Patrick's Dinosaurs on the Internet

Patrick's Dinosaurs

by Carol Carrick, David Milgrim (Illustrator)

Patrick loves dinosaurs, and he loves looking at them on the Internet. But he has no idea that dinosaurs are looking back! One night, Flato, a friendly, freckle-faced creature, invites Patrick to travel in a fantastic spaceship to visit his dinosaur planet. That's only the first of Patrick's amazing adventures, which include an intergalactic soccer game and a close call with a hungry Tyrannosaurus rex. Both longtime fans and first-time readers will adore this delightful new story about Patrick, featuring the work of a distinctive new illustrator who brings his own humorous, contemporary touch to the book.

Genres: Picture Books, Dinosaurs, Fiction, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 1999

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

That dinosaur-loving boy with a big imagination is back in this follow-up to his make-believe adventures in Patrick's Dinosaurs and What Happened to Patrick's Dinosaurs? Patrick's idea that dinosaurs left Earth and settled a far-distant planet proves correct in this third story, as Flato the dinosaur comes to collect him in a spaceship late one night, while everyone else is sleeping. After a fun experience on the dinosaur world, where Patrick is Flato's display at a school show-and-tell, the young boy is returned to Earth, but given the promise that his new dinosaur friend will be in touch...

On the whole, Patrick's Dinosaurs on the Internet was an engaging enough story, featuring two themes - dinosaurs and aliens - quite popular with imaginative young children. The story from Carol Carrick is fun, and the artwork from David Milgrim, whose own picture-book, Another Day in the Milky Way , also explored the experiences of a young boy on an alien planet, was colorful and appealing, in a cartoonish way. Unfortunately, I couldn't help judging this one on its predecessors, and I did find it a little wanting. In those earlier books, it was clear that Patrick was playing pretend, whereas here his game seems to be reality. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, of course, but I think I preferred it when the stories were as much about imaginative play, as about dinosaurs. The artwork here is in a very different style to the two earlier books, which Carrick created with her husband, Donald Carrick, and I found Milgrim's work unsatisfying, when compared to that done by Carrick.

It feels a little unfair to make these comparisons, but they just naturally sprang to mind. I'd still recommend this one to those looking for fun picture-books for dinosaur and alien-obsessed youngsters, but be aware that it is differs in both tone and aesthetics from the first two books about Patrick.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to my 2 year old and it sustained his attention when the dinosaurs were on the pages. However, as I was reading the story I realized the story had to have been written in the 90s because the computer in the pictures was that large chunky computer from back then. 90s is not an issue, but makes more sense with specific things in the book. The storyline seemed slow and odd as in it did not flow as well as I would have liked. I thought it was odd in the fact that the dinosaurs were the ones searching for the main character for their show and tell, especially considering the story up until that point. My toddler loves dinosaurs and I thought this would be a great book to read with him, but sadly it was just the dinosaur illustrations that was catching for us.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patrick who likes dinosaurs is visited by one from space, named, Flato, who takes Patrick back to his home planet as a show and tell report for his class. Patrick answers questions, plays at recess, and returns back to earth safely. This tale names several constellations, and different types of dinosaurs during the story.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this is really just a cute book about run-away imagination, it was also weird. The dinosaurs do find Patrick on the internet, but otherwise it's much more dinosaurs in space. Also, do we really want a story where someone finds a kid online and then takes them away? It's dinosaurs and it's his imagination, it's not really happening, but it still gives me the creeps.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Patrick and his brother Hank are looking up dinosaurs on the Internet. When Hank goes to bed, Patrick can’t sleep wondering where the dinosaurs are now. Then, on the computer, a dinosaur appears and tells Patrick to watch for him. Soon a spaceship pulls up and out hops Flato. He takes Patrick back to his planet for a show and tell.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated, yes, but the references to the Internet aren't so dinosaur-like that modern kids won't recognize them. This is a silly, goofy story about a child visiting a dino planet, with a bit of help from his computer.

[Katie Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this book. The book is about a young man who likes to look at pictures of dinosaurs on the internet. Little does he know that those dinosaurs are real and are watching him at the same time! One night he goes on an adventure to a far off dinosaur planet where he learns more about the different types of dinosaurs. This book can be used in the classroom when teaching about dinosaurs.

[The Docta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a good follow up. Loopy story with a lousy offshoot plot like when respectable tv shows start having supernatural things happen because ratings are slipping and they get sci-fi weird with ghosts and UFOs to draw crowd. The illustration change from first two books was undesirable. Should have stopped at the first book.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but wordy picture book about a young boy who wonders what has happened to all the dinosaurs and then has an off-world adventure to visit new dinosaur friends he met on the internet.
Good for longer bedtime reading.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I miss the illustrations from the other 2 books, but I always love Milgrim's work. So I was appeased. This goes right along with Patrick believing the dinosaurs are in space, and he gets to have his own little adventure there.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story of a young boy who, after looking up dinosaurs on the internet, is whisked away in a spaceship as "Show and Tell" at the dinosaur's school on another planet. A great little adventure. Great illustrations!

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that manages to include dinosaurs, UFOs, other planets, and the internet all in one. Patrick really loves dinosaurs and one day they come to pick him up in their spaceship to take him back to their planet as a show-and-tell project.

Kinda kooky illustrations, as is the whole story.

[Cana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Newer book in the series. Did not care for it; not as sweet as the rest. I miss Donald Carrick's illustrations. Story line is not as classic as the others.

[Emily Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

PB45 - This book was kind of boring and didn't really keep my attention. I'm sure boys that are interested in dinosaurs would enjoy it though.