Review: THE DINOSAUR IS THE BIGGEST ANIMAL THAT EVER LIVED AND OTHER WRONG IDEAS YOU THOUGHT WERE TRUE by Seymour Simon

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 1984. The Dinosaur Is the Biggest Animal that Ever Lived And Other Wrong Ideas You Thought Were True. Ill. by Giulio Maestro. New York: J. B. Lippincott. ISBN 0397320752

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this book, Seymour Simon sheds light on many ideas that are thought to be scientifically accurate because they have been handed down as fact for years. He presents the facts which disprove such commonly believed ideas as “lightning never strikes twice,” “bacteria are bad,” and “chocolate causes pimples.” The table of contents provides a quick reference for students to choose topics that are of interest to them. Each of the sayings that Simon addresses are limited to a brief two page explanation including illustrations that help clarify the concepts involved.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Dinosaur is the Biggest Animal that Ever Lived is one of Seymour Simon’s earlier works; however, it still appeals to youngsters because it provides them with information that they can share and use to prove each other and even adults wrong concerning popular “scientific” beliefs. Simon catches the interest of the reader by warning in his introduction “you shouldn’t believe everything you hear,” and “in many cases truth is stranger than fiction.” Each myth is explained in language that makes sense to children in grades two and up.

Furthermore, the simple drawings by Maestro that accompany each explanation not only help explain the information but also entertain the reader. Many of them are comical such as lemmings sailing away on the S. S. Survivor or the gun slinging, cowboy hat wearing star that helps explain what shooting stars really are.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
(No professional reviews of this particular book were found; however the following statements speak to the quality of this work.)
KIRKUS Reviews called him (Simon) the "dean of science writers."

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site states “The title (The Dinosaur Is the Biggest Animal the Ever Lived And Other Wrong Ideas You Thought Were True) is Simon's longest but the book explodes thirty common myths about science.” Retrieved from http://www.carolhurst.com/newsletters/43enewsletters.html

5. CONNECTIONS
My students were excited about researching these and other scientific misconceptions even further. They enjoyed playing the part of “Myth Busters” for a while.

Students should be encouraged to share their findings with others, either through an oral presentation, news report (oral or written), or their own book of “Wrong Ideas.”

Students would also enjoy other books that explain popular mistaken beliefs such as Simon’s Animal Fact/Animal Fable ISBN 0517588463.