Dinoblock (An Abrams Block Book)

by Christopher Franceschelli, Peski Peski Studio (Illustrator)

Overview

Explore the prehistoric world of dinosaurs in Dinoblock, a fun addition to the acclaimed Abrams Block Book series!

“Will prompt hours of study by aspiring paleontologists.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“The clues and die-cut dino reveals make for a fun, informative read.” ―Booklist

“I stretch high like the ladder on a fire truck. I am a Brachiosaurus.” Using comparisons to familiar objects in a young child’s life, this is a unique and exciting new way to learn about dinosaurs! From the incredibly heavy Argentinosaurus to the goose-necked Coelophysis to the super-quick Eoraptor to everyone’s favorite T. rex, Dinoblock features denizens from the Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods. And don’t worry—there is a pronunciation guide to help children AND adults say those long, scientific names.

Like other books in the Block Book series, Dinoblock features die-cut shapes on every spread and has durable, interactive pages that fold out, perfect for little hands. A grand finale spread unfolds to nearly 21 inches wide, revealing a wonderful round-up of all the dinosaurs mentioned. With bright, animated, retro-inspired artwork by Peski Studio, this is a must-have book for the young paleontologist in your family.

Collect the whole series:

Alphablock
Countablock
Dinoblock
Cityblock
Buildablock
Star Wars Block
Marvel Alphablock
Farmblock
Disney Block
Loveblock
Sharkblock
Sesame Street Countablock
Spaceblock
Pixar Buddy Block
Bugblock

Also available: A Box of Blocks, featuring Alphablock, Countablock, and Dinoblock.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419716744
Publisher:	Abrams Appleseed
Publication date:	06/30/2015
Series:	An Abrams Block Book
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	161,588
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 6.30(h) x 2.10(d)
Age Range:	1 - 4 Years

About the Author

Christopher Franceschelli is a seasoned publisher, editor, and creator of children’s books. He currently runs Chronicle’s Handprint imprint and the SmartInk packaging company. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Franceschelli lives with his family in Brooklyn. His books include the Hello City! Series and the Abrams Trail Tale series.

David Partington is an illustrator based in Bristol, UK. His influences range from mid-century design to Saturday morning cartoons. As part of Peski Studio (formerly Peskimo) he enjoys screen printing, a process which often informs his approach to illustration. David’s work can be seen in kids’ books, food packaging, and jumbo floor puzzles around the world. He especially enjoys creating characters, drawing friendly robots, and sending them on incredible adventures. His books include the Abrams Block Book series and the Hello Dinosaur series.

Editorial Reviews

In the crowded world of board books about dinosaurs, the chunky and beautifully illustrated Dinoblock stands out like a craft beer on a shelf full of Miller Lite.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

★ 05/18/2015
The team behind Alphablock and Countablock introduce more than 20 dinosaurs in a book that shares the chunky, small format of those titles. The pages alternate between scenes set in the present and in the distant past, allowing contemporary animals and objects (“I am tall like a six-story building...”) to be compared to long-extinct creatures (“I am sauroposeidon”). Die-cuts allow the scenes to overlap, creating an almost subliminal reminder that dinosaurs once roamed in what are now our campgrounds and cities. Less-common dinosaurs are many, and phonetic pronunciations are provided throughout—helpful when getting acquainted with oryctodromeus, euoplocephalus, and micropachycephalosaurus. Ages 1–4. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"This chunky board book clocks in at 96 pages, but its cheerful design and trove of dinosaurs will easily capture youngsters’ attention. Vintage print-style illustrations implement bright colors and die-cut pages to draw comparisons between modern animals and their dinosaur counterparts... The clues and die-cut dino reveals make for a fun, informative read."

Booklist

"The age-appropriate new vocabulary and the clever design will prompt hours of study by aspiring paleontologists; the sturdy construction ensures the book will survive them."—Kirkus Reviews

"A companion volume to the author’s Alphablock (2013) and Countablock (2014, both Abrams), this chunky block of a book, replete with flaps, offers tiny tots a litany of 21 dinosaurs...VERDICT Board book lovers and beyond will enjoy this fun look at dinos."—School Library Journal

"This chunky board book clocks in at 96 pages, but its cheerful design and trove of dinosaurs will easily capture youngsters’ attention. Vintage print-style illustrations implement bright colors and die-cut pages to draw comparisons between modern animals and their dinosaur counterparts... The clues and die-cut dino reveals make for a fun, informative read."—Booklist

From the Publisher

"This chunky board book clocks in at 96 pages, but its cheerful design and trove of dinosaurs will easily capture youngsters’ attention. Vintage print-style illustrations implement bright colors and die-cut pages to draw comparisons between modern animals and their dinosaur counterparts... The clues and die-cut dino reveals make for a fun, informative read."

Booklist

10/01/2015
PreS-Gr 1—A companion volume to the author's Alphablock (2013) and Countablock (2014, both Abrams), this chunky block of a book, replete with flaps, offers tiny tots a litany of 21 dinosaurs. Beginning and ending with double-page fold-outs of a museum, the book presents no time line—indeed, there's no real organization—leaving that to more serious offerings. The book follows the same formula for each dinosaur: a spread mentioning a single characteristic ("I am quick like a fox" or "I burrow like a rabbit"), featuring a cutaway flap that is followed by a simple illustration relating the characteristic to a real-world association, such as a fire truck indicating the relative height of one dino. Franceschelli also includes the dinosaur's name and a phonetic spelling to help with pronunciation. The bright illustrations tend away from violent imagery. Even toothy T. rex, out in a thunderstorm, appears more anxious than aggressive. Though the pages are thinner than those in most board books, the binding and flaps are nonetheless quite sturdy. VERDICT Board book lovers and beyond will enjoy this fun look at dinos.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

2015-06-16
At a hefty 96 pages and 2 inches thick, this dinofest will be a challenge for little hands to lift, but the subject matter is sure to intrigue for longer than most board books."Meet the Dinosaurs" announces the banner across the opening illustration of a museum entrance. Then gatefolds open over 20 inches across with the questions "Who are the dinosaurs? Where are the dinosaurs?" below a museum diorama. Subsequent pages provide the answers using an effective formula: a one-line simile comparing a dinosaur to something a child might recognize, a die-cut page that highlights a characteristic of that dinosaur, then a page turn that reveals the name of the dinosaur and its phonetic pronunciation. The final gatefolds open to reveal the skeletons of each of the 23 dinosaurs introduced. A blonde Caucasian girl and a dark-skinned boy serve as the museum tour guides. Some of the comparisons are rather obscure; the spikes of a stegosaurus are compared to tents on a hill, for instance. The book will raise as many questions as it answers—for example, the dinosaurs are portrayed in varied colors, yet there is no explanation as to how scientists have determined their coloring or other features—paving the way for investigation of the topic in greater detail as readers age.The age-appropriate new vocabulary and the clever design will prompt hours of study by aspiring paleontologists; the sturdy construction ensures the book will survive them. (Board book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews