(++++) CUDDLEMONSTERS

Why I Love Dinosaurs. Illustrated by Daniel Howarth. HarperCollins. $11.99.

     There is perhaps no greater bifurcation between adult science and childhood fantasy than kids’ continuing adoration of dinosaurs. No matter how many discoveries are made about dinosaur size and habits, no matter how many terrifying (in human terms) revelations are made about their behavior and appearance, no matter how many times they are used in grown-up-focused movies as creatures of fright, they always retain a constant underlying kid-oriented drumbeat of adorableness. That sets the stage for young children to explain, in their own words, just why they are so fond of dinosaurs – the imaginary fantasy ones, that is. And that sets the stage for Why I Love Dinosaurs, in which kids’ own words are combined with always-pleasant Daniel Howarth illustrations that produce a thoroughly unrealistic, unceasingly cute view of imaginary dino delights.

     The book’s cover neatly encapsulates its whole approach, showing anthropomorphic, child-proportioned versions of a smiling Tyrannosaur, Triceratops, Apatosaurus and others, dressed in human-child-appropriate outfits, gamboling about. Howarth’s illustrations smooth and curve all elements of the dinos’ bodies, ignoring pesky scientific findings about dinosaurs having rough scales and feathers, and modifying anatomy that could otherwise be upsetting: these childlike meat-eaters not only play happily with herbivores but also have small, rounded teeth rather than long, sharp, serrated ones, and the protective horns of some of their real-world prey become short, rounded decorations. This is entirely typical of the way dinos are usually adapted to reflect human children’s imagination and enjoyment.

     The adaptation is especially pleasurable when it lightly (very lightly) reflects real-dinosaur behavior, as on the two-page spread with the words, “I love dinosaurs because…they ROAR!” This one has the childlike Tyrannosaur chasing several childlike plant-eaters – with all the dinos smiling and clearly participating in “tag” or similar chase-and-catch play, and with any sense of threat entirely absent. All the double pages of this pleasantly colored oversize board book start with “I love dinosaurs because…” (including the ellipsis) and then give a few words that kids really use to explain their enjoyment, such as “they are strong” or “they stomp their feet” (hard enough to break through rock, in Howarth’s illustration).

     Real-world dinosaurs existed in an amazing array of sizes and shapes, and a toned-down version of that reality prevails here as well, notably with the words “there are so many different kinds” – that illustration shows childlike dinos of many types playing on playground equipment that looks as if it came out of The Flintstones. Amusing touches of that sort are everywhere here: the “they hatch from eggs” illustration features one egg, through which two legs have broken, running around; “some can swim” includes a dinosaur lifeguard stand and diving board; “they have big teeth” features everyone enthusiastically using toothbrushes and foamy toothpaste; and “some can fly” shows pterosaurs (which are not actually dinosaurs, scientifically speaking, but certainly are in kidspeak) soaring above a shoreline and carrying backpacks roped to their backs (best not to ask who would have tied them on, and how).

     The final two-page spread of the book is the only one that does not start with “I love dinosaurs,” because it makes the point universal: “Everyone loves dinosaurs,” it says, and then adds, “especially…ME!” And the illustration shows modern-day kids dressing up in dinosaur costumes – except that these “kids” are actually modern anthropomorphic mammals (rabbit, squirrel, raccoon, bear and more) enjoying themselves at a party featuring a dinosaur piñata and pin-the-tail-on-the-dino game. So the book ends with childlike non-human animals dressing up as other childlike non-human animals – which seems like just the right way to wrap up an amusing, easy-to-read, pleasantly illustrated perusal of all the things that dinosaurs were not, as if that matters in the slightest to contemporary kids’ continued enjoyment of dino-focused make-believe.