Picture Book Review- Kelsey M.

I decided to review the “How Do Dinosaurs…” series because they are great books for preschool-aged children and they teach social skills. I would love to teach in an integrated preschool classroom for students with special needs as well as typically developing peers. As I read these books I was constantly thinking of how I could use these stories in my class and the kinds of lessons that could be paired with the books.

1. Yolen, Jane, and Mark Teague. How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? New York: Blue Sky, 2007.

How Do Dinosaurs Go To School?

Dinosaurs have to go to school just like you and me. Good little dinosaurs know exactly how to get on the bus, say good-bye to their parents for the day, and go off to school in a pleasant way.

This book provides a perfect example of role-playing in a fun light-hearted manner. The dinosaurs have a hard time going to school just like many preschool aged children. The book gives example of how a child entering school for the first time might behave or might want to behave, and also shows the type of behavior that is appropriate. This book would be a perfect first day of school book. The illustrations in picture books are much brighter and more colorful than the pictures in the board books. I think that the picture books will wear out easier than the board books, but the bigger and brighter illustrations are worth the wear and tear.



2. Yolen, Jane, and Mark Teague. How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? New York: Blue Sky, 2005

How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?

Even young dinosaurs are very big and they have a hard time sitting at their chairs when it’s time to eat. However little dinosaurs do their very best when sitting at the table. They keep their bums in their chairs and have perfect table manners.

Table manners are something every child should have, but these skills may or may not be taught at home. This book could be used as a great introduction for a lesson about table manners. Table manners are an important social skill for preschool children to learn because within the next year they will be in school the full day and this means eating lunch at school with their peers. This book focuses on eating at home with parents and the manners children need to have at the dinner table but I think that this can easily be transitioned table manners for snack time or lunch time. The dinosaurs in the illustrations are so large it’s amusing to see them scolded by their human mothers for blowing bubbles in milk or sitting a chair that looks far too tiny. I think that the illustrations will be funny for the kids and draw them into the story and the not so secret lesson on table manners.



3. Yolen, Jane. How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? New York: Blue Sky, 2006.

How Do Dinosaurs Play With Their Friends?

Dinosaurs may have a hard time sharing their toys with their friends. They have much more fun when they learn how to play together.

Some preschool aged children who are attending school for the first time may not have social skills of their peers who have siblings or have spent time in a daycare. Learning to share and take turns are both important for children to develop friendships. This book is offered as a board book. I think that this book may need to be more durable than some of the other books because it’s a story that you can read again and again to keep especially when there needs to be a reminder about good behavior.



4. Yolen, Jane. How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? New York: Blue Sky, 2006.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

Can I have another glass of water? I don’t want go to bed. Dinosaurs want to stay up all night but they act like good dinosaurs and turn off the lights. They read a book, kiss their parents and say goodnight.

Sometimes little dinosaurs have to do things that they don’t like to do, such as go to bed. There are things that we do not like to do but they are good for us. Putting things off does not make them go away. I think that this would be a great story for children to have in their homes because it’s all about bedtimes. I think that the idea of doing things when you are asked and not trying to put things off would also be helpful in the classroom. When it’s time to say good-bye or clean up toys the lesson in this story would be extremely beneficial. This could also lead to a lesson about sleep. Student can learn about why sleep is so important and what can happen to our bodies when we do not sleep enough.





5. Yolen, Jane. How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? New York: Blue Sky, 2006.

How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?

No one likes to be sick. There are a few ways to get well and some of them are not very fun. Dinosaurs show you that the medicine might taste yucky and maybe you think the doctor is scary, but the little dinosaurs get better and you will to.

Being sick is never a good experience; it’s hard for the little dinosaurs to remember to cover up when they sneeze or to try not to whine or complain. Sometimes it takes a little extra work to get well and that means a trip to the doctor. Going to the doctor can seem like a frightening experience for many small children (and even some grown-ups to). When dinosaurs get sick they have to go see the doctor and take medicine. This book could be used at home for children and in school as well. This would be a good story to read before someone such as the dentist or the school nurse comes into to visit. This story could also lead to lessons about things we need to do to stay well like eating healthy foods and spending time exercising.