Once Upon a Mastadon: All About Prehistoric Mammals

Reviewed by: Dorothy Hall-Riddle - N/A, Cumberland, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 12, 2015

Review

There are a lot of facts packed into this short adventure with the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and Dick and his sister, Sally. They travel through time and around the world learning about all sorts of creatures from the Ice Age. Scientific practices used to study and identify these ancient animals are also included, along with a glossary, index, scientific names, pronunciation guides, and a list of resources for more information. In typical Dr. Seuss rhymes, the Cat shares interesting tidbits of information about the ancient mammals, starting with a description of what is a mammal. He also talks about early humans and what life was like for them and their interactions with the animals. Dick and Sally gape wide-eyed throughout the entire adventure, assuredly soaking in the myriad facts the Cat disseminates. Young readers would enjoy learning solid content in this fun manner, either on their own or during a read-aloud. The purpose of the books in this series is to deliver good information in an entertaining manner, showing that learning can be fun.

Overall Book Score: very good