Dinotopia

by James Gurney

book data

705 ratings, 4.31 average rating, 69 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		48%
4		33%
3		13%
2		3%
1		0%

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published

March 1st 2003 by HarperTrophy (first published 1992)

details

Paperback, 160 pages

literary awards

Locus Award for Best Non-Fiction (1993)

isbn

0060530642 (isbn13: 9780060530648)

description

Dinotopia--a world where humans and an ancient race of dinosaurs have lived for centuries in amicable interdependence--is discovered by a scientist an…more

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Jun 01, 2007

Keely rated it:

bookshelves: adventure, art, childhood, fantasy, illustrated, reviewed

recommends it for: Children, Artists, Dinosaur Lovers

This fanciful retelling of "The Land that Time Forgot" would just be a passable (if fun) story if not for the truly remarkable artwork on every page. Gurney's imagining of his new and strange world carries a depth and weight that, to be trite, truly transports you there.

Portrayed as a travelogue of a shipwreck survivor on the island of Dinotopia, Gurney successfully captures the feel of early century sci-fi tales which, even today seem only just beyond the realm of possibi...more

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23 comments

Nov 18, 2009

Fiver rated it:

A very exceptional book, in many ways. Readers of this critique, please don't think that I'm giving this book five stars simply because it was a childhood favorite (and I openly admit to having loved this book since I was a child). Dinotopia is the kind of book that is so easy laugh at at the mere description: two travelers stumble on a hidden island where humans and dinosaurs live together! Break out the grenades, cavewomen, and giant apes, right?

The reason Dinotopia deserves fi...more A very exceptional book, in many ways. Readers of this critique, please don't think that I'm giving this book five stars simply because it was a childhood favorite (and I openly admit to having loved this book since I was a child). Dinotopia is the kind of book that is so easy laugh at at the mere description: two travelers stumble on a hidden island where humans and dinosaurs live together! Break out the grenades, cavewomen, and giant apes, right?

The reason Dinotopia deserves five stars is that it rises above its seemingly 'silly' premise to make a book that will entertain and inspire people of any age. The beautiful paintings are colorful enough for young children, interesting enough for older children, and deep and rich enough for adults.

James Gurney is so devoted to the world of Dinotopia, to the culture, the language, the architecture, the clothing, and the characters, that I am amazed even today at how seriously I take the book. The story is told as a series of diary entries from the point of view of an explorer encountering the land for the first time, and there is (thank heaven!) very little plot or story conflict to get in the way of the presentation. Mr. Gurney takes advantage of the leftover space perfectly, by presenting audiences with a vibrant creation.

The thrill of Dinotopia rests surprisingly little on the dinosaurs themselves. Looking at the book now, I am shocked to realize that I was as intrigued by the architecture, language, and customs of Dinotopia as anything else. Those who think they could never swallow the idea of sentient dinosaurs (saurians in the book are treated as an interesting merging of peers with plowbeasts) may just be surprised at how unimportant the broad disregard of scientific accuracy is: Mr. Gurney has included the dinosaurs to add a sense of wonder, to show culture differences, and even to seriously examine what life would be like if, well, if we could have a friendly chat with a forty-foot taxi.

Altogether, this book is a wonder. It actually raises good adult questions about societies and cultures, but more importantly, it fully succeeds in pulling even the intelligent reader into a truly fantastic world. Enjoy!
(less)

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Mar 17, 2010

Leta rated it:

Dinotopia is Arthur Denison's journal of his ship-wrecked journey with his son Will to the land of Dinotopia. It is a land where humans and dinosaurs not only co-exist but thrive by living together and helping each species move foward. This whole Dinoptopia series is considered a "Classics" series by the Thomas Jefferson book list and I agree 100% that it is a classic. The artwork in these books is breath taking. My son has loved them although the language is quite complex for a ch...more

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Nov 08, 2008

Rebecca rated it:

Read in August, 2008

When I was little I read Swiss Family Robinson ... at least I assume I did. I don't remember actually reading it (the first time), only having known that I had. Whatever the circumstances, the story was one that fascinated me and stuck with me for a long, long time. The story of the shipwreck and having to find a way to live on a deserted island has been the basis of many (many) of my dreams over the years and there is always something about those types of stories that draw me in immediately.
...more When I was little I read Swiss Family Robinson ... at least I assume I did. I don't remember actually reading it (the first time), only having known that I had. Whatever the circumstances, the story was one that fascinated me and stuck with me for a long, long time. The story of the shipwreck and having to find a way to live on a deserted island has been the basis of many (many) of my dreams over the years and there is always something about those types of stories that draw me in immediately.

The first book I remember reading (after the start of the fixation) that had the same idea was Dinotopia. I picked up in the primary school library and just fell in love - but it was always one of those books that was, at the time, far too expensive to buy and has no become one that I actually enjoy tracking down and finding again when the mood strikes. Not having it on hand makes it a little more special.

Dinotopia is the fictional journal kept by Arthur Denison, a turn of the century scientist and explorer, when he and his son, Will, are shipwrecked on an island the world never knew: Dinotopia. In this fantastic world, humans and Dinosaurs ("Saurians") live together in harmony, in a beautifully cultured and fertile utopia.

The book covers their first year(s) on the island: their travels around the larger cities, their education of Dinotopian ways (first rule of Dinotopia: 'One raindrop raises the sea'), and mostly, their adjustment to this new and wonderful world. Young Will takes to it quite readily while Arthur, amazed at all he sees, maintains his distance a little longer, allowing the reader to see and read the book through his curious, yet steady voice.

Dinotopia is a joy to read, not only for the pure imagination of it's story but for Gurney's unbelievably beautiful illustrations that fill the book. These are images that you just want to fall into. If you haven't already read Dinotopia, it is one you must track down and read. I am very much looking forward to reading his latest book in the series.(less)

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Nov 27, 2007

Matt rated it:

(review of isbn 1878685236)

Read in April, 2009

recommended to Matt by: Parents, when I was a kid
recommends it for: Anyone

Beautiful, imaginative, funny and immersive. I can't picture myself getting excited by a book filled with paintings of a land of people living with dinosaurs, yet any one of the magnificent paintings in this book still thrills me. Not only is there vast wonder and mystery in Dinotopia, but writing the book fromt he approach of a scientist's journal as he tours the continent is natural and leads to a more believable tale. Not that it's all dry science. Aside from the examinations of culture and b...more

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Mar 25, 2009

Lena rated it:

Read in October, 1993

recommends it for: Everyone!

I absolutely LOVE this book!!! I got it when I was about 3years old and forced my parents to read it a thousand times before I was able to read it on my own. This was the book that really motivated me when learning to read was boring. Even now I still read it at least once a year and it never gets boring. I'd be surprised if there is a kid that doesn't like this book.

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Jan 29, 2010

Emily rated it:

bookshelves: books-i-will-read-to-my-children

Read in January, 2006

The way this story is written tries to make it believable by appearing to be a factual journal.
I could hardly care less about that part; it's the pictures that I go back to look at again and again. The illustrations are awesome! They are the only reason I would "read" this to my kids; not to actually read the story, but to show them the colorful, realistic illustrations.

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Nov 12, 2008

Matthew rated it:

bookshelves: for-the-children

I'll never forget the rush of excitement I felt when I saw these paintings in the B. Dalton bookstore at Richland Mall.

I stared at them over and over again for hours! The landscapes and depictions of realms where dinosaurs lived alongside humans were so realistic - it made them even stranger - you wanted to believe in Dinotopia - I did believe in Dinotopia! I would pretend for hours on end!

Finally I got around to reading the story and it was a bunch of Utopian hippy bul...more

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Jan 09, 2010

Reilly! rated it:

bookshelves: children, fiction

Read in January, 2010

A father and son are shipwrecked on a strange island and taken completely by surprise of the island's inhabitants: Dinosaurs and humans living peacefully together in a lush utopia. The illustrations are to focal point of this book. They are simply amazing!

This was one of my favorites as a child. Re-reading it as an adult brought back the same feelings of immersion and wanting more!

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Mar 24, 2009

Kate rated it:

bookshelves: family-reads

Read in March, 2009

I cannot say enough good about these books! My son found the second one at the library by accident and we just tore through it in 2 days. Beautiful illustrations and wonderful stories. I've started to just buy them up. These are definate classics for my family.

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Dec 27, 2008

Green rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Dinotopia was one of my favorite books as a kid. I remember peeling through it one Christmas afternoon when I was nine. There's a message of inter-species harmony and non-violence running throughout Dinotopia, alongside some gorgeous illustrations.

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Jan 15, 2009

Kate rated it:

Gurney has aptly joined together the worlds of humans, dinosaurs, and might I say it, a little magic, which equals, at least in my eyes, nothing short of perfection. I highly recommend it. Oh, and did I mention that it's a pop-up book?

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2 comments

Jul 30, 2009

Brendan Howard rated it:

Read in January, 1993

Magnificently illustrated and developed utopia of humans and dinosaurs living in peace. However, the book does lack almost completely in suspense and plot. Reads more like a Darwinian scientific and cultural exploration than a story.

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Mar 15, 2010

Filka rated it:

Owns a copy — Read in January, 1991

I loved + continue to love this book.
It was the best place to be after a day outside as a kid.

This is one of those must haves if you love dinosaurs, adventure + amazing scenery.

I cannot recommend this book enough!

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Apr 29, 2009

Charlie Birkel rated it:

This is a book that was a favorite of mine as a kid. I went back and read it a couple of years ago and appreciated it equally if not more. Really a well done work-on the level of Tolkien for its detail.

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Apr 30, 2009

Meredith rated it:

bookshelves: dinotopia, james-gurney

Read in April, 2009

This book is awesome and a really quick read! I recommend people who saw the movie to read this to see where the inspiration for the movie came from. BTW, I started and finished the book yesterday!

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Mar 18, 2008

Asia Snow rated it:

Read in March, 2008

recommended to Asia by: the TV miniseries
recommends it for: Families to read together

We watched the miniseries as a family and loved it! Then we checked this book out from the library and read it together. Having seen the miniseries already helped my little ones recognize what was going on as we read. The words are advanced for my young children but they love the pictures and quietly listen. It is keeping the attention of my husband and I and is great for a family read together.
The illustrations are incredible and the words are so creative and masterful as well. They ...more

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Apr 23, 2009

Christina marked it as to-read

bookshelves: older-kids, to-read

The pictures are gorgeous (particularly those of cities or landscapes) and the premise intriguing. We always gloss over those "millions of years ago" parts and just say "years ago" when talking about the dinos...
Zach lost interest about halfway through. But I was still pretty into it. We'll try it again in a year or two.

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Jan 15, 2009

Kathryn rated it:

The pictures in this book are gorgeous. We would get this from the library just to look at them. The story is perfectly fine, but the point is the pictures.

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Jan 09, 2010

Jennifer rated it:

bookshelves: read-to-belle, tjed-children

Read in January, 2007

This is such a fun book. It's a great way to get kids interested in the natural sciences. It makes me want to make my own field guide. The story is great.

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