Dino Knights: Panterra in Peril

The image of knights in shining armour, marching into battle astride dinosaurs, is bound to capture children’s imagination. In Jeff Norton’s new series, young readers are invited to lose themselves in a medieval world of heraldry, lords and ladies…and dinosaurs.

This is a rags to riches tale about stable boy Henry Fairchild, who cares for the town of Brecklan’s domesticated dinosaurs, feeding them the famous Brecklan berries. When Henry prevents the town’s knights from being gobbled up by a T rex, he is invited to join the Dino Knights and fulfil every child’s dream.

This is a fast-paced story of terrifying pterodactyl attacks, kidnapped kings and villainous treachery yet there is also time to deliver important messages about honesty and about animal cruelty. Henry earns the trust of his fellow knights, and of the dinosaurs, through his caring and attentive nature as well as his bravery.

As well as dinosaurs, Norton’s medieval world features mechanical innovations evocative of the industrial age: some history fans may be asked to suspend their disbelief a little too much! It means that the series has all kinds of potential directions to go and there are bound to be many more surprises in store.