In tissue collages bursting with movement and merry color, nine dinosaurs are compared to still-extant animals. ``Which dinosaurs would thunder louder than a wild stampede? A troop of triceratops.'' ``Which dinosaur would be angrier than a butting billy goat? Pachycephalosaurus.'' A toothy crocodile attacks a MUCH toothier tyrannosaurus; four amazed horses prance around a smug stegosaur; little Compsognathus shrinks from an eager (but leashed) Dalmatian; and dinosaur giants loom hugely in a pair of effective foldouts. Mullins uses variegated colors and strong, pebbly textures to give her creatures presence, placing them in dramatic poses against vibrant backgrounds; paleontologist Alex Ritchie appends a page of ``Cast'' notes. Purists may scoff at the mildly anthropomorphic descriptions--let them. A pleasure to read, alone or aloud. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 5-10)
