How Big Were the Dinosaurs?: A Funny Picture Book About Prehistoric Creatures and School Buses for Kids

by Bernard Most

If Ankylosaurus were alive today, you might be able to ride it to school—after all, it was bigger than a school bus. And if Diplodocus was on your basketball team, you’d always be sure to win the game; his body would stretch the length of the court! In this fact- and fancy-filled book about dinosaurs, Bernard Most shows just how the largest of these prehistoric creatures would measure up in today’s child’s world. A six-page foldout helps show how big the biggest dinosaur really was.

Genres: Dinosaurs, Picture Books, Science, Nonfiction, Childrens, Animals, Mathematics

38 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Bernard Most is an author of children's books, especially books about dinosaurs. He lives in Westchester County, New York with his wife, two cats, and many fish.

Reviews

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book highlights the various types of dinosaurs that existed and how large they were in comparison to modern-day dinosaurs. Even though dinosaur names can be long and difficult to speak, the author gives a pronunciation guide in parenthesis to assist the young reader in pronouncing the dinosaur names. Apart from the names, the content is a good book for a beginning reader to read with the assistance of an adult. On each page, there are colorful and detailed pictures. If I were teaching a prehistoric life lesson, I would use this book. I'd have the students choose a dinosaur and write terms that define it and compare it to what we have now, just like the book does. I believe the drawings and large dinosaurs will appeal to the target audience of this book. The book is entertaining to look at, and the child may not even realize they are learning.

[Carlie Elson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book. It gives pronunciations of the dinosaurs names so that the kids will be able to learn how to say it. It also shows how big the dinosaurs are compared to real life things. For example the supersaurus was as big as the supermarket aisle.

[Kate Matheis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It talks about many different dinosaurs, common ones and ones that are not mentioned very often. It relates their sizes to something all children can identify. It also gives a little fact about each one.

[Launna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good info in a cute format.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice job- so many of the dino books are foolish. Alissa liked the page about the kids fitting in the footprints.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, wish it had a bit more info, but I liked how it relates to real world things.

[Cody Francis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too many words for me right now! Maybe when I'm bigger I'll like it more!

[Emily Sefcheck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kdg-2nd grade
Genre: Informational

This fun book is another useful text to implement when teaching a lesson on dinosaurs. The pictures and comparisons are fun for students and will captivate younger readers.

[Latoya Sharaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nonfiction was intended for children ages 5-9 years old. This book hasn’t won any literary awards, but I still gave it five stars because it was a great informational book for children to read. The book describes the different types of dinosaurs there were and how big they would compare to today. Even though the names of the dinosaurs can be really long and hard to pronounce, the author provides the way to pronounce it in parenthesis to help the young reader pronounce the name of the dinosaurs. Besides the names though, the text is a good book for a beginning reader with the help of an adult. There are illustrations on each page, full of color and detail. I would use this book if I were to be teaching a lesson on prehistoric life. I would have the students pick a dinosaur and write words that describe it and how it would compare with what we have today; just as the book does. I think the illustrations and the big dinosaurs would make this book appealing to the age it is intended for. The book is fun to look at and the child may not even realize that they are learning at the same time.

[Samantha Penrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is informative, but its also cute and silly. By comparing dinosaurs (both in the text and pictures) to everyday objects, kids can really begin to understand how big (or small) the dinosaurs really were. They are shown side by side with things like, a baby crib, a basketball court, a grocery store ailse and a bulldozer. A great idea, because saying a dino is "40 feet long" means nothing to a child (or to me!)

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great morning read to get my day started, Bernard Most's children's picture book is as entertainingly illustrated as it is informative. For example, on the page about mamenchisaurus, the text reads, "[I]t's neck was longer than a school flagpole. No other dinosaur, or any animal that ever lived, had a longer neck. I think this is a dinosaur worth saluting." This accompanies a lovely illustration of a class of children & their teacher pledging allegiance to the flag/dinosaur.

[Hatka Kecalovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book How Big Were the Dinosaurs by Bernard Most focuses on characteristics of dinosaurs. The book serves as a good resource to teach about prehistoric animals. The book can be used for size, weight, and length lessons. The book compares the size of dinosaurs to modern day items. This book can be used in Pre-K to 2 grade classrooms.

[Natalie Pietro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know there are two dinosaur species that the paleontologist found only their arms and legs. Their bodies were never discovered. And these beasts arms were longer then 9 feet. Could you just imagine how big these guys would have been if all the bones were found. Wickedly cool info written in child's cartoons. My son really liked this book.

[Abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story begins to teach children about size, weight, and length by comparing dinosaurs to realistic things young children know. For example, a Stegosaurus is so big plates on it's back are larger than a school crossing sign. This really helps show children how big dinosaurs actually were.

[Kelly Whelchel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science Grade K/1 Fiction Topic: Dinosaurs

Use when teaching dinosaurs. The names are broken down into syllables so you can say the name. Great reference on how big the dinosaurs are with things that the kids will know.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely visual and includes dinosaurs I hadn't heard of. My 2.5 yo liked it.

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice and easy to understand! Perfect for a dinosaur lover!

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helps children relate to the size of dinosaurs by comparing them to things they know. Wonderful illustrations and child center.