Uneversaurus Hardcover – 5 Oct 2006

I love this book. It has great illustrations and explores lots of fun concepts. The kids were engaged by the text and the speech bubbles. I learned something as well: I now know what countershading is all about.

This book was reviewed by Three Silly Chicks - Readers, Writers, and Reviewers of funny books for kids. [...]It's a funny thing about non-fiction picture books. They usually aren't very funny. But now and then, a book shows up that tickles our funny bones and teaches us just a little bit, too.Uneversaurus is just that kind of book. Okay, we must admit that were a little slow to get the title (You-never-saw-us!). We thought it was the actual name of a chick-eating dinosaur, but we are small birds with glasses and are a paranoid about things that eat small birds with glasses.Kids will be drawn to this book's cool cover with an eye that changes to a dinosaur and will giggle over the funny illustrations and comments from the two narrating dinosaurs. All the while, readers will learn some important scientific concepts. How do scientists use clues to figure out what dinosaurs really looked like? How would environment, predators, prey, gender and age affect how they (The dinosaurs, not the scientists) looked? Did old dinosaurs wear false teeth and use canes?Uneversaurus is a book both serious and silly! Great for art classes and science classes alike!

This book uses humor and science to speculate about the coloration and appearance of dinosaurs. What did these creatures look like? That is the gazillion dollar question and why this clever and insightful book intrigued me. The title itself is a play on words, you-never-saw-us/Uneversaurus...The opening end papers suggest a color wheel of dinosaur scales and the first page states the fact that "no human has ever seen a dinosaur." Taking clues from nature, colors and patterns are suggested in the finely drawn and colorful illustrations. Were the creatures camouflaged? Were they patterned with strips or spots?Speech balloons give the dinosaurs a chance to talk and comment. Their commentary is funny and insightful. A double spread coloring pages on the closing end papers, invite the dinosaur lover to color in his or her own ideas.

This magnificently illustrated, creative and humourous book will educate and entertain both children and parents alike. Professor Potts takes you to an intriguing and whimsical land of speculation and possibilty as he explores what the dinosaurs really looked like.Worthy of many readings and will be a favourite with dinosaur fans and school librarians!

really charming book and its ideal for all my friend's children and a perfect birthday/Christmas present - never fails to impress!