The Mine-O-Saur
Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Illustrator: David Clark
G.P. Putnam’s Sons

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Enjoyed the Read … Recommended … 5 stars

My resident critics, fourteen first graders, settled upon the rug to listen to the reading of The Mine-O-Saur. They eyed the cover with interest and quieted as I turned to the first page. Mrs. Raptor had not yet rung the bell, little dinosaurs were playing in the school yard and suddenly a roar sound, ‘mine, mine, mine.’

The Mine-o-saur came bounding to the school yard and immediately began grabbing all the toys, at snack time he grabbed all the snacks. During block building he even grabbed all of the blocks. At last holding all his grabbed toys Mine-o-saur realized he had everything except what was most important; the other children were all playing together at the other end of the play yard.

My resident critics listened raptly to the reading of the tale. I had prepped the children for the reading by telling them that as they are learning to write a book report I too read books and write a book report, and this time they could help tell me what to say so that the author, the illustrator and other children might read what they thought of the book.

The children agree The Mine-o-saur is a great book for kids ‘our’ age. They liked the illustrations, the story and the lesson taught. ‘It helps us know how to act so that kids will want to play with us.’ The children did admit that they might have behaved in such manner as the Mine-o-saur, ‘when I was in Kindergarten.’

I enjoyed the book as well. The Mine-O-Saur is an easily read work, filled with child friendly illustrations and presents a needed message for children in the target audience of 3 - 7. The message that to be greedy and demanding generally leads to no friends and no fun is presented in a low key, child geared manner which was immediately understood by the students in my class. I like the fact that the book can be used as a discussion starter during a lesson about manners, taking turns and friendship; all areas we deal with ongoing in first grade.

The Mine-O-Saur is a read to for the 3 – 7 set, a read with help for the 7 – 9s and a read to the little kids down at Kindergarten for the strong 8 – 9 year olds. This is a book we will read often in our first grade; Wynona, Oklahoma.

Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend.