How Big Were the Dinosaurs?

Certainly Jurassic Park swept away any possible doubt about dinos' enduring popularity: though extinct, T. Rex and his pals are here to stay. Most's seven books about these fabulous creatures have done much to enhance youngsters' enjoyment and understanding of the topic; his latest offering handily continues that tradition. Familiar objects (book, toothbrush, bulldozer, a baby's crib) are ingeniously juxtaposed with dino likenesses to illustrate the book's opening sentence, ``It's hard to imagine how big some of the dinosaurs really were.'' Most's customarily playful, vividly hued artwork blends perfectly with kid-friendly lingo for painless edification. Noting, for example, that the Mamenchisaurus's neck was ``longer than a school flagpole,'' Most suggests that ``this is a dinosaur worth saluting.'' The concept of size reaches its zenith in a triple-page fold-out spread: one side compares the relative proportions of a Seismosaurus and an Apatosaurus; the reverse shows a gaggle of children capering on a dino's tail. A mammoth delight. Ages 3-8. (Apr.)