Dippy and the Dinosaurs

Dippy and the Dinosaurs by Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley (concept by Ben Smith Whatley) (HarperCollins) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781460754092

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

The second book featuring lovable diprotodon Dippy finds the character digging such a big hole that he ends up in the land of the dinosaurs. Unperturbed by the strange (and sometimes dangerous) creatures, Dippy sees a playground in his new surroundings - and lots of new friends.

Stunning illustrations grab the reader’s attention from the cover through to the final page. Dippy is expressive and adorable, while the dinosaurs and landscapes are vibrant and rich with detail. The text bubbles with enthusiasm and echoes the naive, playful tone so familiar from the Baby Wombat books. 

This book will be particularly enjoyed by dinosaur-loving Diary of a Wombat fans - which is to say, a whole lot of kids aged 2 to 5 years. Teachers’ notes do not yet appear to be available, but identification of the various dinosaurs and explanation of the relevant time periods and geographical locations would add considerable value.