Mumsnet Talk

We have been given two of these recently for DS - the original one (where Harry finds the dinosaurs in the attic) and Harry and the Dinosaurs Make a Splash (where they go to the water park).

DS absolutely enjoys them, but I really, really don't. Am I alone in this? I like the fact that it introduces the names of dinosaurs and stretches Ds' ability to pronounce unusual sounds in the names of the dinosaurs, but I am finding the remainder of the language poor and the story quite boring.

I love Harry. Sorry!

neolara - are there better ones out there then?

Something that really irks me is the language in the Make a Splash book - nan says "what a shame them waves scared you". Them waves?!

I'm not sure childrens books are written to be entertaining stories for adults to be fair!

DS loves them. Yes some of the speech in them isn't grammatically correct but really isn't that more realistic anyway? If your that bothered correct it before you read it!

I haven't read these, but I agree with you - books should be engaging for any age. There are loads of books aimed at small children which are enjoyable reading as an adult, have lovely rhythm in the text, nice illustrations, etc.

It's no wonder kids think reading is "boring" if they grow up with bland reading material. I can understand stories/language being simplified when in the read by yourself bracket, but even then they should appeal to more than the age bracket if at all possible. I love reading back some of my old books, that's part of the magic, IMO.

I found these really boring but people with older children gave them to me as presents so I assumed that they had enjoyed them.

I defy you to manage Harry and the Robots without a tear in your eye! Harry going to the dentist was also a good one

We like Harry & the dinosaurs.

I like the fact that Harry has little tantrums every so often.

By coincidence, we hauled a lot of DS1's books out of the attic today for DS2 (4) and the one he wanted again and again was Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs.
The pictures are lovely, and I can see him filing away the thought of tipping rice crispies over his big sister away for future use.
What he seems to love is the fact that Harry is the only one who knows that the dinosaurs are real - what a Big Secret.
Not my favourite, by a long way, but not too bad even second time round

I don't dislike them but tbh they're not DS's favourites either. I can't remember the details but there's something about the Grandma in 'makes a splash' which is a bit odd iirc.

I love the way Harry & his sister are horrid to each other
I like his single mum, the extended family household, the way the dinos manifest Harry's anxieties, the genderless TA, the grumpy granny, the teacher in trackies, how his best friend is a different skin-colour girl whose dad wears a disheveled suit to bring her to school.

Lynley Dodd books are good if you want rhyming, but just not as connected to modern DC real lives.

Read Bob the Builder story books if you want truly dire writing.

I like the fact that the Harry books include real ways of talking, as well as the realistic family. And of course that the teacher is named after my mums friend . DS is very fond of them