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Children's Fiction Counting & Numbers

Dinosaur Countdown

illustrated by Nicholas Oldland

Publisher
Kids Can Press
Initial publish date
Aug 2012
Category
Counting & Numbers, Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures
Recommended Age
2 to 6
Recommended Grade
p to 1
Recommended Reading age
2 to 5
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781554538348
    Publish Date
    Aug 2012
    List Price
    $21.19
  • Board book

    ISBN
    9781525304767
    Publish Date
    Jun 2021
    List Price
    $10.99

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

In this simple and clever picture book from Nicholas Oldland, small children will have fun counting backward, as they're introduced to different dinosaurs grouped from ten to two, and a final, single dinosaur. Then, in a unique twist, the book goes on to “zero” dinosaurs as well (because “they're extinct, silly!”). Each number gets its own two-page spread, where it is both written as a numeral and spelled out as a word within the illustration's description (for example, “ten striding velociraptors”). The dinosaur names are appropriately long and tongue-twisting, one of the things young children love about dinosaurs --- but not to worry, there's a pronunciation guide at the end of the book! And the dinosaurs are all actively engaged, “sauntering” and “soaring,” “rearing” and “roaring.” A couple of spreads offer clues to something extra on the page to search for (a “looming predator” on one, “and what's that flying overhead?” on another), to keep the counting activity fun and not too repetitive. Oldland's fresh, playful and lively artwork will keep young eyes engaged, an important task as they begin to learn to count. This book is an excellent choice for an interactive preschool or kindergarten early numeracy or counting lesson. It also works for first lessons on prehistoric animals or on animal biology in general (herbivores and carnivores are both mentioned, for example). And it makes a terrific vocabulary stretcher, as children use visual cues to figure out what it means that a tyrannosaurus is “towering” or a stegosaurus is “lumbering.”

About the author

 

 

 

Nicholas Oldland est le directeur artistique et l'un des propriétaires d'une entreprise de vêtements nommée Hatley. Ses motifs reconnus sont imprimés sur des pyjamas, des imperméables, des bottes de pluie et des chandails, tous signés Hatley. Aux Éditions Scholastic, il a écrit et illustré plusieurs albums dont L'ours qui aimait les arbres, L'orignal qui avait la frousse et Les amis qui ne pensaient qu'à gagner. Nicholas habite à Toronto.

 

Nicholas Oldland earned a degree in fine arts at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada, and enjoyed success as a commercial artist and filmmaker before taking up the role of creative director at Hatley, a popular apparel company. Big Bear Hugis his first picture book.

 

Nicholas Oldland's profile page

Awards

  • Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre

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