Every sleepy little dinosaur will recognize the tricks of the trade in these bedtime shenanigans. The chuckle factor is sky-high here, with giant, full-page pictures of cleverly identified Tyrannosaurus rexes, triceratopses, and Pteranodons. A variety of human mothers and fathers trying to put their dinosaur children to bed will bring the point home that the story may have something to do with human kid behavior as well. This good-natured nighttime book is sure to be a winner (even though it might inspire a few noisy dinosaur antics), especially as it's written by Jane Yolen, prolific Caldecott Medalist author of Owl Moon. Yolen and Mark Teague have teamed up to create a fun, silly, playful read-aloud. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

ANNOTATION

Mother and child ponder the different ways a dinosaur can say goodnight, from slamming his tail and pouting to giving a big hug and kiss.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In a few simple lines of verse on each spread, fathers and mothers are ready to put their youngsters to bed. But in this book, the youngsters are a wide variety of dinosaurs. And how do dinosaurs say good night?

Filled with wonderful detail and humor, children and their parents will love the expressions and antics of the eleven different dinosaur children depicted here, and each species is spelled out somewhere in the young dinosaur's bedroom. In the end, young dinosaurs behave a lot like people do: They give a big kiss, turn out the light, tuck in their tails, and whisper "good night."

Here is a new staple for bedtime reading, a book children will ask for again and again.

FROM THE CRITICS

Parents Magazine

This beautifully illustrated tale shows that young dinos hit the hay just as kids do.

Publishers Weekly

Set to a lilting bedtime beat, this rollicking rumpus of a tale ups the humor ante in a familiar scenario by substituting dinosaurs for children: "How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light?" In a series of snappy lines, Yolen (Off We Go!, reviewed above; Queen's Own Fool, reviewed below) highlights a variety of postponement antics, some familiar (moping, sulking and demanding "one book more!"), some of a distinctly dinosaur variety--"Does a dinosaur slam his tail and pout? Does he throw his teddy bear all about?" Teague makes hay with the text, and as always his illustrations are a flurry of sly madcap inspiration. He chooses the winged Pteranodon (spelled out in ABC blocks on the bedroom floor) as the character who throws his teddy bear while flying about the room; for "Does he swing his neck from side to side" it's the snake-headed Apatosaurus who does the swinging. Under his sure direction, the sight gag never grows stale, and the sight of a T-Rex puckering up for a kiss, or an enormous Stegosaurus crammed into a tiny bed and daintily turning off the light switch with the tip of his tail, is sure to elicit giggles. As the endpapers reveal, there's a cast of 10 dinosaurs featured here, and sharp eyes will enjoy spotting their proper names tucked into each illustration. This rib-tickling bedtime fare packs plenty of appeal. Ages 2-up. (Apr.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Children's Literature - Children's Literture

"How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light?" The brief, simple, rhyming text in large type explores the possibilities of a "dinosaur" kid's antics at bedtime. The reactions of a variety of human dads and moms to different dinosaurs demanding another book, a piggyback ride, or pouting or roaring, give humorous touches to the typical nightly struggles. Ten portraits of different dinosaurs, identified by name and engaged in a range of bedtime sports, decorate the endpapers hinting at the fun inside. Double-page scenes are full (really full), of solid, richly colored, sculpturesque creatures acting petulantly while a small father or mother stand, helpless, nearby. Imaginative details make believable the strange juxtaposition of dinosaur child and human parent. The reader who recognizes the behavior can't help but laugh. 2000, The Blue Sky Press/Scholastic Inc., Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

School Library Journal

PreS-K-A rhyming, moral read-it-again tale. "How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light?/Does a dinosaur slam his tail and pout?" Teague's wonderful rounded illustrations show 10 dinosaur species (all identified) as they settle down for the night in their human households. "Does a dinosaur stomp his feet on the floor/and shout: `I want to hear one book more?'" After demonstrating a variety of bad bedtime behaviors, the reptiles are then shown to be model youngsters. "They give a big hug, then give one kiss more." While the message is a little obvious, it is impossible to resist Teague's endearing dinos.-Kathleen Whalin, Greenwich Country Day School, CT Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Karen Carden - The Christian Science Monitor

Children will love the fact that the dinos tower over tiny parents, and that some of the prehistoric characters thrash, fuss, and misbehave as much as any I'm-not-ready-for-bed-yet kid. Real dinosaur aficiaonados will be pleased that the illustrations focus on the actual features of each beast, and that somewhere in each picture is correct name of the gigantic sleepyhead.Read all 6 "From The Critics" >