IN THE CLASSROOM -- Dinosaurs in detail

Danette Goulet

Kindergartners sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor, their necks

craned upward.

They were captivated by the story being read to them by librarian

Stephanie Taylor, and when they reached the last page of “Twice My Size”

by Adrian Mitchell, they examined the picture together.

“I like the details,” Briggs Viloria, 5, said with a solemn voice.

Earlier, the children had heard a story about dinosaurs called

“Gigantic” by Patrick O’Brien, followed by the book about size.

The readings came during the class’s weekly library time. It’s

something many of us certainly remember well, but something that children

now are often denied.

Most elementary school libraries are no longer staffed with librarians

who meet with students each week. It was one of the programs, like art,

gym and music, cut by schools years ago.

So students at Newport Elementary School are extremely fortunate that

their parents raised money to bring library time back to their school.

The children had stories read to them, then scurried around choosing a

book that they would check out for the week. Some of them even played

library computer games.

“I got a cute book on [dinosaur] babies hatching,” said Allison Kahn,

6. “I like these ones because they have the smallest babies. But, it is

kind of sad because they died and everyone digs up their bones.”

Sad as it is, every student in the class wanted a book on dinosaurs.

Judging by Calvert’s kindergarten class, the youthful obsession with

dinosaurs is no longer limited to little boys.

Boys and girls alike vied for the coolest dinosaur book.

“Whoa. These are kind of like ducks,” said 5-year-old Taylor Harrison,

examining the book she had chosen with her twin sister, Danielle, and

their classmate, Alessia Huch.

“That’s a tiny dinosaur,” Danielle said pointing to a picture in

Alessia’s book.

“That’s not a dinosaur; that’s a fish,” Alessia responded. “There’s

the dinosaur.”

That’s quite all right, Danielle. Upside down, they’re both just

reptilian-looking things.