Who isn’t fascinated by dinosaur facts? I’m old enough to have been part of a large portion of the general population that grew up with an understanding of dinosaurs that came from Jurassic Park or The Land Before Time. Both good movies in their own unique ways, but the point is: when I was growing up, it was generally accepted that dinosaurs were giant reptiles and they definitely didn’t have feathers.
The Magic Tree House Fact Checkers is a series of nonfiction books that are written by Mary Pope Osborne together with either her husband Will Osborne and her sister Natalie Pope Boyce. These books break complex subjects down into simple concepts that young children can readily comprehend. They help develop a child’s skills at reaching conclusions through the logic of cause and effect. But the most fundamental gain of the nonfiction Fact Trackers is that they give children an appreciation for the wonders of the “real” world and inspire a curiosity for learning more about history and natural science.
Jack and Annie are your guides – they narrate and explain their time traveling adventures to the reader while dropping facts about where they happen to be visiting. Red vocabulary words are highlighted and defined in the corners of certain panels, mindful and considerate of its target reader. And although informative and well-rendered, do not expect this graphic novel to contain scientific illustrations. But do expect some basic scientific language – such as “megalosaurus,” how to pronounce it, and what it translates to – the history of dinosaur archeology specifically (including how we humans got it all wrong), the history of the planet, and a little bit about what we still don’t know.
Magic Tree House Fact Tracker Graphic Novel: Dinosaurs is a solid start to a basic and foundational understanding of paleontology. The information is laid out simply in an organized fashion and the pictures that accompany it are engaging and rendered in full color.
Magic Tree House Fact Tracker Graphic Novel vol. 02: Dinosaurs Â
By Mary Pope Osborne, Will Osborne
Art by Jomike Tejido
Penguin Random House, 2025
ISBN: 9780593705841
Company Age Rating:Â 6-9
NFNT Age Recommendation: Easy Readers (5-9)
