Dinosaurs Before Dark

March 1, 2021
Two kids climb a ladder to prehistoric adventure in a graphic bid to bring the classic series to an even younger audience. A half-idle wish that stolid 8 1/2-year-old Jack makes while he and his impulsive little sister, Annie, are sitting in a mysterious, book-filled treehouse whirls the two off to the Cretaceous Period for encounters with dinosaurs both amiable and, in the case of a toothy Tyrannosaurus rex, not so much. The illustrators (twin sisters) make much use of inset and irregularly shaped panels to keep the action trotting along. They craft brightly lit, full-color scenes (more simply drawn than Sal Murdocca's black-and-white illustrations in the 1992 original) in which Jack's large eyeglasses and Annie's big, wide, blue eyes (both kids present White) offer instant keys to their characters, and the dinos wading through grassy, flower-strewn prehistoric landscapes are more beneficent-looking than scary (even that T. rex). Laird incorporates necessary explication into the dialogue, simplifying some vocabulary--Jack's "I wish I could see a Pteranodon for real," in the chapter book becomes "I wish we could go there," as he points to a picture of the flying reptile--but generally sticking to Osborne's tone and phrasing. In the end the two time travelers get back home in time for dinner...Jack with a certain golden medallion he picked up as a lead-in to the next three episodes. A bright, brisk repackaging that piles on the visual appeal. (Graphic fantasy. 6-9)

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June 1, 2021

Gr 1-3-This inventive graphic novel adaptation of the beloved chapter book series retells the story of siblings Jack and Annie discovering an enchanted tree house in the woods of Frog Creek, PA. Transported back in time, the pair encounter majestic dinosaurs in their original habitat. Jack and Annie are in for an unexpected visitor as a Tyrannosaurus rex approaches the nest of baby Anatosauruses they uncover. Not only will they have to evade history's most notorious dinosaur, but they will also have to figure out how to safely return home before bedtime. The story seamlessly translates into comics format, heightening the suspense for young readers. The pacing is effective, with more images and less text than in the original, which works well for emergent readers. The artwork has a distinctly digital quality, giving the tale an animated feel that children will appreciate. Jack and Annie are both white. VERDICT This fresh take on "The Magic Tree House" brings the adventures to life for those who enjoyed the classic series and newcomers alike.-Claire Moore, Manhattan Beach Lib., CA

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 1992
Gr. 1-2. With an entertaining blend of fact, farce, and fantasy, Osborne tells the story of Jack and his sister, Annie, who take a trip in a magic tree house and land in a time 65 million years ago. They find dinosaurs and volcanoes and adventure. She leads most of the time; he worries a lot and takes notes, but he saves her when she's chased by a duckbilled anatosaurus. Later, Annie saves Jack with the help of a flying pteranodon. And they get home before dark. This First Stepping Stone Book is the first in a projected Magic Tree House series about time travel. Shared imaginative play is a great way to lure new readers to the pleasure of books. In fact, veteran storyteller Osborne builds the power of reading into the story: it's the books in the tree house that give the kids the magic to travel and see far, far away. ((Reviewed Oct. 1, 1992))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1992, American Library Association.)

September 1, 1992
Gr 1-3- -This enjoyable time-travel fantasy is a successful beginning chapter book. Jack and his younger sister find a tree house filled with books. When he wishes he could really see the Pteranodon pictured in one of them, it appears at the window. The children have been transported back to the Cretaceous period. They begin to explore and are soon threatened by a Tyrannosaurus. The Pteranodon comes to their rescue, and they figure out enough about the magic that carried them back in time to be able to use it to return home. There is plenty of suspense and magic here, and enough dinosaur information to please science buffs. Characterization is sketchy and older children will find the plot predictable, but readers just past the easy-to-read stage will find it satisfying. It should attract those who devour Ruth Chew's books. -Louise L. Sherman, Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ

January 1, 1992
This fantasy, the first in the Magic Tree House series, begins in a mysterious treehouse filled with stacks of books. When Jack wishes to see a Pteranodon for real after looking at a picture of one, he and Annie are transported through time and have some thrilling adventures in the prehistoric past. Though not outstanding, the dialogue, the plot, and the artwork sprinkled throughout will appeal to young readers.

(Copyright 1992 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)