Dinosaurs Before Dark
(Magic Tree House series, Book 1)
Mary Pope Osborne
Random House
Fiction, YA Fantasy
***
DESCRIPTION: Jack and Annie are on their way home when they stumble upon a tree house in the woods, and they feel they must investigate. Inside are hundreds of books, on everything from ancient Egypt to the moon. As Jack is looking at a book filled with dinosaurs, the tree house suddenly whisks the kids away on a magical adventure. Jack and Annie are about to become the first people ever to stand face-to-face with the ancient giants, but will they ever get home to tell anyone about it?
REVIEW: If I were a younger kid, the age this was pitched at, I'm sure I would've given it a higher rating. It has dinosaurs and a little adventure, and the idea of a magic tree house is great. I just felt like the author dumbed down the topic of dinosaurs by having them act like puppy dogs who understand English (except for the obligatory T. Rex.) I didn't consider the dumbing-down necessary. Jack and Annie still would have had a great adventure. I also wasn't sure their advice on avoiding an animal attack - pretend you're eating grass - was particularly wise.
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