(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: The Dino Files series. Illustrated by Mike Boldt. Aspiring paleontologist Frank visits his grandma at the Dinosaur Education Center of Wyoming, where a fossilized egg hatches adorable dinosaur Peanut. Frank and bratty cousin Samantha must keep Peanut a secret--first from a greedy neighbor and then from a film crew. Dinosaur enthusiasts will dig the Jurassic Park–lite premise, but trite dialogue and weak characters may bore others. Cartoonish illustrations add appeal. Review covers the following Stepping Stone titles: A Mysterious Egg and Too Big to Hide.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: The Dino Files series. Illustrated by Mike Boldt. Aspiring paleontologist Frank visits his grandma at the Dinosaur Education Center of Wyoming, where a fossilized egg hatches adorable dinosaur Peanut. Frank and bratty cousin Samantha must keep Peanut a secret--first from a greedy neighbor and then from a film crew. Dinosaur enthusiasts will dig the Jurassic Park–lite premise, but trite dialogue and weak characters may bore others. Cartoonish illustrations add appeal. Review covers the following Stepping Stone titles: A Mysterious Egg and Too Big to Hide.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: The Dino Files series. Illustrated by Mike Boldt. To avoid the press after photos of their dinosaur, Peanut, surface online, future paleontologist Frank, his fame-hungry cousin Sam, and Frank's dad take Peanut camping and discover a Nothosaurus, a prehistoric water reptile. Despite some illogical character motivations, this third book is an action-packed romp full of prehistoric creature facts; exaggerated cartoon illustrations add visual variety for new chapter-book readers. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester