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Terra Tempo #2
Terra Tempo: The Four Corners of Time
Follow Ari, Jenna, and Caleb as they embark on their newest time travel adventure in Terra Tempo: The Four Corners of Time. When Ari discovers a time map of the Colorado Plateau, he and the twins find themselves on a fast paced journey from Earth’s underwater beginnings to the steamy jungles and awesome dinosaurs of the creepy Cretaceous. But this time, there is more at stake than just survival. This time, they are not alone. Join the intrepid trio as they venture into prehistoric life on Earth – they must find ways to protect their map and all of the precious resources that the map reveals, or the rest is prehistory!
253 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
David Shapiro
6 books5 followersDavid received his BA in natural history and creative writing from Prescott College. He has worked as an interpretive guide for the US Forest Service, as an animal tracker for a non-profit conservation organization, and as a content writer/camp director for large scale, multi-day art and music festivals. He lives in Portland, Oregon, where he is the president of Craigmore Creations, a publishing house that specializes in natural history entertainment. He is the author of several books, including Blunderbuss Wanderlust, the Terra Tempo series, and the web comic Around the World with Haley Zoic. He is available for author talks, naturalist presentations, and nature themed writers workshops.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 16 reviews
October 30, 2012
I wrote this book, so I don't have much business reviewing it. But I still want it on my bookshelf!
June 16, 2020
What did the southwest of the continental United States look like millions of years ago? Jenna, Caleb, and Ari follow up their Pacific Northwest-centered adventure (depicted in Terra Tempo: Ice Age Cataclysm, the first book in the “Terra Tempo” series) with a voyage to the history of a new corner of the continent.
This volume is heavy on the dinosaurs, an ever popular topic. The strongest sequences in this story involve dinosaur action – the illustrations soar in these moments. Hernden is strongest as an illustrator when he is drawing landscapes and creatures, but his human figures aren’t always consistent or natural-looking.
The most awkward sections of the story are the parts leading into and out of the dinosaur encounters. The educational exposition leading up to the time travel often feels contrived and stilted, and the interplay between the children and adults is unnatural and wooden. Children already interested in geology and paleontology will enjoy portions of this story, but don’t expect children looking for adventure to get past the awkward dialog.
This volume is heavy on the dinosaurs, an ever popular topic. The strongest sequences in this story involve dinosaur action – the illustrations soar in these moments. Hernden is strongest as an illustrator when he is drawing landscapes and creatures, but his human figures aren’t always consistent or natural-looking.
The most awkward sections of the story are the parts leading into and out of the dinosaur encounters. The educational exposition leading up to the time travel often feels contrived and stilted, and the interplay between the children and adults is unnatural and wooden. Children already interested in geology and paleontology will enjoy portions of this story, but don’t expect children looking for adventure to get past the awkward dialog.
January 29, 2019
This is #2 in the Terra Tempo series, but it was fine that I hadn't read #1 as they kindly filled me in on everything in a brief intro. This was an enjoyable graphic novel filled with adventure and so much interesting geology and natural history that it almost seemed like a Science Comics at times. At times some of the plot was a little confusing, including how and why a giant bird sometimes saves them, but overall I thought this was good time travel for kids.
February 13, 2013
Disclaimer: I am a 32 year old married man who does not currently have children but often volunteer with a youth group.
I received this graphic novel as a promotional ARC. It was volume 2, so I did not know what to expect or if I would have trouble catching up.
I should not have worried. There was a very helpful summary page of the previous volume. The characters referenced events and facts I needed to be aware of and the new adventure was independent of the previous one.
If you’ve ever been a fan of the Magic school Bus (and I certainly was growing up) the premise of kids having a magical way to explore different time periods will be familiar to you. The actual device they use, the Time Map and the constraints of having to place rocks on the corners were very clever and put to good use.
The three kids were affable and their character designs allowed me to always be able to differentiate them. The only thing that hindered my suspension of disbelief was how the characters had an encyclopedic knowledge of geology, paleontology, etc. This is an edu-tainment graphic novel (ie. Entertaining while instructing)
The place where the art really shines is not with the characters but with the landscapes, geography and especially with the prehistoric flora and fauna. The artwork immerses you in the time periods they visit and really bring to life the creatures they interact with.
The story does not just teach and keep you entertained (I got more caught up as the plot progressed) but managed to include a great sub-plot about other time travelers and their secret societies and motivations. They even meet and interact with a historical geologists who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
I would heartily recommend this to any child who is fascinated by pre-history and as a parent you will enjoy this every bit as much as your child if you get the chance to read along with them. You won’t want the adventure to end!
I received this graphic novel as a promotional ARC. It was volume 2, so I did not know what to expect or if I would have trouble catching up.
I should not have worried. There was a very helpful summary page of the previous volume. The characters referenced events and facts I needed to be aware of and the new adventure was independent of the previous one.
If you’ve ever been a fan of the Magic school Bus (and I certainly was growing up) the premise of kids having a magical way to explore different time periods will be familiar to you. The actual device they use, the Time Map and the constraints of having to place rocks on the corners were very clever and put to good use.
The three kids were affable and their character designs allowed me to always be able to differentiate them. The only thing that hindered my suspension of disbelief was how the characters had an encyclopedic knowledge of geology, paleontology, etc. This is an edu-tainment graphic novel (ie. Entertaining while instructing)
The place where the art really shines is not with the characters but with the landscapes, geography and especially with the prehistoric flora and fauna. The artwork immerses you in the time periods they visit and really bring to life the creatures they interact with.
The story does not just teach and keep you entertained (I got more caught up as the plot progressed) but managed to include a great sub-plot about other time travelers and their secret societies and motivations. They even meet and interact with a historical geologists who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
I would heartily recommend this to any child who is fascinated by pre-history and as a parent you will enjoy this every bit as much as your child if you get the chance to read along with them. You won’t want the adventure to end!
October 13, 2015
Now we encounter the dreaded gender roles...
While this story gets deeper with regards to time traveling and how the maps were created, I'm afraid the character "developing" just gets worse. The fact this was written by a man could account for some of it.
[SPOILERS]
There are two boys and one girl who go on adventures together, but stereotypes abound. They travel to time periods that contain dangerous creatures, meaning they should all find ways to protect themselves. At one point they go to a Navajo market, and the two boys purchase weapons, while Jenna buys a bracelet. Then they mistakenly travel to the 1980s and meet a boy who Jenna becomes infatuated with for no apparent reason. Throughout the series Jenna is shown to be interested in art and writing, but the boys say it's silly and not worthwhile. All of these are stereotypes for girls, and it deeply bothers me.
Yes, these things do occur in the real world. But they also don't. What this book is doing (and what society is doing, but that's a while other tangent) is showing young girls that it's normal for them to favor jewelry over weapons in a potentially life-threatening situation. There are plenty of boys who become randomly infatuated, but this isn't shown in media nearly as much as it does for girls.
I love children's books. I always have, and probably (hopefully) always will. They contain better themes, less language, and generally less romance (and usually no sex). As an aspiring teacher, I love stories that have important themes and life lessons for the children that read/watch the stories. The cartoon Steven Universe is a prime example of the ideal story (non-binary characters, lesbians, smashing of gender roles, etc.). I just wish more stories could follow its example.
Honestly, it's a stretch for me to expect more from this book. Society just isn't there yet, especially in regards to the older generation. However, I still have hope for the future.
While this story gets deeper with regards to time traveling and how the maps were created, I'm afraid the character "developing" just gets worse. The fact this was written by a man could account for some of it.
[SPOILERS]
There are two boys and one girl who go on adventures together, but stereotypes abound. They travel to time periods that contain dangerous creatures, meaning they should all find ways to protect themselves. At one point they go to a Navajo market, and the two boys purchase weapons, while Jenna buys a bracelet. Then they mistakenly travel to the 1980s and meet a boy who Jenna becomes infatuated with for no apparent reason. Throughout the series Jenna is shown to be interested in art and writing, but the boys say it's silly and not worthwhile. All of these are stereotypes for girls, and it deeply bothers me.
Yes, these things do occur in the real world. But they also don't. What this book is doing (and what society is doing, but that's a while other tangent) is showing young girls that it's normal for them to favor jewelry over weapons in a potentially life-threatening situation. There are plenty of boys who become randomly infatuated, but this isn't shown in media nearly as much as it does for girls.
I love children's books. I always have, and probably (hopefully) always will. They contain better themes, less language, and generally less romance (and usually no sex). As an aspiring teacher, I love stories that have important themes and life lessons for the children that read/watch the stories. The cartoon Steven Universe is a prime example of the ideal story (non-binary characters, lesbians, smashing of gender roles, etc.). I just wish more stories could follow its example.
Honestly, it's a stretch for me to expect more from this book. Society just isn't there yet, especially in regards to the older generation. However, I still have hope for the future.
April 23, 2013
I received this novel for free through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you to Shapiro, Herndon, and Melville, and of course Craigmore Creations.
This was the first graphic novel I've ever read, and I've got to say that it has opened my mind to a whole new world.
I wasn't sure if I would like the characters at first, but they grew on me. In particular I enjoyed their witt and humor, and the different personalities they each presented.
The artwork is incredible! There were so many moments where a picture would take my breath away, and I'd just be lost gazing into another world. Not to mention the fact that they were all so captivating. Having never read a graphic novel I was sure I would be too focused on the words to care about the pictures, but boy was I wrong. It's just like reading a movie almost, one with subtitles. Everything was done just right, and in a way that was purely exciting and adventurous.
I look forward to reading the first installment of this series, and hope to see more books to come in the future!
This was the first graphic novel I've ever read, and I've got to say that it has opened my mind to a whole new world.
I wasn't sure if I would like the characters at first, but they grew on me. In particular I enjoyed their witt and humor, and the different personalities they each presented.
The artwork is incredible! There were so many moments where a picture would take my breath away, and I'd just be lost gazing into another world. Not to mention the fact that they were all so captivating. Having never read a graphic novel I was sure I would be too focused on the words to care about the pictures, but boy was I wrong. It's just like reading a movie almost, one with subtitles. Everything was done just right, and in a way that was purely exciting and adventurous.
I look forward to reading the first installment of this series, and hope to see more books to come in the future!
April 9, 2015
Before reading this book, I read the first in the series: Ice Age Cataclysm. I enjoyed reading the first book; however, the summary of the first book at the beginning of The Four Corners of Time allows readers to read this series out of sequence. Still, I appreciate this summary feature, because often I forget what happened in the previous book of a series.
This book and the entire series combine science fiction (time travel) with in depth educational material. Students will know more than their science teachers after reading this book! The graphic novel format will attract reluctant and lower level readers who will appreciate and depend upon the visual representations to understand the story line. The maps of the different time periods in the back of the book were very helpful as well.
Overall, Terra Tempo is an interesting concept. I can't wait to see where the trio travels next.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the First-Reads program at Goodreads.com.
This book and the entire series combine science fiction (time travel) with in depth educational material. Students will know more than their science teachers after reading this book! The graphic novel format will attract reluctant and lower level readers who will appreciate and depend upon the visual representations to understand the story line. The maps of the different time periods in the back of the book were very helpful as well.
Overall, Terra Tempo is an interesting concept. I can't wait to see where the trio travels next.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the First-Reads program at Goodreads.com.
August 4, 2014
This series gets a little better with each volume. This time around the trio heads back in time even further, to the age of the dinosaurs. They experience swimming in prehistoric waters, vicious dinosaur battles, and a chase throughout time protecting the map that made the whole journey possible.
This volume grants us the good guys vs. bad guys element that was missing from the first volume. Readers get a more complex story here regarding how the time travel is possible and who has used the maps before and for what purposes.
Concerning the map magic, the capabilities in this volume gave the maps a tablet-like nature making them super powerful and the go-to tool in times of trouble.
The science info is top-notch and the gripping pace of the adventure/time travel elements distracts the target audiences from flaws with the storyline/plot etc.
Recommended for grades 3-5.
This volume grants us the good guys vs. bad guys element that was missing from the first volume. Readers get a more complex story here regarding how the time travel is possible and who has used the maps before and for what purposes.
Concerning the map magic, the capabilities in this volume gave the maps a tablet-like nature making them super powerful and the go-to tool in times of trouble.
The science info is top-notch and the gripping pace of the adventure/time travel elements distracts the target audiences from flaws with the storyline/plot etc.
Recommended for grades 3-5.
January 1, 2013
****Received from Goodreads first reads giveaway.
Our family really enjoyed this book! The story was great and the pictures were entertaining. My 8 year old son and his 14 year old cousin both equally liked the book but in different ways. While my son loved the dionosaur battles. He also learned the name of a dinosaur that he had never heard of before, my nephew loved the element of time travel and learning "cool facts" such as mass extinctions, layers of rock, mysteries of the Grand Canyon, etc. As a parent, I liked that they both were engaged and learned some interesting facts while reading. I would definitely recommend this book.
Our family really enjoyed this book! The story was great and the pictures were entertaining. My 8 year old son and his 14 year old cousin both equally liked the book but in different ways. While my son loved the dionosaur battles. He also learned the name of a dinosaur that he had never heard of before, my nephew loved the element of time travel and learning "cool facts" such as mass extinctions, layers of rock, mysteries of the Grand Canyon, etc. As a parent, I liked that they both were engaged and learned some interesting facts while reading. I would definitely recommend this book.
January 5, 2013
The three characters introduced in Ice Age Cataclysm, Ari and twins Jenna and Caleb, are back for another time-traveling adventure. This time, Ari finds a map of the Colorado Plateau, and while the three travel to the Grand Canyon and other parts of the west with the twins' aunt and uncle, they also use the map to visit Earth at various times in its history. Not only is this a cool adventure story, but it also provides interesting facts and visuals of the Cambrian, the Cretaceous, and the Triassic periods. As they learned in the previous book, humans aren't supreme during many of these earlier times. Plus, this adventure requires them to outwit some other adventurers.
May 29, 2013
An excellently drawn and deeply researched graphic novel introducing children to how our world developed, both through plate tectonics and the animal and plant life in the far past which were affected by climate changes.
Through time travel (the fiction part of the book), three American children see how the American Southwest land formed. They experience some very scary close shaves with dinosaurs before they find their way back successfully to their family. (no blood, no dead bodies)
Through time travel (the fiction part of the book), three American children see how the American Southwest land formed. They experience some very scary close shaves with dinosaurs before they find their way back successfully to their family. (no blood, no dead bodies)
March 9, 2013
An entertaining romp through the Permian,the Cretaceous,& the Triassic for 3 scientific kids with a time-travel map, all while being pursued by bad guys who want the map! This graphic novel moves quickly & is beautify illustrated. Kids of all ages that loves dinosaurs & adventure will love this book! (I'm almost 60 & I loved it!)
March 16, 2013
Terra Tempo - The Four Corners of Time by David Shapiro, Christopher Herndon, and Erica Melville - well worth the read, especially perfect for dinosaur, archaeology fans will love this! Be prepared though, it is a lengthy graphic novel.
January 4, 2014
This is a wonderful, new series of graphic novels which I bought for my 14-year-old. He and I both loved the first two volumes and are looking forward to more.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 16 reviews