“The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs”
by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen
Scholastic Inc., New York, 1994, 43 pages, Grades 3-5.
This week, children’s literature lost one of its most delightful writers. Joanna Cole, the author of The Magic School Bus series passed away.
Science frequently had a serious and intimidating side in children’s literature. Though many fine science books for children had been written, few had much heart in them. Joanna Cole changed this. In addition to the fine scientific material she brought to her stories, Ms. Cole showed that science could be fun. It was a subject that could be approached. For this alone, she should be applauded and remembered. Her most famous character, Ms. Frizzle, has delighted the literary world for some 30 years. This booktalk is about “The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs.”
As usual, the class is milling about and wondering what Ms. Frizzle is concocting for their next class trip. She tells the students they are going to study dinosaurs and go to a dinosaur dig. Most of the class is very excited about the trip, but Arnold isn’t so sure. Ms. Frizzle does so many crazy things that Arnold is frequently bewildered. But he trudges onto the old school bus with the rest of the class. The Friz, as the teacher is called, jumps into the driver’s seat and starts up the bus.
The next thing the class sees is a dinosaur dig site. After talking with the scientists studying the dinosaur bones, Ms. Frizzle loads the kids back on the bus and turns on the time machine. Before they realize it, she has taken them back millions of years to the time of the dinosaurs. When the students get off the bus, they see all kinds of dinosaurs. Some eat plants while others are carnivores, or meat-eaters.
Returning to the bus, the Friz takes the class through many different periods in the life cycles of dinosaurs. The children carefully examine the terrain, water and soil the dinosaurs live in. They have several near-misses when they encounter the fearful Tyrannosaurus Rex. The time periods they visit have fascinating and at times, fearful sights. Suddenly, they look up and see a meteor heading for earth. The Friz quickly gets the children back on the bus and turns on the time machine. What happens next when they begin hurtling back to the present?
Does the class make it back to the present? Why is there a meteor in the story? What happens to the dinosaurs? What world does Ms. Frizzle open up for her students? Do you have a favorite teacher? Would you like to have Ms. Frizzle for a teacher? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out “The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs” by Joanna Cole.
The Magic School Bus series became so famous that television episodes were made of the adventures. The books are so filled with information that they are best used in small groups with two or three students. This allows the children to point out facts to each other in the sidebars and drawings that might be missed in solitary reading. Youngsters should be encouraged to take their time and pour over the information in the text. Bruce Degen’s illustrations are so endearing that children love to look at all the colors and characters in the books.
It is with a sad heart that I say goodbye to Joanna Cole. But I would also like to thank her for her beauty and creativity. Rest In Peace, lovely writer!
