How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe?

by Jane Yolen, Mark Teague (Illustrator)

Overview

From crossing the street with Mama to encountering a stranger, the playful but careful antics of America's favorite dinosaurs will make readers laugh aloud — and prompt discussion of safety issues.

Few things in childhood are as important as learning how to behave safely, and the topic deserves discussion in every family. Now Jane Yolen and Mark Teague deftly approach this critical subject with warmth, humor, and hilarity.The wildly funny contrast between Teague's massive dinosaur children and their human-sized surroundings makes this subject especially appealing and funny. Where a book about safety for children might be potentially frightening, the antics of immense dinosaurs jumping on the bed or learning how to dial 9-1-1 on Mama's tiny phone will keep readers laughing from start to finish.Parents, children, teachers, and other caregivers need a comfortable way to discuss safety, and this book provides just that. And as children learn invaluable rules about safe behavior, they'll beg to read it again and again for the wildly appealing silliness on each page. Here is a book that belongs in every household!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780439241045
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	02/24/2015
Series:	How Do Dinosaurs...? Series
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	74,703
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 12.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Jane Yolen is the beloved author of more than 365 books for children and adults, including award-winning picture books, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In addition to two Nebula Awards and a National Book Award nomination, she has received a Golden Kite from SCBWI, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, and the California Young Reader Medal. Yolen's How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? was an ALA Notable Book and a Christopher Medal winner. The book has gone on to become a widely popular bestselling series with over 15 million copies in print. She lives in Western Massachusetts.
Mark Teague is the international bestselling illustrator (and author) of more than 50 books for children. His numerous awards and honors include the Book Sense Book of the Year Award and the Christopher Medal. He has illustrated 12 full-size books and 11 board books in the widely successful How Do Dinosaurs...? series. He is the author of the popular Dear Mrs. LaRue, Firehouse!, and Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries. He lives in New York State.

Editorial Reviews

01/12/2015
Throughout the How Do Dinosaurs series, prehistoric carnivores and herbivores have showed off some less-than-perfect behavior in modern settings. Now Yolen and Teague take the idea a bit farther: what about when a young dino (or human) is acting in a way that isn’t just “bad” but dangerous? “If anyone dares him,/ does he always try/ to jump from the rooftop/ as if he could fly?” asks Yolen as a gigantosaurus perches tentatively atop a suburban home. As always, examples of better (and, in this case, safer) actions follow, and while Teague’s illustrations generally play the situations for laughs, the book’s seriousness of purpose won’t be lost on readers. Ages 3–5. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for the How Do Dinosaurs booksHOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOOD NIGHT? An ALA Notable BookA SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Best Book of the YearA BOOKLIST Editor's ChoiceA NEW YORK TIMES, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, and BOOKSENSE bestseller."A delight from start to finish; better buy more than one." —BOOKLISTHOW DO DINOSAURS GET WELL SOON? A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the YearA Parent's Choice Award winner* "An excellent choice for story hours." —BOOKLIST, starred review* "The perfect prescription for the crankily bedridden." —KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred reviewHOW DO DINOSAURS SAY I LOVE YOU? A Parent's Choice Award winner"Kids should relate to the dinosaurs' mood swings and take heart in the notion that love conquers all." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLYHOW DO DINOSAURS SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS?"Don't pass up this exuberant guide to achieving yuletide harmony." —SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALHOW DO DINOSAURS SAY HAPPY CHANUKAH?"Yolen's characteristically wry verse is flawless in its rhyme and rhythm, and . . . the art's buttoned-up 1950s fashions and furnishings provide a comical visual contrast to the outlandish, brightly colored dinosaurs." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLYHOW DO DINOSAURS SAY I'M MAD?"Pair this outstanding title with Molly Bang's classic WHEN SOPHIE GETS ANGRY—REALLY, REALLY ANGRY. . . . Yolen's story is spot-on and can easily be used in a storytime about anger, or in a one-on-one setting." —SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL". . . not only will this title be a favorite at storytime, it may also serve as a discussion starter about feelings and how best to express and cope with them." —KIRKUS REVIEWS

From the Publisher

12/01/2014
PreS-Gr 2—This much-needed addition to the series explores everyday situations. Yolen's rhyming text tackles recreational safety ("He wears/a good helmet/when riding his bike/takes bottles of water/when on a long hike."), safety at home ("Is he rough with the cat?/Does he stand up/on chairs?/When Mama says 'No!'/does he run down the stairs?"), and a reminder that every "dinosaur" should know when and how to dial 911. Teague's bright illustrations are wonderfully whimsical, with colorful dinosaurs taking up the bulk of the spreads. Their expressions, and those of the diverse humans, are a delight, from the worried looks of dinos behaving unsafely to the loving looks of caregivers seeing their charges safe and having fun. Seasoned dinosaur enthusiasts will appreciate having the proper name for each creature included in the text and endpapers. Books on safety can verge on didactic, but not this simple, lovely title—it's all sorts of fun. An excellent addition to all picture book collections.—Amy Koester, Learning Experiences Department, Skokie PL

School Library Journal

2014-11-18
Officer Buckle had Gloria, his police canine, to help his audience see the value of his safety lessons; Yolen and Teague have their dinos. Addressing such perennial topics as jumping on the bed, climbing too high and stair safety, Yolen and Teague first present the dinos doing the wrong things, their faces plainly showing that they are surprised and scared by the world of hurt about to come their ways while caring (and dwarfed) loved ones freak out in the backgrounds. "Does he climb up too high? // Or jump on his bed? // Does he race on his bike with no helmet on head?" (Scansion is a bit of an issue.) Of course not! And though the text says that it will tell readers why, it doesn't, instead just explaining what the dinos do to stay safe. Among other things, Cearadactylus holds Mama's hand and crosses with the light, Majungasaurus swims where his papa can see him, Agustinia wears his bike helmet, and Concavenator brings water to drink on long hikes. As in previous outings, Teague's artwork steals the show, the realism of the scenes and human figures juxtaposed with the giant, though childish, dinos. Labels in the illustrations and endpapers will help dino mavens identify their favorites. Don'ts and Do's in a familiar formula go down easily for fans and will provide a good conversation starter for parents. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews