fossil Laura found at the beginning really is a dinosaur fossil. Later on Laura is told that the fossil is actually an ammonite fossil, a type of snail that once lived in the seas.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

While the book does reveal the answer to the question posed in the beginning children can think for themselves about what the fossil is before they reach that point. However the fossil isn’t the main focus of the story, and so children are more encouraged to be entertained by the dinosaur going-ons than to be questioning the fossil.

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

The science topic is introduced in an appropriate way: by having the protagonist find the fossil that is talked about until the end of the book. This allows the children to pose the initial question (“Is the fossil actually a dinosaur fossil?”) without being pulled away from the story.

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

There are instances that are based on scientific principles. For example fossils can be dinosaur fossils but they can also be ammonite fossils. Also dinosaurs did die out millions of years ago with none living today. These instances in the book are accurate. However one scientific inaccuracy is the fact that a Tyrannosaurus Rex is shown alongside a Stegosaurus. These two dinosaurs never lived in the same period.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

For the most part this book does distinguish between fact and fiction. The protagonist is told that dinosaurs died out millions of years ago. She is also told that not all fossils found are dinosaur fossils. However the fact that she keeps seeing dinosaurs (some which lived in different time periods when they were alive) is clearly fiction.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

The illustrations make it clear, for the most part, which dinosaur is which species. Also the fossil Laura found can be seen to be an ammonite fossil, not a dinosaur fossil, by the way it’s drawn since the very first page.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

Yes, this book is written for the level of my students. This can serve as independent reading for a third grader.

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

There is no multicultural component. However it is free from stereotyping.

Is the book free from gender bias?

Yes, this book is free from gender bias

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

No, it does not. While this book does mention fossils and shows fossils shown in a museum it does not mention who are the people who dig fossils and clean them to display them in museums.

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

This book shows that science, or the act of fossil finding in this case, can be an exciting moment. The book also shows that mistaking fossils for one another is not an unusual occurrence and it is a simple mistake.

Science Topics

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