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English Awards

		BLUE SPRUCE READING PROGRAM (ONTARIO LIBRARY ASSOCIATION) FOR THE BEST CANADIAN CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK, AS CHOSEN BY STUDENTS, K-3 DRUMHELLER DINOSAUR DANCE ROBERT HEIDBREDER ILLUSTRATIONS: BILL SLAVIN AND ESPERANÇA MELO TORONTO: KIDS CAN PRESS, 2004. 32 P. ISBN 1553373936 AGES 3 TO 6
Drumheller Dinosaur Dance Source

The town of Drumheller, Alberta, is the home of dinosaur bones. The bones sleep all day, but when the moon rises, the dinosaurs' skeletons get up, play the drums and dance: "With wild tambourines they shimmy and shake. They rock and they roll -- it's a dino earthquake! Boomity-Boom Rattely-Clack Thumpity-Thump Whickety-Wack." They make a lot of noise and the grown-ups think it is a storm, but the children know that it is the dinosaurs!

The rhyming text speaks directly to children; they will want to tap their feet and clap their hands. The book is a wonderful read-aloud.

The double-page illustrations will captivate the children's imagination. Bill Slavin and Esperança Melo, two accomplished illustrators, use rich contrasting colours: blue, orange and red. The illustrations are expressive and full of detail. Drumheller Dinosaur Dance is an interactive picture book that children will enjoy hearing over and over. It can be read at storytime or as a bedtime story.

-AC