"Dinosaur--Seen At Library" 

“Lions and tigers and bears...oh my,” but what about dinosaurs?  At some time, every child discovers the fascinating world of dinosaurs.  If it’s not Triceratops, it’s Tyrannosaurus Rex; if it’s not Stegosaurus, it’s Brachiosaurus; and if it’s not any of those big guys, it’s definitely Velociraptor.  But no matter what dinosaur it is, the Columbus Public Library has both fiction and non-fiction books to satisfy any child’s dinosaur palette, guaranteed!!

The best place to find information on dinosaurs is in the J 567.9’s.  The books written in this area are for all ages and reading levels, so any child at any age will have no problem exploring the world of dinosaurs. 

A few titles that would be excellent sources are “The Big Book of Dinosaurs: A First Book for Young Children,” by Angela Wilkes; “A Look Inside Dinosaurs,” by Neil Clark and “Guide to Dinosaurs: A Thrilling Journey Through Prehistoric Times,” by David Lambert.  These books are not only very informative, but they also have wonderful colored illustrations to encourage a child’s imagination.

In addition, the Columbus Public Library has a number of entertaining stories dealing with dinosaurs either as characters or subjects within a story.  I find two books to be very entertaining and great to read to children. 

The first title is “Can I Have A Tyrannosaurus Rex, Dad? Can I? Please!?” by Lois Grambling.  This book is about a boy who asks his dad repeatedly for a Tyrannosaurus Rex.  To help influence his dad’s decision, the little guy comes up with wonderful reasons why a Tyrannosaurus Rex would make a fine pet.  Things like saving a parking place at a shopping mall, no one would dare park where a T-Rex was standing or how about having a T-Rex burglar alarm.  What burglar wouldn’t turn tail and run at the sight of a T-Rex?  Well, it turns out that the dad in the story says no to the idea of having a Tyrannosaurus Rex; however, when the boy thinks all is lost, he stumbles upon a unique egg and the story takes an interesting twist.

Another great tale dealing with dinosaurs is “How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?” by Jane Yolen.  This story deals with the concept of going to the doctor when you’re ill, or in this case, when a dinosaur is under the weather. 

Children will enjoy seeing different dinosaurs doing silly tricks to avoid the doctor’s office and taking their medication.  This is a great book for children who are afraid of the doctor’s office.  It teaches them that there is really nothing to be afraid of and that doctors are there to help, not to hurt.

So, the next time your child has an interest in Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor, or anything else for that matter, make sure your first stop is the Columbus Public Library.  We have the books to satisfy anyone’s dinosaur palette.  Just stop in and see what you’ll discover.