In the Past by David Elliott

2018 Cybils Poetry Finalist

Explore prehistoric creatures with poems and facts.

Thoughts: Anything remotely related to dinosaurs will be a hit with most kids. These poems are short and humorous...sometimes tongue-in-cheek or even a little sarcastic. I would definitely share these poems with first and second graders when I visit elementary schools. Trueman's illustrations are life like and interesting. My one complaint is that I would have liked the facts at the end of the book on the pages with the poems. I think that would make for easier understanding. My favorite poems are "Eurypterus," "Dilophosaurus," "Tyrannosaurus Rex," and "Smilodon."

(Illustrated by Matthew Trueman. Candlewick, 2018.)