'Boy, Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs'

[AUG. 16, 2006]  ^"Boy, Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs!" By Kathleen V. Kudlinski, illustrated by S.D. Schindler, 2005, Dutton Children's Books, 29 pages, ages 6-10

Review by
Louella Moreland

Dinosaurs fascinate children. What is it that makes these long-ago animals so very popular for young readers? Is it the enormous size that some of the animals grew to be? Is it that they lived so long ago on an earth that seems so strange? Could it be their ferocious, long, sharp teeth? Maybe it is the fact that the more we learn about dinosaurs through our discoveries, the more we realize that our imaginations, not science, fill in a lot of the gaps in our knowledge.

Kathleen V. Kudlinski takes us on a fact-filled, fun trip through the years of our scientific research and discoveries about these amazing creatures. As the title of her book suggests: "Boy, Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs!"

As with most scientific research through the years, we find that our explanations and "guesses" are colored by our own frame of reference, imaginations, myths and even religious training. When the Chinese first discovered the bones of these enormous animals, they decided the remains must have come from magical dragons. From an ancient Chinese point of view, this seemed probable. Of course, we now know that it is far from the truth, even though we still have much more to learn.

We continue to discover more pieces that make up the puzzle of these interesting animals. Through more scientific study and the discovery of fossils over the world, we have learned that dinosaurs are not as much like lizards as their name implies. They were not huge, clumsy beasts. They did not drag their tails behind them in the dirt, and they were not cold-blooded creatures. We have also discovered that some dinosaurs had feathers and could fly! Not all dinosaurs were gigantic, either. Some were very small.

Ms. Kudlinski takes each of these fascinating facts and helps young readers understand that even though we have loved studying about dinosaurs for hundreds of years and have many books on the subject, we still have a great deal to learn. Our viewpoints continue to change as more discoveries are made and technology allows us better tools to test our discoveries.

Kudlinski includes a short discovery timeline and lists other books for more information on the subject. This book is not a textbook of scientific facts, figures and other data. "Boy, Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs!" is an exploration of discovery meant to entertain as much as inform. Schindler's almost cartoon-style illustrations are a perfect fit to the text, providing humor and understanding for the younger reader.

I would highly recommend this new book for any young reader with a passion for dinosaurs. Parents, be aware that the information presented may contradict previous nonfiction materials in print, and be prepared to explain that science is a never-ending search for information. Perhaps, as Ms. Kudlinski suggests, young people reading her book will become the future scientists who will provide us with information that proves we may still be wrong today. And in this case, that it is good thing!

To read this book and many others about dinosaurs, both fact and fiction, come visit us at the Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin St.

[Louella Moreland, youth services librarian, Lincoln Public Library District]