Books by N. S. Blackman

A T-Rex in town? Raptors in the garden? ....Impossible!That's what Marlin Maxton thinks - until a trip to a museum, where he discovers life-size dinosaur displays with an incredible secret...At the museum Marlin finds a forgotten room with a dusty old dinosaur display. To his astonishment and delight his interest sparks the life-size models into life! But these are more than dinosaurs - these are Dinoteks - animals and metal machines combined. They are as awesome as their prehistoric predecessors - and able to talk, feel and work together to face danger. Best of all they befriend Marlin and together boy and dinosaurs embark on a series of thrilling adventures - the first being to escape from hunting humans who believe these animals are a menace to be destroyed.A new series: dinosaur books for kids, combining adventure with magic and humour. An engaging, chapter book for kids, with thrilling action, short chapters and vibrant illustrations - the perfect read for those moving on from picture books or, beginner reader books.Early readers, who enjoy: Jack Stalwart, Dinosaur Cove, A to Z Mysteries, will love this new series which consists of a trilogy of three books.Age Range: 6-8****EXTRACT*****Marlin woke up suddenly. It was the middle of the night and there was a noise outside his window. He sat up and blinked. He was dreaming. No! There it was again! TAP...TAP TAP...TAP...He slipped out of bed and crept over to the curtains. The floor was cold under his feet and the air was chilly but he hardly noticed. He reached out with one finger and nudged a crack in the curtains.WOOOOSH!Something very fast flashed past - silver in the moonlight - and was gone. Marlin jumped back, his heart racing. "What was that?!" He edged forwards again. He pulled the curtains open wider this time and peered out. At first he saw nothing, but then he noticed the strange marks on the lawn. All over, the grass was churned up and muddy as if something heavy had been racing around on it. Then he saw it. A creature standing at the end of the garden. Just under the apple tree, next to the back garden gate, was a little silver dinosaur with a long whip tail and a slender neck. It cocked its head to one side, blinked and looked right at him.There was no mistaking it.It was one of the Troodons from the museum.

Brave schoolboy Marlin Maxton has discovered an amazing secret. On a school trip to his local museum he found a forgotten room - full of dusty, life-sized dinosaur models. To his astonishment and delight his interest sparked these metallic model dinosaurs - called Dinoteks - into life!But now Marlin and his new dinosaur friends are in terrible danger. Their enemies are hunting the Dinoteks, determined to trap and destroy them. Marlin and the dinosaurs must escape from the museum - but how? And where to? In this story, Marlin must find the courage to take his place in a scary battle and the resourcefulness to free his friends and lead them to safety. And he still has a mystery to solve - how to wake his favourite Dinotek - the old centrosaurus, Protos.This is the second book in the Dinotek series. Dinosaur fiction - where the dinosaurs are not only back - they're better than ever! As awesome as the prehistoric creatures and able to talk, feel and face their enemies as a team. Best of all they befriend Marlin and together boy and dinosaurs enjoy thrilling adventures.A beautifully illustrated, chapter book for kids 6-8. This is a fun read for pleasure. An action packed, book for boys, girls and adventure fans of any age. These stories combine science fiction, mystery, adventure and of course, dinosaurs. Book 2 includes a recap of all the excitement from Book 1 - so readers can plunge straight in to this adventure!Independent readers will love this series which combines science fiction, action-adventure and of course, dinosaurs. A must for children who enjoy Roald Dahl, Dinosaur Cove or The Animals of Farthing Wood.The second installment of the Dinotek Adventures includes a recap of all the excitement from Book 1 for those new to the series.***EXTRACT.***Inside the entrance hall Flame moved at last. He turned and stepped forwards.It was time.Now he was standing directly in front of the doors and he could see that he was badly outnumbered. If he could just hold the first machine back - the bulldozer at the front - he might be able to block the way.If....... The black machine looked strong. Flame was built for speed and he had powerful jaws but the bulldozer was made to push and to shove.It would not stop.Its caterpillar tracks would grip the ground firmly but Flame's clawed feet would scrape and slip on the polished tiles as he tried to hold his place. He would be pushed backwards and then all the other machines would come in one after the other. They would surround him and attack together.He knew this would happen unless he could think of something else to do.Unless.... "We're here!" called a voice behind him. Steg powered into the hall

Parents and teachers love The Secret Dinosaur because it is proven to encourage reading and is perfect for exciting boy readers - reluctant or otherwise. It's excellent for fans of Beast Quest; Horrid Henry; Dinosaur Cove - and readers who have outgrown those series.