Dinoblock (Alphablock)

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)

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