Field trip to dinosaur valley

K-Gr 2--School field trips can be great adventures or horrible disasters. Hare seems to understand that they can also be both at the same time. Students on a special time machine spaceship are transported back in time to Dinosaur Valley. They are amazed at all the creatures they see. One of these prehistoric animals steals a lunchbox, and when the student attempts to get it back, he is successful but falls off the spaceship and is left behind. With nothing else to do, the student decides to eat his lunch. When he attempts to do so, the unexpected happens. This wordless picture book in Hare's "Field Trip" series is simply enchanting. Hare is an exceptional pictorial storyteller. He guides viewers through his sequence of illustrations; these tell one specific story and are also open to different interpretations. This book ignites questioning, summarizing, decision-making, and evaluating for emerging readers. It also invites viewers to become storytellers. VERDICT Educators and caregivers alike will love sharing this title, an excellent book for all.--Laura Ellis

This fourth installment of the wordless picture book series (Field Trip to the Moon, rev. 9/19, and sequels) raises stakes even higher than previous excursions by delving into time travel -- and dinosaurs. The story begins on the title page, where a group of goggle-wearing students in white jumpsuits sits in a roofless, school-bus-yellow saucer as their teacher turns the dial to "PAST." An illustration on the spread with the copyright page depicts the school group mid-time jump, completely transparent and thinly outlined in white, along with an explosive "POOF!" Once they are successfully in the past, the time machine is cleverly transformed into a long-necked sauropod-like vehicle capable of walking throughout the prehistoric landscape. The adventure truly kicks into gear after a cheeky pterosaur swipes a lunchbox from an unsuspecting student, resulting in their tumble from the vehicle. Curious (and hungry) dinos approach the now-stranded child, who is happy to share snacks. A humorous encounter with a greedy, pizza-chomping carnivore shifts to a moderately harrowing chase scene, but thanks to the sneaky pterosaur the endangered student is swooped back to safety. Hare's acrylic illustrations are as colorful, playful, and effective as ever. The simple, repetitive page and panel layouts result in an easily followable, thoroughly enjoyable narrative. A notable addition to Hare's kindhearted and captivating science-fiction picture-book series. Patrick GallNovember/December 2025 p.49 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A class outing to the deep past nearly ends in disaster after a flying reptile steals a student's lunchbox. Riding a next-generation version of the Magic School Bus that not only travels in time but also sprouts very tall legs when it arrives, the students and teacher are so enthralled by the prehistoric setting rolling past that they don't notice when one child tumbles out. Fortunately, the peckish local dinosaurs prove more willing to feed on the reclaimed lunchbox's contents than its owner--at least just long enough to allow a last-second rescue. Unlike the classic field trip led by Ms. Frizzle, this one is more recreational than informational in character, but young readers shouldn't have much trouble either following the storyline or identifying the brightly hued, wide-eyed dinos chowing down on pretzels, pizza, and other culinary treats in Hare's wordless scenes. The students, at first anonymously swaddled in body suits and dark glasses, reveal themselves to be a racially diverse bunch at the end as they walk off, generously passing items from their own lunches to their errant classmate. Fans of this tale should be sure to embark on other journeys with Hare; previous outings includeField Trip to the Moon (2019) andField Trip to the Ocean Deep (2020). A tongue-in-cheek tribute to the spirit, not to mention the occasionally life-saving value, of sharing.(Picture book. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.