Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
How do dinosaurs say Good Night?
Illustrator: Mark Teague
Picture Book Series
For ages 2 to 5
Scholastic, 2000 ISBN: 978-0590316811
When a father comes to a dinosaur’s room to turn off the light what does a dinosaur do? How does a dinosaur say good night? Does a dinosaur stamp and pout, throw his teddy bear and shout? And what does he do when Mama comes to turn off the light? Does he behave even worse than before? Does he “mope, does he moan, does he sulk, does he sigh?” Does he burst into tears and cause a terrible scene?
No indeed, dinosaurs would never behave in this way. They give their parents “a big kiss” to start with and then they turn out the light. And then there are words of love, hugs and a kiss more. This is now it is done.
Jane Yolen and Mark Teague have come together to create this funny, utterly delightful and yes, rather useful, picture book which both children and their grownups will enjoy. Children are able to see the bedtime ritual from a different perspective and grownups have a new cast of characters, a very influential and oversized cast of characters, to speak on their behalf. A wonderfully rhyming text with easy to follow language and splendid illustrations showing all kinds of colorful dinosaurs makes this book ideally suited to younger children.
