Don't Ask a Dinosaur

By Matt Forrest Esenwine, Deborah Bruss, Louie Chin (Illustrator)

Dinosaurs attempt party prep, chaos ensues. Can they avoid disaster?

3.9/5 Goodreads · 54 ratings

32 pages· 206 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud

$17.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

A party spirals into chaos when dinosaurs with quirky traits try to help. From giant hands to long claws, each task becomes hilariously impossible. As they attempt to blow out the candles, will they create another mess? Discover the fun and mishaps in this rhyming adventure.

"If you're going to plan a birthday party, stop and think it through - be careful what you DARE to ask a DINOSAUR to do!"

— from the book

From the publisher

Written in a masterfully-executed rhyme, the book presents a cavalcade of lesser-known dinos and pairs their odd characteristics with little tasks that are hilariously impossible because of those features. “Don’t ask Deinocheirus to set the forks and spoons,” because his hands were enormous, “Therizinosaurus shouldn’t blow up balloons,” because he had very long claws. In the end they find the one thing everyone can help do is to blow out the candles on the cake…but will it create yet another mess?

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Words: 206
Reading age: 3–8
Audience: Picture

Themes & topics

Books about dinosaurs Books about birthdays Books about parties Books about dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures Books about tyrannosaurus rex

After the last page

Talk about it together

What would happen if you asked a dinosaur to help plan a party?

What is your favorite dinosaur, and why?

In the story, what girl's name is on the refrigerator? Which dinosaur is balancing a spoon on its nose? Can you find the volcano?

Inside the book

A peek between the covers

What readers & critics say

Reviews

“The writers artfully incorporate the name—broken into bulleted syllables—of each prehistoric partygoer into the rollicking rhyme, and supply, at the end, a pronunciation guide and a quick descriptive comment.”

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Critic

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