The Magic School Bus In the Time of the Dinosaurs is the sixth book in the original series books by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen. It was published in the United States on September 8, 1994.
Ms. Frizzle is taking her class to a dinosaur dig to look for some Maiasaura nests, but as soon as they get there, the Magic School Bus turns into a time machine and transports them back to prehistoric times—when dinosaurs roamed the Earth!
Although Carlos and Keesha were introduced in this book --making this book the first time they appeared in the classic series books-- it was in production at the same time as the TV series that premiered the same year (1994) the book was published. They also have different outfits than in the TV adaptations.
On the obverse of the cover of the 1997, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021 releases, the Bus's overhead sign says DINO ALERT.
In the Season 1 VHS tapes (as well as the TV episodes from the original TV series) excluding the five books before this one in the funding Magic School Bus Book promo, this one was introduced as the new book of the series featured alongside the five in the promo.
However, despite the TV adaptation being part of Season 2 and not Season 1, this book is on the promo in all seasons of the TV series (even in Season 1). That is because the book --In the Time of the Dinosaurs-- was in production at the same time as the TV series that premiered the same year (1994) the book was published.
This book marks marks the first time Valerie Frizzle's first name is mentioned.
This book along with At the Waterworks, Inside the Earth, Inside The Human Body, and On the Ocean Floor are the five books that are featured in the funding Magic School Bus book promo in the all four seasons of the original TV series. The book Lost in the Solar System was featured on the promo in the first two seasons.
Ms. Frizzle gets a new outfit in this book, which carries over to The Magic School Bus as her regular outfit.
In the 2006 version, John's camera does not record videocassettes. Instead, it is a digital camcorder.
Coincidentally, both episodes are in the second seasons of their respective series.
The book from the classic series In the Time of the Dinosaurs had two adaptations in the original media (regarding to original media of the TV series, TV tie-in books, or video game series). (That is, an episode from the original Magic School Bus TV series and a CD ROM from the original software in the video game series.)
There were two adaptations from the book:
The TV adaptation The Busasaurus (loosely adapted from the book) is set in the Cretaceous period unlike in the book. Only the book shows all the time periods. (See The Busasaurus page for differences from the book.)
