When Dinosaurs Came with Everything (Junior Library Guild Selection) [Hardcover]

Elise Broach (Author), David Small (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 25, 2007 | Age Range: 3 and up | Series: Junior Library Guild Selection | Lexile Measure: 380L (What's this?)

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DINOSAURS?

Just when a little boy thinks he's going to die of boredom from running errands with his mom, the most remarkable, the most stupendous thing happens. He discovers that on this day, and this day only, stores everywhere are giving away a very special treat with any purchase. No, not the usual lollipop or sticker. Something bigger. Much, MUCH bigger. It's a dream come true, except...what exactly do you do with these Jurassic treats? And how do you convince Mom to let you keep them?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—In a playful take on the stickers and lollipops that bored kids sweep up at businesses as parents do errands, Broach imagines what would happen if a dinosaur were the giveaway of the day. A boy's increasing delight at the freebies he collects from the bakery, the doctor, and barber contrast with his mother's increasing panic and dismay as the lumbering beasts start to accumulate. When they acquire the fourth behemoth, Mom decides that the errands are done and whisks everyone home. Once there, she finds some unique ways to put the stegosaurus, triceratops, hadrosaur, and pterosaur to good use doing household chores. Small's sketchy, tongue-in-cheek watercolor-and-ink artwork perfectly captures the boy's exuberance, the dinosaurs' mass, and the hubbub that a city full of these reptiles would create. Dinosaur lovers will enjoy seeing their favorite creatures pictured and named, though the book's appeal won't just be for them. Both listeners and independent readers will appreciate the humor in the text, and the book will spark imaginations and discussions on what else might make great giveaways.—Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI
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About the Author

Elise Broach lives with her family in rural Connecticut, where she writes books for children and teens, including When Dinosaurs Came With Everything, Shakespeare’s Secret and Wet Dog!, and serves in town government. Visit Elise at www.elisebroach.com.

David Small is the Caldecott Award-winning illustrator of So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George. He received a Caldecott Honor medal for The Gardener by Sarah Stewart. He has also illustrated many other beloved picture books, which include The Library and The Journey, both by Sarah Stewart, and Imogene’s Antlers, which he also wrote. He lives in Michigan with his wife, Sarah Stewart.

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689869223
• ISBN-13: 978-0689869228
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute concept, well executed November 21, 2007

By Deidre

Format:Hardcover

Very cute concept: instead of the usual little giveaways at stores (cookie, lollipop, etc) on this day, everyone is giving away dinosaurs! The kids are really excited about this, the moms not so much (until the end...). The pictures are great - the dinosaurs look realistic, but friendly. Both my kids (boy, 4 and girl, 6) love this book... and so do I!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great to read aloud! May 4, 2008

By Meg

Format:Hardcover

I love this book. I picked it to read for storytime at my bookstore, and it went over well. I loved reading it. It had a lot of voice, and for dino obsessed kids, its great because it names a bunch of the different species names and the boy narrates the book, so it is relatable. :) Very fun for boys and girls!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So great, we keep getting copies! December 25, 2007

By A. E. Long

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

We now own three copies of this book. We bought this for our son for his fourth birthday. On the same day, he received it from his great Aunt, based on the recommendation of an independent book seller in North Carolina. He then received another copy from his Grandfather in New York. It is a delightful book, which must be why booksellers keep recommending it to relatives. The illustrations are fun and the text keeps my little guy engaged. The story is a wonderful fantasy for him and we both love how the Mom creatively solves the "problem" of having dinos at home. We have now given one of our extra copies as a gift and will donate the other to my son's pre-school. My 7 year old daughter loves reading this book to her little brother, so I'd recommend it for both boys and girls in various age groups. Whoever you're buying for, buy this book! It's a great one to add to your collection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Funny Fantasy June 24, 2009

By Shanna A. Gonzalez

Format:Hardcover

A very funny fantasy in which a boy, bored with going on errands with his mother, is surprised to discover that rather than the lollipops and balloons he is used to receiving, all the businesses they visit are giving out free living dinosaurs with all purchases. On receiving these high-maintenance pets, his mother is initially horrified, but allows the animals to follow them home (although she does curtail the errrands). The boy makes them at home in his backyard, and when his mother discovers that they can do chores she comes to accept them as "part of the family."

The easygoing behemoths are depicted in life size, and the boy describes them by their scientific names, and reality is suspended not only in that they exist in modern times but also that even the biggest predators are very mild-mannered. It is nice that the boy takes responsibility for his giant pets, and that the mark of becoming part of the family is that they begin contributing to the household. The story is pleasingly illustrated and winningly plays on the natural fascination children have for dinosaurs -- almost a sure winner.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cracks me up! November 9, 2008

By H. Gardner VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

This book cracks me up! I love it! Very creative, and unlike any book I have read. You can somewhat relate it to getting a dog. My kids think it is so funny.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A mood-lifting, kid's dream-come-true story! August 4, 2011

By C. A. Leu

Format:Hardcover

Real dinosaurs are given as treats as a boy goes through a day of errands... get a haircut, get a balloon, right? Not today, buddy! Get a Pterosaur instead! A triceratops at the bakery! A Stegasaurus after a doctor's visit! Meanwhile, you will relate to Mom who isn't taking this so well. She avoids the diner to miss getting a T. Rex but worries about taking care of her newly acquired herpetofauna. In the clever end, she ends up giving household jobs to all of the creatures. And they don't mind, because doing chores means they are part of the family. I LOVE that line! The watercolor/line drawing artwork is really fun, complementing the story and entertaining in the details. The style is easy to read and seamless with a child's perspective (complete with nagging! and it wasn't my fault!). You can't go wrong here!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a fun fantasy! September 5, 2010

By reg

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Every child finds going on errands gets a bit tedious, especially if there are several stops. Now what if each of those stops resulted in the child receiving a dinosaur? Mom might be encouraged to go a bit faster and the child would want to stop at more places.

When Dinosaurs Came with Everything (Junior Library Guild Selection) will stimulate your child's imagination. What fun it would be if this really happened. I remember someone saying that their child was heartbroken when he found out dinosaurs were extinct. This book might not help in that situation! My grandson is fascinated with dinosaurs which is why I chose this one for him. It is a fun book for the adult reading it as well, even if they might stumble over some of the names of the dinosaurs!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome new children's book - moms will see themselves May 1, 2010

By SB VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

What a great new children's story! I couldn't help but chuckled as I saw myself, on those days when my kids keep getting into things that are so cool and fun for them, but messy, or noisy, or any of the other things that make moms sometimes say "not today". The expressions on the mom's face in this story are priceless, as is that moment when she looks up, sees her child having a great day, and realizes that she could be having fun with him, instead of being exasperated by his big, noisy, crazy new companions. I loved it!