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Microsaurs #1
Follow That Tiny-dactyl
Two kids enter a world full of tiny dinosaurs in this new action-packed illustrated chapter book series.
Danny and Lin never say no to adventure, so when Danny's spy camera captures a tiny dinosaur crashing into Lin's helmet during her skateboarding tryouts they know they have to investigate. But even they weren't prepared for a secret laboratory filled with amazing inventions (including the Shrink-a-Fier and the Expand-o-matic 2) and astonishing discoveries (Triceratops are NOT fond of the color red!).
Who knew that tracking one tiny pterodactyl would open up such a giant world of adventure with the Microsaurs!?!
Follow that Tiny-Dactyl is the first book in Dustin Hansen's Microsaurs series. Don't miss the next in the series, Microsaurs: Tiny-Raptor Pack Attack.
Praise for Microsaurs: Follow that Tiny-Dactyl
"Video-game creator Hansen mashes up dinosaurs, futuristic technology, extreme sports, and other ever-popular story elements in his first novel, which launches the Microsaurs series. . . . Hansen's peppy cartoons provide an up-close look at all the smaller-than-life action in this high-energy escapade." --Publishers Weekly
"Hansen mixes fantasy, science fiction, and realistic fiction to create a fast-paced read for elementary readers. His whimsical illustrations of the dinosaurs make them appear as lovable pets." --Booklist
"This fast paced book is full of action and the delightful illustrations will attract young readers looking for a good chapter book." --School Library Connection
Danny and Lin never say no to adventure, so when Danny's spy camera captures a tiny dinosaur crashing into Lin's helmet during her skateboarding tryouts they know they have to investigate. But even they weren't prepared for a secret laboratory filled with amazing inventions (including the Shrink-a-Fier and the Expand-o-matic 2) and astonishing discoveries (Triceratops are NOT fond of the color red!).
Who knew that tracking one tiny pterodactyl would open up such a giant world of adventure with the Microsaurs!?!
Follow that Tiny-Dactyl is the first book in Dustin Hansen's Microsaurs series. Don't miss the next in the series, Microsaurs: Tiny-Raptor Pack Attack.
Praise for Microsaurs: Follow that Tiny-Dactyl
"Video-game creator Hansen mashes up dinosaurs, futuristic technology, extreme sports, and other ever-popular story elements in his first novel, which launches the Microsaurs series. . . . Hansen's peppy cartoons provide an up-close look at all the smaller-than-life action in this high-energy escapade." --Publishers Weekly
"Hansen mixes fantasy, science fiction, and realistic fiction to create a fast-paced read for elementary readers. His whimsical illustrations of the dinosaurs make them appear as lovable pets." --Booklist
"This fast paced book is full of action and the delightful illustrations will attract young readers looking for a good chapter book." --School Library Connection
- GenresChildrens
240 pages, Library Binding
First published January 17, 2017
4 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Dustin Hansen
35 books82 followersDustin was raised in rural Utah, where his imagination was his most constant companion. A reader, artist, and gamer from an early age, Dustin was encouraged to mine his talents, follow his passions, and find the fun in everyday life.
Dustin studied art in college, and entered the exciting world of video game development in 1994. His career has taken him and his family from coast to coast, but he always considered the small town he grew up in, Ephraim, Utah, his true home.
After spending a year as a director at Habro, Dustin, his wife, and four kids moved back to Ephraim, where he lives today in the shadows of a fine mountain, writes books about video games and dinosaurs, and takes long walks with his dog, Rusty.
Oh, and he loves the Utah Jazz, but that's another story all together.
Dustin studied art in college, and entered the exciting world of video game development in 1994. His career has taken him and his family from coast to coast, but he always considered the small town he grew up in, Ephraim, Utah, his true home.
After spending a year as a director at Habro, Dustin, his wife, and four kids moved back to Ephraim, where he lives today in the shadows of a fine mountain, writes books about video games and dinosaurs, and takes long walks with his dog, Rusty.
Oh, and he loves the Utah Jazz, but that's another story all together.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 20, 2017
"Microsaurs: Follow That Tiny-Dactyl," by Utah native Dustin Hansen, is an inventive, fun story about a pair of adventurous kids who discover a world of miniature dinosaurs.
It's a fast-moving tale from the moment a little orange flying creature takes off with the beacon from Danny's dad's GPS. Danny and his skateboarding best friend, Lin Song, go after the red-orange, birdlike dinosaur and end up chasing it to a garden full of tiny, prehistoric animals.
On the way, the two children shrink to the size of ants and have to figure out how to get back to their full size before it's time for Lin to finish an important skateboarding competition.
Meanwhile, they also have to avoid being smashed by real dinosaurs roaming the garden tended and cataloged by Professor Penbrook Penrod for his uncle, another Professor Penrod.
One dinosaur reacts like an angry bull to Danny's red shirt. Another takes Danny and Lin for a ride in a hot air balloon made out of a bottle cap and rubber bands that keep breaking. There are stegosauri with plates on their spines, dimetrodons with large sails on their backs, dinosaurs with three horns and others with long necks.
This story melds reality and fantasy in a lively read with great graphics and even some little known facts about dinosaurs. There's some science woven in, too, as the kids work with the wiring of the beacon, a Spy-Zoom camera and a smartphone to try and get back to normal size and back home.
It's all amazingly easy to read, and there's no content to worry a parent: no violence, no bad language and all kinds of charmingly sweet adventure.
The second book, "Microsaurs: Tiny-Raptor Pack Attack" is scheduled to be released July 18.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...
It's a fast-moving tale from the moment a little orange flying creature takes off with the beacon from Danny's dad's GPS. Danny and his skateboarding best friend, Lin Song, go after the red-orange, birdlike dinosaur and end up chasing it to a garden full of tiny, prehistoric animals.
On the way, the two children shrink to the size of ants and have to figure out how to get back to their full size before it's time for Lin to finish an important skateboarding competition.
Meanwhile, they also have to avoid being smashed by real dinosaurs roaming the garden tended and cataloged by Professor Penbrook Penrod for his uncle, another Professor Penrod.
One dinosaur reacts like an angry bull to Danny's red shirt. Another takes Danny and Lin for a ride in a hot air balloon made out of a bottle cap and rubber bands that keep breaking. There are stegosauri with plates on their spines, dimetrodons with large sails on their backs, dinosaurs with three horns and others with long necks.
This story melds reality and fantasy in a lively read with great graphics and even some little known facts about dinosaurs. There's some science woven in, too, as the kids work with the wiring of the beacon, a Spy-Zoom camera and a smartphone to try and get back to normal size and back home.
It's all amazingly easy to read, and there's no content to worry a parent: no violence, no bad language and all kinds of charmingly sweet adventure.
The second book, "Microsaurs: Tiny-Raptor Pack Attack" is scheduled to be released July 18.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...
December 8, 2016
My 8 yr old son and I read this together. He "really liked it a lot"(his words). I think it is a fun book and we both liked the illustrations as well. Looking forward to this coming summer.
January 24, 2017
My 9 yr old and 6 yr old are eating this book up! They love a lot of books but this chapter book is so great because the story is so fun and also has wonderful illustrations. We can't wait for the next one in July!!!
January 23, 2019
This review is from a bilingual 4th grade boy. He wants to continue reading the series, so he obviously likes it. He says its kind of funny, likes that it is about dinosaurs and enjoyed the illustrations. He said the story was just ok. I think the illustrations look awesome and that they compliment the story very well. It looks like a fast read, so good for struggling readers, for grades 2-5.
April 19, 2020
Darling book full of adventure, science, skateboarding and DINOSAURS! So much variety, and woven together very smoothly! I can’t neglect to mention the fun illustrations! Sure to be a fav of the younger reader. And even the not so younger.... 😉
May 15, 2017
Two friends discover a world of tiny dinosaurs.
July 19, 2018
A promising start to this new transitional chapter book series - kids and dinosaurs are shrunk down micro size!
November 23, 2019
This book was so cute! The writing was clever and the illustrations really fun. I read it to my seven year old and he loved it.
April 4, 2020
Pretty much every element of this book should have put it directly in my happy spot, but somehow that failed to happen, and I came away feeling very meh.
June 1, 2023
Fun idea. Who doesn't love dinosaurs and small things and spy electonics! Read out loud to my Littles.
January 3, 2024
I read this to my 1st grade classroom every year and every year it does not disappoint. It is a fun story that keeps kids glued to the edge of their seats!
July 10, 2019
We picked this up on our trip to Dinosaur World. My son is on a dinosaur kick and so we are going to ride it out until we can't.
Two kids accidentally discover a miniature dinosaur world, maintained by a scientist who has shrunk himself but the machine is damaged. Doing what they can the two kids get shrunk and then helps the scientist fix the machine.
It was a lot of fun, and it was an easy read. I like the fact that it showed a kid being a little nerdy, but also willing to face his fear when needed to. I also like that he never immediately had the answer, he had to stop and think. My son also really enjoyed this so we will be continuing with this series.
Two kids accidentally discover a miniature dinosaur world, maintained by a scientist who has shrunk himself but the machine is damaged. Doing what they can the two kids get shrunk and then helps the scientist fix the machine.
It was a lot of fun, and it was an easy read. I like the fact that it showed a kid being a little nerdy, but also willing to face his fear when needed to. I also like that he never immediately had the answer, he had to stop and think. My son also really enjoyed this so we will be continuing with this series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews