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Illustrated by Keith Moseley, published by Sterling Children’s Books
The other day we were at the library and a picture book spine caught my eye. When I saw it was about dinosaurs I pulled it out and sat down to check what is being presented to our kids about these amazing creatures. In the past I’ve been rather disappointed, but this book was so fun and so gently thought provoking I decided to let you know about it!
This book takes about 5 minutes to read through if you don’t stop to find all the hidden dinosaurs (of which there are over 90). The story is a simple one of a scientifically minded grandfather and his grandson searching a lost island for signs of living dinosaurs.
Here’s what I loved about the book:
The only time reference is: “it could have been lying here for thousands of years.” There was not the slightest hint of millions of years anywhere.
Nor were there any feathers added on to any of the dinosaurs.
Although the setting is slightly fantastic, it is set in the real world of about the year 1900 AD. Obviously, the book illustrator has no problem with living dinosaurs still being around. We know dinosaurs have been around during much of human history. There are even some creationists who are doing their best to find any that might have survived in some out of the way location today.
The main plot line is the inability of the grandpa to see what is right under his nose. He claims to really want to find the dinos, and probably does. But, he’s so busy doing things scientifically and focusing on the big picture that he misses seeing them even when he is climbing on them.
It gives us a taste of the frustration those of us who see the truth have for those blind to what is all around them.
Odds are, your young kids won’t realize such lessons for years, but they will have a blast finding the dinosaurs hidden in the tree trunks and rock walls throughout. As they grow, the ideas presented will have a chance to flower in their thinking, forming a useful analogy to the blindness we can have when excluding certain evidence.
Plus, who doesn’t like knowing something a smart, authoritative grownup doesn’t know?
I highly recommend checking this out at the library if you have kids eight or younger. And, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to discuss what’s going on with your older kids as well.
I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. Psalm 119:99
