Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 6, 1993 TAG: 9303060176
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Reviewed by LYNN ERWIN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
`DINOTOPIA': A FUN STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION
In 1860, Professor Arthur Denison and his son, Will, were lost at sea. Or were they?According to wildly imaginative author and illustrator James Gurney, maybe not. While rummaging through the University Library one afternoon, Gurney stumbled upon an old leather-bound book entitled "Dinotopia: being an account of our adventures and discoveries on a Lost Island" by Arthur and William Denison. Inside, Gurney found notes and sketches of people and dinosaurs living together. Impossible?
"I offer you the facts of the case so you can form your own conclusions," Gurney states in his brief introduction, and from there, this fascinating fantasy takes off.
The tale is told by Professor Denison in journal form. He chronicles life in a land where humans appreciate the wisdom of the dinosaurs and in turn, the dinosaurs benefit from the humans' skills and inventiveness. He writes of adventures, parades and celebrations, sports, foods, literature and transportation of the people and dinosaurs as they live peacefully together. He tells of treks to Waterfall City and Treetown, the footprint alphabet, the dinosaur hatchery and even includes "The Song of Dinotopia" complete with music.
"Dinotopia" is a continuous stretch of the imagination and is more or less a detailed account of this strange land. There is a thin plot about Will and his desire to become a Skybax, but most of the story is devoted to "facts," rituals and daily living habits. Illustrations are large, numerous and loaded with captions. A map of Dinotopia adds to the realness of it all.
The book is a wonderful read-aloud, especially for the middle-school crowd who will appreciate the detailed text and illustrations. With the dinosaurs still on exhibit at the Science Museum of Western Virginia, it's an excellent choice.
\ AUTHOR Lynn Erwin is a librarian at Hollins College.