An Incredible Case of Dinosaurs

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Powell,
Ohio.

Mrs. Frost thinks she sees a strange creature floating around in her
swimming pool and hires the Quark Geniuses to investigate. Tina and
Kevin, along with their friend Giles Barnes, use Tina’s new invention,
the bathysphere to explore the depths of the murky, overgrown pool. They
soon discover that two hydrosaurs have found their way in through a
crack in the bottom. When the trio manage to block the crack and trap
the two creatures, Tina and Mrs. Frost are delighted. Tina dreams of
scientific acclaim and Mrs. Frost is covetous of the dinosaurs monetary
value. Kevin and Giles, however, think about how unhappy the trapped
creatures would be and, with some clever negotiating, they manage to set
the dinosaurs free.

Sophisticated in content and style, yet simple enough for beginning
chapter-book readers, the Barnes and the Brains series is an excellent
addition to elementary-level classrooms and libraries. From the vibrant
vocabulary to the perfectly detailed illustrations these books are full
of fantasy and fun, while offering a responsible and sensitive solution
to an ethical dilemma. Highly recommended.