What do you think?
Rate this book
The Magic School Bus #6
In the Time of the Dinosaurs
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Scholastic is re-releasing the ten original Magic School Bus titles in paperback. With updated scientific information, the bestselling science series ever is back!
The classroom is decorated as Dinosaur Land, but Ms. Frizzle-inspired by an archeological dig-craves a more authentic experience. The Magic School Bus turns into a time machine and transports the class back millions of years to an adventure where they learn about dinosaurs, their habitats and diets, and even a Maiasaura nesting ground.
The classroom is decorated as Dinosaur Land, but Ms. Frizzle-inspired by an archeological dig-craves a more authentic experience. The Magic School Bus turns into a time machine and transports the class back millions of years to an adventure where they learn about dinosaurs, their habitats and diets, and even a Maiasaura nesting ground.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Joanna Cole
494 books209 followersJoanna Cole, who also wrote under the pseudonym B. J. Barnet, was an author of children’s books who teaches science.
She is most famous as the author of The Magic School Bus series of children's books. Joanna Cole wrote over 250 books ranging from her first book Cockroach to her famous series Magic School Bus.
Cole was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby East Orange. She loved science as a child, and had a teacher she says was a little like Ms. Frizzle. She attended the University of Massachusetts and Indiana University before graduating from the City College of New York with a B.A. in psychology. After some graduate education courses, she spent a year as a librarian in a Brooklyn elementary school. Cole subsequently became a letters correspondent at Newsweek, and then a senior editor for Doubleday Books for Young Readers.
She is most famous as the author of The Magic School Bus series of children's books. Joanna Cole wrote over 250 books ranging from her first book Cockroach to her famous series Magic School Bus.
Cole was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby East Orange. She loved science as a child, and had a teacher she says was a little like Ms. Frizzle. She attended the University of Massachusetts and Indiana University before graduating from the City College of New York with a B.A. in psychology. After some graduate education courses, she spent a year as a librarian in a Brooklyn elementary school. Cole subsequently became a letters correspondent at Newsweek, and then a senior editor for Doubleday Books for Young Readers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
April 7, 2026
"Our class has been invited to a dinosaur dig," explained the Friz. "We'll be leaving right away."It's Visitor's Day in Ms. Frizzle's school and the class has been hard at work transforming the room into a dino-themed education station. Even though they have a LOT to do yet, there's still room for a field trip.
And so the class loads up...and ACTUALLY makes it to the field trip location? They meet a paleontologist and see all sorts of people digging and sorting fossils. Could this be a real field trip after all?
And so the journey through time begins!
"We were looking for fossil eggs," they said. "But we haven't found any yet."
We saw a gleam in Ms. Frizzle's eye.
As with any Magic School Bus, I loved this book.
One thing that was particularly cute was the way all the kids reacted to the paleontologist calling Ms. Frizzle by her first name - the way they were shocked that she wasn't just "the Friz".
The science is so well-written and I think the author did a particularly good job of transversing through the many (many) eras without making it feel confusing. A lot of what I read reminds me of my college courses on evolution.
I really wish there were more books like this!
March 30, 2012
This was a very educational book with some imagination all about dinosaurs. The children hopped aboard their time machine school bus after trying to help some paleontologists and went back to the different periods of the dinosaur era. They saw many types of dinosaurs and experienced different periods.
The book was very accurate and had a ton of information on each page. From the average words to the notes and picture the students drew on the sides of each page. The information was not as organized as I had hoped. It was kind of all over with speech bubbles and works on the sides of each page. Although it was all over the pictures and information would certainly be appealing to children. Joanna Cole presents her writing style in a clear way and the imagination needed for reading her book would present enthusiasm for any reader.
My overall reaction to the book was that it was very informational and through reading the book students would learn about dinosaurs and what period they lived in. What struck me most was the ton of information placed in one book. I relate the imagination of this book to my life through allowing myself to be creative and get into the story. I would use this book in my classroom during a prehistoric unit and have my students do a creative writing or picture of what they would hope to see if they could go back to this time period.
The book was very accurate and had a ton of information on each page. From the average words to the notes and picture the students drew on the sides of each page. The information was not as organized as I had hoped. It was kind of all over with speech bubbles and works on the sides of each page. Although it was all over the pictures and information would certainly be appealing to children. Joanna Cole presents her writing style in a clear way and the imagination needed for reading her book would present enthusiasm for any reader.
My overall reaction to the book was that it was very informational and through reading the book students would learn about dinosaurs and what period they lived in. What struck me most was the ton of information placed in one book. I relate the imagination of this book to my life through allowing myself to be creative and get into the story. I would use this book in my classroom during a prehistoric unit and have my students do a creative writing or picture of what they would hope to see if they could go back to this time period.
November 18, 2020
First of all, on educational television: sometimes you can learn something from America. School television is synonymous with retro educational television with bright yellow neon writings and people in front of a blackboard. In America, in the 1990s, a TV series about the “Magic School Bus” was developed. A teacher has a very special school bus, with which the children (about 3rd grade) go on school trips, which usually develop rather “unusual”. With a mixture of fantasy and science fiction, the children literally immerse themselves in the respective matter of the episode and learn many new things. In the end, there is still a kind of critical self-reflection with the medium itself, when pupils call the producer of the show and talk about the scientificity of the presentation. Big cinema.
Overall, roughly comparable to the great “Once upon a time life..” Books
From TV to book is often an arduous way, usually more difficult than the other, since the possibilities in this direction seem more limited .
However, the book series succeeds surprisingly well, thanks to a wild mixture of comic, technical book, notebook and a partly quite interesting variation on the subject of science comic. In the cinema, one would say that the “fourth wall” is repeatedly broken.
This encourages readers to discuss and reflect and give the issue more interaction than one can expect.
In the Time of Dinosaurs
A journey through the different ages of dinosaurs, virtually live. Playful and with lots of details about the three epochs of the dinosaurs, always with a nice reference to the present age (that is, a connection between what we can now find in the earth and what really could have been at that time).
The language
Clear, it's English. But no scientific English. Scattered technical terms appear. But my children can understand everything well after 2 years of living in Tanzania, where English is also not the national language.
Conclusion
A kind of insider tip! Ideal for children who grow up bilingual. Or to complement English in primary school. Recommended age: about 6 - 10 years.
Overall, roughly comparable to the great “Once upon a time life..” Books
From TV to book is often an arduous way, usually more difficult than the other, since the possibilities in this direction seem more limited .
However, the book series succeeds surprisingly well, thanks to a wild mixture of comic, technical book, notebook and a partly quite interesting variation on the subject of science comic. In the cinema, one would say that the “fourth wall” is repeatedly broken.
This encourages readers to discuss and reflect and give the issue more interaction than one can expect.
In the Time of Dinosaurs
A journey through the different ages of dinosaurs, virtually live. Playful and with lots of details about the three epochs of the dinosaurs, always with a nice reference to the present age (that is, a connection between what we can now find in the earth and what really could have been at that time).
The language
Clear, it's English. But no scientific English. Scattered technical terms appear. But my children can understand everything well after 2 years of living in Tanzania, where English is also not the national language.
Conclusion
A kind of insider tip! Ideal for children who grow up bilingual. Or to complement English in primary school. Recommended age: about 6 - 10 years.
July 12, 2015
I think this is my favorite MSB book, mostly because dinosaurs are awesome, we learn Ms. Frizzle's real name is Valerie, and we have the underlying story arc of what's going on between her and the dashing archeologist. But maybe I am just misinterpreting things. After all, I do have a Young and the Restless type backstory for Sofia the First.
October 24, 2023
Honestly this one feels really meh to me and I like dinosaurs. Unfortunately my Magic School Bus obsessed child is 3 yrs old and the illustrations of the stegosaurus dead in a large pool of its own blood being eaten was unexpected for both of us. I've always felt MSB handled the circle of life pretty well for kids, this book felt really intense both in illustrations and even the way it was explained. Not just a one scene thing either.
April 14, 2022
6yo made a sculpture of a trooden, the "danger" to maiasaura, aka the "good mother lizard."
May 27, 2020
This is the 6th book in the Magic School Bus series. On this magically adventure, Ms. Frizzle takes her students to a known dinosaur bone site. When she discovers that some of the Maiasaur bones were missing, she turns the magic school bus into a time machine. They go back to the age of the dinosaurs to learn more about dinosaurs like their habitats, their diets, and even the different species.
This book is a nonfiction text because it includes factual information to educate its readers using fictional characters. These kinds of text are typically used to get its younger readers attention in the form of a picturebook. Once you have your readers attention, your able to keep them entertained while also informing them with useful information. In this case, educating its readers on the history of dinosaurs.
This book is a nonfiction text because it includes factual information to educate its readers using fictional characters. These kinds of text are typically used to get its younger readers attention in the form of a picturebook. Once you have your readers attention, your able to keep them entertained while also informing them with useful information. In this case, educating its readers on the history of dinosaurs.
August 19, 2020
This time Joanna Cole through her stalwart teacher Ms. Frizzle has the Magic School Bus travel backward in time to the Triassic period, during a class field trip to a dinosaur dig.
Naturally, things go wrong. They go back further they planned and hop around in time, visiting the Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods and then seeing the approaching meteor, return home. Sadly, one child lost her plastic dinosaur in the past. But don't worry, for a paleontologist finds it in a nest of dinosaur eggs.
This would have been my favorite book as a child, for I was crazy for dinosaurs from 5-10.
Naturally, things go wrong. They go back further they planned and hop around in time, visiting the Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods and then seeing the approaching meteor, return home. Sadly, one child lost her plastic dinosaur in the past. But don't worry, for a paleontologist finds it in a nest of dinosaur eggs.
This would have been my favorite book as a child, for I was crazy for dinosaurs from 5-10.
July 24, 2012
SO GOOD! these books are gold!!! my 4 1/2 year old learns so much from them!
December 10, 2017
I enjoyed this book because I like Magic School Bus books. I also enjoyed this book because I like eggs, dinosaur eggs I mean.
September 23, 2021
A fascinating journey through the time of the dinosaurs with Ms. Frizzle and her science class students!
July 9, 2025
Bruh this shit is wild. Not for the faint of heart. Pro tip: read “Magic School Bus Inside The Human Body” first so you can pivot to an educational discussion about what components blood is made of as you avoid the realities of nature in its most violent form.
June 24, 2021
Before I started elementary school, I knew about The Magic School Bus. Important book series from Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, this collection of science adventures introduced me at an early age to many scientific concepts important to our everyday life, our world, and how objects around us work.
For each book, a different science topic. And in all of them, the same main protagonist. Mrs. Frizzle and her mysterious school bus. A machine ruined in appearance, but magical in its tools. Indeed, every time she takes her class on a field trip, the bus transforms itself and its passengers into explorers who discover the mysteries of our world. Having at their hands advanced technology and tools that would make jealous the most envious inventors, this class experiences incredible adventures where they learn new subjects; alongside us readers who discover their stories.
In this book, the sixth volume in The Magical School Bus series, a new topic. Paleontology; about dinosaurs and their different ecosystems, and species for each Prehistorical eras. From the Cretaceous to the Jurassic and the Triassic and other fascinating periods where different dinosaurs existed. As always, Frizzle and her class will go on a field trip. This time, it is on the same day that their school has Visitors Day. For they got in the morning an invitation to a Dinosaur Dig. So after many hours of travel, they finally arrive at the dig site. And there, they not only realize that the chief paleontologist in charge of this location is a friend of Miss Frizzle; whose surname they learn; but they also realize that they are going to travel back in time. To find and see the Maiasaura eggs and nests that the Paleontologists discovered the remains at this site. So as they use the Magic School Bus to travel back in time, they end up discovering more about dinosaurs than they expected. They find out how for each era, different types of dinosaurs exist. They find out about their names, their type of diet, their physiology, and the different ecosystems they lived in. Which makes this book a fascinating document worth reading several times as the details in them are exhaustive. So students of Paleontology can buy this as a great companion guide for their lessons. Even the public can also read it as the content is fascinating. Indeed, it can make them know more about our planet and the history of its evolution before humanity ever appeared.
As such, it is a valuable book that I really enjoyed and I intend to read it several times to better grasp all the content written there. And as the author Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen worked with scientists from the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of The Rockies, the infos we have there are backed up by reliable experts. Scientific info written in a comprehensible language so that everyone can understand the subject. With clear images that help educate readers and understand our organs’ work process.
For the prose and story, it is told from the class’s point of view. Speaking in unison; sharing a same common voice. Alongside extra comic book bubbles where, in the illustrations, characters talk to each other.
As for the artwork, it is done in watercolors with pen, alongside color pencils, gouache, and ink. And within each of them, we are presented the classroom, the protagonists, and their adventures. All under great illustrations that cover either the entire page, or two pages if an action occurs on a long wide scope view or if it evolves progressively. With intricate drawings about the dinosaurs, their era and their flora. Including interesting bubble drawings showing the bus's progression across the various Prehistoric Eras that it explores, and some rectangular panels showing trivias, facts, and drawings about many topics explored within each page.
Now for the book’s editions, you might have either paperback or hardcover versions, but also huge volumes that teachers can use to present to a wide group. So depending on the type of volume you want, you can check with your book store if they offer it or not. As for me, I have a paperback edition and the printing is well done. The text is printed at a proper size; easy to read for all readers. Including adults for it presents basic information about the subjects involved and can be a good reviewer for people who might have forgotten some of their science basics. Especially for the other books that deal with big topics like water resources, the solar system, beehives, the Ocean, Earth, famous scientists, etc.
In sum, this book, alongside this series, is a great success from Scholastic and its two artists. A valuable educational material alongside an awesome story to read while learning about our world and our Prehistoric Age.
For each book, a different science topic. And in all of them, the same main protagonist. Mrs. Frizzle and her mysterious school bus. A machine ruined in appearance, but magical in its tools. Indeed, every time she takes her class on a field trip, the bus transforms itself and its passengers into explorers who discover the mysteries of our world. Having at their hands advanced technology and tools that would make jealous the most envious inventors, this class experiences incredible adventures where they learn new subjects; alongside us readers who discover their stories.
In this book, the sixth volume in The Magical School Bus series, a new topic. Paleontology; about dinosaurs and their different ecosystems, and species for each Prehistorical eras. From the Cretaceous to the Jurassic and the Triassic and other fascinating periods where different dinosaurs existed. As always, Frizzle and her class will go on a field trip. This time, it is on the same day that their school has Visitors Day. For they got in the morning an invitation to a Dinosaur Dig. So after many hours of travel, they finally arrive at the dig site. And there, they not only realize that the chief paleontologist in charge of this location is a friend of Miss Frizzle; whose surname they learn; but they also realize that they are going to travel back in time. To find and see the Maiasaura eggs and nests that the Paleontologists discovered the remains at this site. So as they use the Magic School Bus to travel back in time, they end up discovering more about dinosaurs than they expected. They find out how for each era, different types of dinosaurs exist. They find out about their names, their type of diet, their physiology, and the different ecosystems they lived in. Which makes this book a fascinating document worth reading several times as the details in them are exhaustive. So students of Paleontology can buy this as a great companion guide for their lessons. Even the public can also read it as the content is fascinating. Indeed, it can make them know more about our planet and the history of its evolution before humanity ever appeared.
As such, it is a valuable book that I really enjoyed and I intend to read it several times to better grasp all the content written there. And as the author Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen worked with scientists from the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of The Rockies, the infos we have there are backed up by reliable experts. Scientific info written in a comprehensible language so that everyone can understand the subject. With clear images that help educate readers and understand our organs’ work process.
For the prose and story, it is told from the class’s point of view. Speaking in unison; sharing a same common voice. Alongside extra comic book bubbles where, in the illustrations, characters talk to each other.
As for the artwork, it is done in watercolors with pen, alongside color pencils, gouache, and ink. And within each of them, we are presented the classroom, the protagonists, and their adventures. All under great illustrations that cover either the entire page, or two pages if an action occurs on a long wide scope view or if it evolves progressively. With intricate drawings about the dinosaurs, their era and their flora. Including interesting bubble drawings showing the bus's progression across the various Prehistoric Eras that it explores, and some rectangular panels showing trivias, facts, and drawings about many topics explored within each page.
Now for the book’s editions, you might have either paperback or hardcover versions, but also huge volumes that teachers can use to present to a wide group. So depending on the type of volume you want, you can check with your book store if they offer it or not. As for me, I have a paperback edition and the printing is well done. The text is printed at a proper size; easy to read for all readers. Including adults for it presents basic information about the subjects involved and can be a good reviewer for people who might have forgotten some of their science basics. Especially for the other books that deal with big topics like water resources, the solar system, beehives, the Ocean, Earth, famous scientists, etc.
In sum, this book, alongside this series, is a great success from Scholastic and its two artists. A valuable educational material alongside an awesome story to read while learning about our world and our Prehistoric Age.
November 24, 2013
Luckily for Ms. Frizzle's class, it turns out she has other connections to the scientific community besides her magic school bus. In this book, the topic of the day in Ms. Frizzle's class is dinosaurs, and she just so happens to have a former student who works as an archaeologist on a real dinosaur dig. The class sets out for a real-life lesson in archaeology on their trusty school bus and learns the archaeologists are searching for evidence of an ancient maiasura nesting ground. When their bus turns into a time machine, they accidentally overshoot the proper dinosaur era and end up taking a journey through time to find their way to the real maiasura nesting ground and back to the present day to help the archaeologists to success.
This is a great book for children interested in dinosaurs--it goes beyond the different species of dinosaurs and examines the different eras in which they lived, how they lived, the climate, and their habitats. The illustrations are tremendously detailed with each dinosaur clearly labeled. I especially liked that the children had an active role in trying to "discover" fossils. However, while this book packs in a significant amount of information, the delivery of the information can be overwhelming. More than other books I've read in the series, this volume reads more like a graphic novel with information and plot points delivered through speech bubbles and notes disguised as students' homework packed into the margins. With multiple readings, these additions provide more to discover, but it can make the plot difficult to follow at times. Still, this is another excellent book in The Magic School Bus series, especially for a child (or adult) in a dinosaur phase.
This is a great book for children interested in dinosaurs--it goes beyond the different species of dinosaurs and examines the different eras in which they lived, how they lived, the climate, and their habitats. The illustrations are tremendously detailed with each dinosaur clearly labeled. I especially liked that the children had an active role in trying to "discover" fossils. However, while this book packs in a significant amount of information, the delivery of the information can be overwhelming. More than other books I've read in the series, this volume reads more like a graphic novel with information and plot points delivered through speech bubbles and notes disguised as students' homework packed into the margins. With multiple readings, these additions provide more to discover, but it can make the plot difficult to follow at times. Still, this is another excellent book in The Magic School Bus series, especially for a child (or adult) in a dinosaur phase.
April 18, 2013
The Magic School Bus is a series of picture books (and now short chapter books) that have been around for at least a decade, encouraging young children to explore more about scientific topics. In this particular picture book, their teacher, Ms. Frizzle, decides to teach the topic of dinosaurs. Ms. Frizzle has a magic school bus that transports her classroom of children into different settings and time periods to learn. It really is such a unique way to encourage and enlighten children about science topics. The illustrations are drawn specifically for children, entertaining them while they also learn. It is illustrated, similar to how a comic strip would be illustrated with speech bubbles, cartoonish drawings, and blurbs with random facts. This classroom is filled with lovable characters, such as Ms. Frizzle (the teacher) and each student has his/ her own personality that makes it easy for every kind of child to relate. In this installment, the book covers: dinosaur names, dinosaur fossils, the timeline of dinosaurs, how a fossil dig works, characteristics of dinosaurs, and random facts about dinosaurs. The book is filled with tons of interesting facts and figures about dinosaurs that catch the reader's attention. I will definitely be purchasing this book for my future classroom because it holds valuable information in a fun and interesting way. This book would be perfect for 1st through 4th grade. It seems like this book could really be ageless, as long as the children were old enough to understand some of the words. This is all why I am giving this book a 5 out of 5 stars!
September 27, 2009
Yet another Magic School Bus title to add to our inventory... this one is about dinosaurs and it was a very well-written tale about the age of the dinosaurs, with lots of facts about where and when they lived, how they didn't interact with humans, which ones were more prevalent at which time and how they likely died out.
I also learned that there were ancient reptiles that I grew up calling dinosaurs (like Pteranodons) that aren't truly dinosaurs. Finally I learned that the dinosaur that I grew up calling Brontosaurus is now called the Apatosaurus (I'd heard recently that there was some mistake in identification so they now called it a different name). And that's just some of the stuff I learned. There was a lot of information given in the pages of this book, so I'm not sure how much our girls absorbed, but it was all very interesting and I'm sure they will continue learning more about this subject as they progress through school. This is a great way to introduce them to the science and the discoveries of prehistoric times.
6 Oct 2011 update: We recently read Dinosaur Detectives and also received this book as a gift at the National Book Festival at the National Mall in Washington DC. I didn't realize how closely the plots matched in the two books until now.
I also learned that there were ancient reptiles that I grew up calling dinosaurs (like Pteranodons) that aren't truly dinosaurs. Finally I learned that the dinosaur that I grew up calling Brontosaurus is now called the Apatosaurus (I'd heard recently that there was some mistake in identification so they now called it a different name). And that's just some of the stuff I learned. There was a lot of information given in the pages of this book, so I'm not sure how much our girls absorbed, but it was all very interesting and I'm sure they will continue learning more about this subject as they progress through school. This is a great way to introduce them to the science and the discoveries of prehistoric times.
6 Oct 2011 update: We recently read Dinosaur Detectives and also received this book as a gift at the National Book Festival at the National Mall in Washington DC. I didn't realize how closely the plots matched in the two books until now.
January 27, 2011
3.5 - Fans of the Magic School Bus will like this book and this edition is an added bonus for dinosaurs lovers. The book is very, very busy. There are tons of add-ons on each page. Besides the main storyline we have some conversation between teacher and students, we have some "schoolwork" with added facts, Q&A's, etc., you have a number of books with titles that can be read aloud, names of dinos, etc.
Any dinosaur fanatic, even young ones, will probably know most of the facts. Julia is 5 years old but has been interested in dinosaurs, any and everything about them, for over 2 years now so she was pretty much not astounded by the facts themselves. A kid not knowing them though would certainly be interested I would think.
Julia still liked the book. She's very interested, and has been for quite a while in fossils, digs, and paleontologists. These are a major factor in the story so that played the whole thing up to her.
It's definitely a fun book. I can see how it could be tedious for any parent that's been reading the Magic School Bus books for awhile but this was our first one so thankfully I experienced none of that.
**1/27/11** - We just read this again a few days ago and it was found at the library. Julia enjoyed it just as much. Nevermind the fact that there is no information included here that she doesn't know, she loves anything that has to do with dinosaurs.
If you have a kid as into dinos as mine this is a winner. It'll only help more if they're a fan of the Magic School Bus but I think it would work either way honestly.
Any dinosaur fanatic, even young ones, will probably know most of the facts. Julia is 5 years old but has been interested in dinosaurs, any and everything about them, for over 2 years now so she was pretty much not astounded by the facts themselves. A kid not knowing them though would certainly be interested I would think.
Julia still liked the book. She's very interested, and has been for quite a while in fossils, digs, and paleontologists. These are a major factor in the story so that played the whole thing up to her.
It's definitely a fun book. I can see how it could be tedious for any parent that's been reading the Magic School Bus books for awhile but this was our first one so thankfully I experienced none of that.
**1/27/11** - We just read this again a few days ago and it was found at the library. Julia enjoyed it just as much. Nevermind the fact that there is no information included here that she doesn't know, she loves anything that has to do with dinosaurs.
If you have a kid as into dinos as mine this is a winner. It'll only help more if they're a fan of the Magic School Bus but I think it would work either way honestly.
March 11, 2014
Cole, J., & Degen, B. (1994). The magic school bus: In the time of the dinosaurs. New York: Scholastic.
The Magic School Bus does it again! As with other Magic School Bus books, this one mixes fantasy with a great deal of science in a fun way! As always, the plot is original and ingenious. This time, Ms. Frizzle and her class go back in time and participate in an archaeological dig. The class travels through several time periods learning about different types of dinosaurs, various facts,etc.
Like most Magic School Bus books, this one can go across several age groups. Young dinosaur lovers will love learning the trivia and looking at the simplistic yet realistic dinosaurs. Children from grades 3-5 will enjoy the combination puzzle/comic book motif. Each page is quite busy. There are side conversations with the teacher and facts and trivia on every page. There is a wealth of information. The only group who I think this book possibly would not be good for is those who are easily distracted. Then again, maybe this would work. They could just choose what they wanted to focus on.
The Magic School Bus does it again! As with other Magic School Bus books, this one mixes fantasy with a great deal of science in a fun way! As always, the plot is original and ingenious. This time, Ms. Frizzle and her class go back in time and participate in an archaeological dig. The class travels through several time periods learning about different types of dinosaurs, various facts,etc.
Like most Magic School Bus books, this one can go across several age groups. Young dinosaur lovers will love learning the trivia and looking at the simplistic yet realistic dinosaurs. Children from grades 3-5 will enjoy the combination puzzle/comic book motif. Each page is quite busy. There are side conversations with the teacher and facts and trivia on every page. There is a wealth of information. The only group who I think this book possibly would not be good for is those who are easily distracted. Then again, maybe this would work. They could just choose what they wanted to focus on.
September 22, 2019
This book was one that I picked because of the nostalgia aspect. When I was younger my siblings and I avidly watched the Magic school bus, so this franchise has a special place in my heart. The book I chose is all about dinosaurs. Ms. Frizzle and the kids go on an adventure back to the time of the dinosaurs. Exploring each of the periods of time when different species existed.
The most interesting thing about all the Magic School Bus books and shows is how much fun they are while at the same time being informational. For example, if you just skimmed the book you would probably look at it and think it was non-fiction but because of the story it is fiction. This book specifically has blurbs of information along the sides of each page generally informing you about something on that page.
I could see myself incorporating this into my future classroom for many reasons. I was shown this as a child because as I said before it is very informational but at the same time keeps kids interested. With the story and characters, you are learning while still having fun.
The most interesting thing about all the Magic School Bus books and shows is how much fun they are while at the same time being informational. For example, if you just skimmed the book you would probably look at it and think it was non-fiction but because of the story it is fiction. This book specifically has blurbs of information along the sides of each page generally informing you about something on that page.
I could see myself incorporating this into my future classroom for many reasons. I was shown this as a child because as I said before it is very informational but at the same time keeps kids interested. With the story and characters, you are learning while still having fun.
April 29, 2021
This popped up on my e-book app as a suggestion (it knows me so well....) and I couldn't resist getting it. I LOVED these books as a kid, but haven't read one in at least 25 years. (I keep hoping I can get my niece and nephew into them, so I have an "excuse" to read along with them.)
This one is a more updated version than what I would have read, simply because science behind some of these dinosaurs has changed. I don't remember what the original book would have said that contradicted this new one, but judging from some old reviews it had a lot to do with new species and things.
This was just SO fun to read after all these years. Mrs. Frizzle is somehow even cooler viewing her from an adult's eyes, and I LOVED the little Easter eggs hidden on every single page. I strongly suspect I'll be picking up a few more of these soon.
This one is a more updated version than what I would have read, simply because science behind some of these dinosaurs has changed. I don't remember what the original book would have said that contradicted this new one, but judging from some old reviews it had a lot to do with new species and things.
This was just SO fun to read after all these years. Mrs. Frizzle is somehow even cooler viewing her from an adult's eyes, and I LOVED the little Easter eggs hidden on every single page. I strongly suspect I'll be picking up a few more of these soon.
April 5, 2018
This book is perfect for children, especially those who have a love for dinosaurs. Parents, if you want your children to learn more about science and the world around them, I recommend this book. And all of the other Magic School Bus books.
I read it as part of a reading for the children at my old elementary school. It was fun to go back to books that I have since forgotten. Also, to learn these facts all over again.
I read it as part of a reading for the children at my old elementary school. It was fun to go back to books that I have since forgotten. Also, to learn these facts all over again.
September 20, 2018
The historical take that this book brings, along with the science of it all is very entertaining. The trips that the students go on are always fun to explore, but this one is also much more simplified than the other books in this series, with makes it nice for younger readers to enjoy.
February 10, 2019
In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a Magic School Bus book. Between its engaging and elaborate illustrations and the funny and educational story about dinosaurs, this makes for a wonderful book for the elementary school classroom. 2nd-5th
January 20, 2021
Book six of The Magic School Bus and this one takes on a perennial favourite of kids, the dinosaurs.
It gives interesting information as well as the normal entertainment that comes with the magic school bus.
It gives interesting information as well as the normal entertainment that comes with the magic school bus.
October 27, 2023
I can understand the appeal of the series. It seems like too much info for so few pages, but even if kids just pick up on a few facts, that's good.
This is the original edition. I'd like to compare it with the new, updated version.
This is the original edition. I'd like to compare it with the new, updated version.
August 16, 2017
An entertaining read and very educational.
Has a lot of facts about dinosaurs.
Fun to read.
Has a lot of facts about dinosaurs.
Fun to read.
October 31, 2017
Another great one. The little jokes here and there made me laugh and the science is great. Educational and funny together is always a win for me!
May 11, 2020
I wouldn't recommend listening to this as an audiobook because it was hard to follow the dinosaur timelines and hard to imagine how the dinosaurs looked like.
October 29, 2020
Perfect research for my Ms. Frizzle Halloween costume!
March 21, 2021
I used to love these books when I was younger, and I haven’t read one in a long time. It’s nice to know they still hold up!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews