cover image Pernix: 9the Adventures of a Small Dinosaur

Pernix: 9the Adventures of a Small Dinosaur

Dieter Wiesmuller. Dutton Books, $14.99 (400pp) ISBN 978-0-525-65127-7

German author/artist Wiesmuller conjures up a dino-eat-dino world in this strikingly illustrated picture book. Pernix, a small dinosaur, wanders hungrily through the primeval forest looking for food, is taunted by a trio of flying dinosaurs and risks being eaten by a crocodile and stampeded by an unimaginably large behemoth. He also finds a mate and fathers five baby dinosaurs. Stunning artwork, with the look of a lushly animated film, gives the book immediacy. Amid all the rich greenery, the prehistoric creatures seem ready to jump into action at a moment's notice. Huge trees and snarling beasts induce a real sense of the ever-present danger, while the endearing, almost cartoony look of Pernix and his kin keeps everything safely within the context of a children's book. Ages 7-11. (Sept.)