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HOW DO DINOSAURS EAT COOKIES? by Jane Yolen

HOW DO DINOSAURS EAT COOKIES?

by Jane Yolen & illustrated by Mark Teague

Pub Date: Jan. 1st, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-38253-3
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

This familiar dinosaur series takes a look at a favorite treat.

From the trip to the grocery store through consumption, these cookies present a satisfying crunch. There's male and female supervision (of both baking and the dinos themselves); one lady works in the kitchen in dress and pearls. Yolen's now-familiar rhythm loses some of its lightness in occasionally forced rhymes. “Does a dinosaur grab for a cookie that's hot? / No, that's something that he does decidedly NOT!” Scratch-and-sniff elements add sweet smells. For budding pastry chefs old enough to mix the ingredients, the addition of two recipes may provide inspiration (“Ask an adult to help you bake”). In the spirit of the series, there is a heavy focus on manners (and sweets in moderation) as the dinos devour their goodies; they drink milk daintily and hold the bag of chocolate chips in the supermarket instead of ripping it open.

Despite some glitches in the scansion and lack of originality, this outing goes down pretty easily.

(Board book. 1-3)