Kong long meng huan guo

I loved the artwork in this book - the spreads especially are absolutely gorgeous. The text was enjoyable, but unexceptional - I feel almost like the story was simply an excuse for the art, and in a few places got in the way more than it supported the visual narrative. I almost think that Gurney would have been more successful in this with an approach more akin to the Mysteries of Harris Burdick - just enough text to connect and imply a larger story from the art, rather than the art illustrating and accompanying the story. That said, I will still give this five stars because I know I will reread this without hesitation, and the ideas in the book are compelling, despite my qualms about the nineteenth century diary format and writing style.

Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time was my introduction to James Gurney's world, and I've never left. The art is awe-inspiring and the world he's created is both broad and deep. The story is simple enough for young children to enjoy, but somehow it keeps enthralling me fifteen years later.