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If Dogs Were Dinosaurs
With his on-the-mark instinct for making math fun and easy, the best-selling author of How Much Is a Million returns with another explosively energetic math book!
If your dog were the size of a dinosaur, his dinner would fill your bedroom! If the moon were the size of a marble, earth would fit in your hands! If your submarine sandwich was as big as its name, the pickle would be as big as a life raft!
Mighty math-man David Schwartz's amazing examples of relative size, and James Warhola's hilarious, literal depictions make these mind-bending math concepts crystal clear and tons of fun. Concise, easy-to-follow back matter provides equations that show just how readers can solve these fascinating, outrageous proportional problems!
If your dog were the size of a dinosaur, his dinner would fill your bedroom! If the moon were the size of a marble, earth would fit in your hands! If your submarine sandwich was as big as its name, the pickle would be as big as a life raft!
Mighty math-man David Schwartz's amazing examples of relative size, and James Warhola's hilarious, literal depictions make these mind-bending math concepts crystal clear and tons of fun. Concise, easy-to-follow back matter provides equations that show just how readers can solve these fascinating, outrageous proportional problems!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
David M. Schwartz
87 books28 followers As a child, I was filled with a sense of awe as I contemplated the universe. The huge numbers of stars and their sizes and distances never failed to amaze me. With binoculars and magnifying glass, I also focused on closer subjects like birds, flowers, frogs and bugs.
But science and math weren't my only fascinations: I also loved bicycles, baseball, boats…and ice cream. Years later, on a clear spring night, I looked up at the sky and a shower of memories descended. I suddenly remembered my childhood awe at the wonders of space.
That night I was inspired to write my first book, How Much Is a Million? Now, almost 50 books later, I spend much of my time finding unusual, whimsical ways to make math and science come alive for kids and teachers, both through my writing, and through speaking at schools and conferences. I also write science articles for magazines, especially Smithsonian, and to do the research I've made exciting trips to some of the more remote corners of several continents. I've been to Africa to study hippos, to South America to visit an indigenous tribe living in the rain forest, and to far northern Scotland to track illegal egg collectors. But I still love the land outside my door in northern California, and the same distant stars that inspired me years ago.
from http://www.davidschwartz.com/about_da...
But science and math weren't my only fascinations: I also loved bicycles, baseball, boats…and ice cream. Years later, on a clear spring night, I looked up at the sky and a shower of memories descended. I suddenly remembered my childhood awe at the wonders of space.
That night I was inspired to write my first book, How Much Is a Million? Now, almost 50 books later, I spend much of my time finding unusual, whimsical ways to make math and science come alive for kids and teachers, both through my writing, and through speaking at schools and conferences. I also write science articles for magazines, especially Smithsonian, and to do the research I've made exciting trips to some of the more remote corners of several continents. I've been to Africa to study hippos, to South America to visit an indigenous tribe living in the rain forest, and to far northern Scotland to track illegal egg collectors. But I still love the land outside my door in northern California, and the same distant stars that inspired me years ago.
from http://www.davidschwartz.com/about_da...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 5, 2021
On the surface, this is an interesting way of looking at proportions and how sizes are in relativity. But as a teacher taking a closer look at this book, there's a lot I don't agree with on the way David M. Schwartz represents these.
My main issues:
1. Many things used to represent sizes are super Americanized and niche.
2. The way sizes are sometimes compared to something bigger and sometimes compared to something smaller is confusing and frustrating.
3. Many of the "if, then" size relationships in this book require a lot of assumptions.
I could not see myself using this book in a future classroom to teach proportional sizes, relativity, or anything really. I would advise something else instead. I'm sure there are more coherent books out there that can teach these concepts.
Read my full review on my Goodreads account for children's books.
My main issues:
1. Many things used to represent sizes are super Americanized and niche.
2. The way sizes are sometimes compared to something bigger and sometimes compared to something smaller is confusing and frustrating.
3. Many of the "if, then" size relationships in this book require a lot of assumptions.
I could not see myself using this book in a future classroom to teach proportional sizes, relativity, or anything really. I would advise something else instead. I'm sure there are more coherent books out there that can teach these concepts.
Read my full review on my Goodreads account for children's books.
February 18, 2010
Here’s a playful and creative look at the mathematics of relative proportion.
This book is a playful book filled with incredible illustrations. It can be used to present a fun read aloud for K-2 or can be used with math concepts. The author compares and illustrates size and proportion. For example, " If the moon were a marble, you could play baseball with planet Earth." At the back of the book, the author
At the back, David Schwartz gives us the numbers and calculations he used, and poses some new questions for the reader to figure out. For example, “If you were as tall as a redwood, how many times as tall as your current height would you be?”
This is a great book that young kids will respond to and will really get thier minds going.
This book is a playful book filled with incredible illustrations. It can be used to present a fun read aloud for K-2 or can be used with math concepts. The author compares and illustrates size and proportion. For example, " If the moon were a marble, you could play baseball with planet Earth." At the back of the book, the author
At the back, David Schwartz gives us the numbers and calculations he used, and poses some new questions for the reader to figure out. For example, “If you were as tall as a redwood, how many times as tall as your current height would you be?”
This is a great book that young kids will respond to and will really get thier minds going.
August 29, 2007
I used to always think about this kind of stuff when I was little. It is technically about ratios and proportions, but I don't think the average kid would see it that way. The idea is that if, for example, a sub sandwich were actually as big as a submarine, then the pickle slices would be big enough to surf on. It just makes you think outside the box.
December 13, 2016
has nothing to do with dogs/dinosaurs.
just size swapping which is fun an imaginative if youre [an american] kid. theres a lot of american references my korea kids didnt understand.
just size swapping which is fun an imaginative if youre [an american] kid. theres a lot of american references my korea kids didnt understand.
October 30, 2021
On the surface, this is an interesting way of looking at proportions and how sizes are in relativity. But as a teacher taking a closer look at this book, there's a lot I don't agree with on the way David M. Schwartz represents these.
Reviewer Noble wrote that a lot of the ideas in this book were beyond her Korean students' understanding because they're so Americanized. I definitely agree with that. In fact, I think many American-born students at the suggested age range (7-10) would have trouble envisioning some of the concepts of this book. While most kids have schema for dogs and dinosaurs, I wouldn't expect a general American classroom to know what a Redwood is, or be able to picture the Washington Monument beyond the illustration given on the page. So many of the examples in this book require more context than seems necessary for a math lesson. (I'm not saying I don't believe in providing context when it could help, but not so much that it overshadows the lesson if there's an alternative to doing things this way.)
The comparisons in this book seemed a little off as well. I found the format confusing in that they would compare an average size to something much bigger for a few pages, switch to smaller for a page, and then switch back to big. This frustrated and confused me, someone who's learned these concepts and how to apply them, so it would definitely frustrate and confuse kids who've never seen these contrasts before or are just beginning to learn them, where they may not have the developmental capacity to fully comprehend them yet. On top of the unfamiliar terms, this creates a lesson that is much more frustrating and confusing.
Kind of in conjunction with my first point, many of the "if, then" relationships in this story seem to be nonsequiturs. For instance, "if the moon were a marble...then you could play baseball with planet Earth" requires a lot of connections that students might not be able to make as readily (ex. the moon and the earth as part of a system, the size of the moon relative to the size of the earth, and even the size of a marble relative to the size of a baseball, etc). "If Ralphie were as tall as a redwood...his big sister could land a hook shot on the Washington Monument" asks kids to make a lot of assumptions (Ralphie's sister follows the same size rules, the basketball and hoop are larger, the Washington Monument is the same size, etc).
I could not see myself using this book in a future classroom to teach proportional sizes, relativity, or anything really. I would advise something else instead. I'm sure there are more coherent books out there that can teach these concepts.
Reviewer Noble wrote that a lot of the ideas in this book were beyond her Korean students' understanding because they're so Americanized. I definitely agree with that. In fact, I think many American-born students at the suggested age range (7-10) would have trouble envisioning some of the concepts of this book. While most kids have schema for dogs and dinosaurs, I wouldn't expect a general American classroom to know what a Redwood is, or be able to picture the Washington Monument beyond the illustration given on the page. So many of the examples in this book require more context than seems necessary for a math lesson. (I'm not saying I don't believe in providing context when it could help, but not so much that it overshadows the lesson if there's an alternative to doing things this way.)
The comparisons in this book seemed a little off as well. I found the format confusing in that they would compare an average size to something much bigger for a few pages, switch to smaller for a page, and then switch back to big. This frustrated and confused me, someone who's learned these concepts and how to apply them, so it would definitely frustrate and confuse kids who've never seen these contrasts before or are just beginning to learn them, where they may not have the developmental capacity to fully comprehend them yet. On top of the unfamiliar terms, this creates a lesson that is much more frustrating and confusing.
Kind of in conjunction with my first point, many of the "if, then" relationships in this story seem to be nonsequiturs. For instance, "if the moon were a marble...then you could play baseball with planet Earth" requires a lot of connections that students might not be able to make as readily (ex. the moon and the earth as part of a system, the size of the moon relative to the size of the earth, and even the size of a marble relative to the size of a baseball, etc). "If Ralphie were as tall as a redwood...his big sister could land a hook shot on the Washington Monument" asks kids to make a lot of assumptions (Ralphie's sister follows the same size rules, the basketball and hoop are larger, the Washington Monument is the same size, etc).
I could not see myself using this book in a future classroom to teach proportional sizes, relativity, or anything really. I would advise something else instead. I'm sure there are more coherent books out there that can teach these concepts.
June 2, 2021
Read 6/1/21
Genre: Fiction
Reading Level: 3rd
I think this was such a fun book to read. The similes throughout the book were entertaining. I liked how they used hyperbole as well to exaggerate the different comparisons to make them funny. The students would be laughing out loud if you read this as a class. The pictures accompanied the story very well and gave a great image to the similes the author used. I would teach about similes with this story because it is just full of great ones. This would also be a great book to accompany a math lesson about proportions because the back of the book explains the equations used to figure out how much bigger or smaller something would have to be to work in the story.
Genre: Fiction
Reading Level: 3rd
I think this was such a fun book to read. The similes throughout the book were entertaining. I liked how they used hyperbole as well to exaggerate the different comparisons to make them funny. The students would be laughing out loud if you read this as a class. The pictures accompanied the story very well and gave a great image to the similes the author used. I would teach about similes with this story because it is just full of great ones. This would also be a great book to accompany a math lesson about proportions because the back of the book explains the equations used to figure out how much bigger or smaller something would have to be to work in the story.
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March 2, 2024did not like this.
the “if then” comparisons make a lot of logicals leaps and assumptions that are not necessarily intuitive which makes for a really confusing read (also all the swapped item for sizes are usa specific…)
ALSO i better not see any of your faces on mt.rushmore… that is indigenous land and f*ck those dead presidents for having their ugly faces up there
the “if then” comparisons make a lot of logicals leaps and assumptions that are not necessarily intuitive which makes for a really confusing read (also all the swapped item for sizes are usa specific…)
ALSO i better not see any of your faces on mt.rushmore… that is indigenous land and f*ck those dead presidents for having their ugly faces up there
September 24, 2021
A great book that teaches proportion and relative size in a way children can relate and understand. The end pages offer an opportunity for the mathematician to practice converting some ratios themselves. The humorous way he explains “what if’s” makes the math fun for kids.
October 10, 2017
I liked this book because it talks about silly things. (William)
January 12, 2019
My oldest was disappointed that the book wasn't actually about dinosaurs.
July 28, 2022
It would be a better book for big kids and not a toddler
October 8, 2018
This is a very well written and creative book that can help children learn about size in relation to the what is in world around them. Teachers could have a math lesson and have the children come up with their own ratios. (picture book)
November 15, 2012
This book is informational and grabs your attention from the beginning! The book "If Dogs were Dinosaurs" was written by David Schwartz and illustrated by James Warhola. This book teaches math in a fun and hidden way of epic proportions. The difference between how much your dog eats now and how much he would eat if he was the size of a dinosaur is the reference to the title and the first proportion we see! The book goes throughout many scientific, sports and outdoor references and will give students real life examples of sizes they will already know and be able to compare to! The illustrations were phenomenal and incorporated so many bright colors and detailed pictures that would keep your attention from start till finish. Students would enjoy the almost cartoon-like drawings but understand these are representing real creatures and humans at the same time. The people inside the book appear to be very young which again, relates to the intended audience. The humor inside the illustrations ties right along with the humor inside the writing of the book, they each give a significant portion to the story itself! After the actual story there is a informational portion that explains each of the proportions that was illustrated throughout the book. The students would have a mathematical explanation to how each proportion would be true and how it was found. I enjoyed this book and know students would too! Many students would come to enjoy math and find it relatable to their life and interests at any age!
May 29, 2011
Once again, David M. Schwartz has made a complex concept very understandable. We've read both How Much Is a Million? 20th Anniversary Edition and If You Made a Million, that helped us understand large numbers. This book is very similar in that it helps us comprehend relative sizes. I loved that he explained that the proportional difference between the Earth and the Moon is like a baseball and a 2cm marble. So cool. The illustrations are fantastic and funny and the almost unimaginable sizes of things like our galaxy suddenly become more within our grasp. The expanded explanations in the back are great, although our girls were not nearly as interested in them as I was! We really enjoyed reading this book together.
February 9, 2017
Loved it!
December 6, 2014
If Dogs Were Dinosaurs by David M Schwartz is a creative of looking at math and science in ways that make them fun. "If your dog were the size of a dinosaur, his dinner would fill your bedroom." Schwartz uses proportions and relative size to make math fun and exciting. Each page is filled with more math than you realize, because Schwartz does the math for you! What is left behind is an accessible view of the world while making big things seem small and turning small things into big things. What better way to get kids into math and science than dinosaurs. Or silliness backed by actual mathematical data. Not only is Schwartz use of relative size an engaging bit of story telling, but the pictures by James Warhola make them hilariously fun. It is a toss up whether the pictures make the story or Schwartz's imaginative use of proportion to make sense of the world.
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December 9, 2014David Schwartz tricks us in the best way into doing mathematics. In this story If Dogs were Dinosaurs it makes you think into proportions and rationalizing. Through chuckles and smiles you hardly notice the math problems he puts into his text like if dinosaurs were dogs they would fit in your entire room. The illustrations are hilarious with the projections of dinosaurs so domesticated it will tickle the children right in their imagination
April 7, 2015
This is a great book that talks about math concepts and comparing the sizes of objects. Its talk what would happen if different objects were different sizes what would happen. For example, if the Milky Way filled the USA, then the solar system would fit in the palm of your hand. This would be a great book to read when you are trying to discuss these hard to understand concepts with your students. This book puts the concept into easy to understand examples for kids.
June 21, 2010
A book dealing with relative size. Much too old for the toddlers and preschoolers. I think some in the K-5 group might pick up on it. And they might find it interesting. But is it one that can be read aloud in a storytime? This seems more like one a child should sit down with and think about. Perhaps I can book talk it.
February 19, 2012
This book is about relative size and proportions. It has great illustrations and the story really allows children to see the relationship between two objects and all the possibilities if certain things were as big or as small as others. There are also great math problems at the back of the book that explain and then allow for children to work out their own proportions.
November 1, 2012
This was way above my three-year-old's comprehension level, but I found it interesting the way the author related the differences in size of many common things, like sandwiches and meatballs. The artwork is engaging and my child enjoyed listening and asked questions about the Milky Way and solar system
July 2, 2010
This is a clever way to compare sizes. At the end of the book there is a detailed explanation of the comparison.
My favorite is below.
"If you make mountains out of molehills...
...the mole would tower over the Empire State Building."
My favorite is below.
"If you make mountains out of molehills...
...the mole would tower over the Empire State Building."
November 23, 2008
I read this book in 3rd grade and I still love it.
February 8, 2009
The students enjoyed this book. We have been studying measurement.
April 2, 2009
I read this to a class of first graders and they all laughed and loved every page. It is educational as well as entertaining.
May 17, 2010
Good for introducing the concept of proportion. By the same author as If You Hopped Like a Frog. Books include the formulas used by the author when creating his analogy.
September 15, 2010
This story did not keep my 5 year old daughters interest. This would be a good book as an introduction for teaching about size and proportions.
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September 22, 2010It goes through and talks about relative size.
March 2, 2011
In this book, Schwartz focuses on helping children understand comparison for items that might be too big to fully understand. Fun comparisons.
July 16, 2012
Great book for comparing the size of things using non standards measurements. I think it could be good for any grade learning measurements.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews