Picture Day at Dino Play, by Sean Julian

 Publication Sept. 10, 2024

Have you ever lost something? I know I have. This story for children takes us into the imaginative world of young dinos. Not only are they attending school it's picture day. Freda wears her special hat, one her grandma gave her....and loses it. Oh, no! But, wait. There's more.

She decides to leave it where they find it? Why? Because she becomes aware of the subtle fact that our lost items may be of more value to another. She's sure her grandma would approve of her decision and I bet you will, too. There's a great story of sharing and working together here, too, not to mention the diverse kinds of dinosaurs shown in the colorful, rather whimsical illustrations. Children can have a great deal of fun simply seeing what they can spy on each page. Be sure to tell them to keep an eye out for that cute little mouse that pops up frequently, not to mention the likes of a turtle and frog. The littlest dino is adorable, too. 

Friends working together to support each other as well as a teacher, Miss Beak, who knows how to utilize a teaching moment. You'll love the jester's hat and, hmm, the teacher in me wonders how many wonderfully creative hat ideas children might be able to come up with themselves after reading this book. The teacher is honest with them, too, I'll note, and doesn't make rash promises, another plus and subtle hint that we might not always get what we want. I loved the colorful illustrations and different kinds of dinosaurs shown and, oh, be sure to check out what's on the board as they work on one page. Thanks #NetGalley and #NorthSouthBooks for the virtual invite into the classroom, albeit these students are surely much bigger than any I ever taught. Fun read.

How to Put a Dinosaur to Bed: A Board Book, by Alycia Pace

 Publication April 2, 2024

I grinned as I read this. Partly because it was cute, partly because it seemed as much a beacon for parents struggling to get their children to bed at a normal time as a cute story. The book is quite short and no adults appear but, well, the siblings in this story are playing parent/caretaker to a dinosaur. Yes, you read that right. A fun dinosaur. But, they're finding it tiring as it doesn't want to sleep when they're trying to sleep. Sound familiar to any parents out there? Grin. You'll get a chuckle out of the use of the dino's horn in a puppet show, sure, or how the clever siblings have a ladder handy to assist in efficiently giving it a bath, but the purpose of this book is really to remind those in charge of the necessity of routine, routine, routine.

As for the children, looking at a troublesome, not-at-all-sleepy charge from the vantage of being the ones in charge of not just it getting rest but them, too, might provide some welcome understanding of the importance of sleep. The basic steps are listed as part of the action (ie in a sibling's hand) as well as then illustrated step-by-step. Nothing surprising, of course, as we know setting a routine and keeping to it is important, but it also shows the need to be able to handle those hopefully occasional "but I don't want to go to bed" nights. All in all, a cute story that offers help, with well done illustrations. I mean, the dinosaur with its rubber ducky is just too cute. Thanks #NetGalley and #Familius for sharing this with me. I know the importance of keeping to a routine, so this is a nice reminder.