Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs #2: Lost in the Tunnel of Time is by Sharon M. Draper. Ziggy, Rashawn, Rico and Jerome return for another adventure in the popular Ziggy and the Black Dinosaur series. The four boys are best friends and live in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The story opens with the boys leaving for a school field trip. Their destination is a park on the Ohio River. Mr. Greene, an elderly neighbor, accompanies the class. From him, the classmates learn the importance of the river and tunnels to escaping slaves. Mrs. Powell, their teacher, shares a legend of an Indian lady who mysteriously disappears. Of course, these stories arouse the boys’ imagination.

Mr. Greene lends Ziggy an old map of underground tunnels. He hopes it will help the young man complete a homework assignment. Ziggy and friends have another idea for the map. Let’s explore a tunnel leading from the school’s basement!

Ms. Sharon M. Draper combines boys’ hijinks with African-American history in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Children read and delight in the boys’ adventures while learning some interesting facts about the Underground Railroad. They learn about the dangers in the tunnels and the determination of the slaves to continue to travel toward freedom.

Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs offer children of color protagonists who are of color too. Lost in the Tunnel of Time is perfect for children looking for urban African-American adventure stories. If you have an African-American reluctant reader, give Lost in the Tunnel of Time a try. Yet, I believe the book is great for all children because they all love adventure stories.



I always imagined Paradise to be a....library. - Jorgelius Borges

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