How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? [Hardcover]

Jane Yolen (Author), Mark Teague (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Series: How Do Dinosaurs. | Lexile Measure: 210L (What's this?)

Internationally acclaimed author Jane Yolen composes a playful bedtime book about young dinosaurs.

Format: Paperback book and CD



In a few simple lines of verse on each spread, fathers and mothers are ready to put their youngsters to bed. But in this book, the youngsters are a wide variety of dinosaurs. And how do dinosaurs say good night?

Filled with wonderful detail and humor, children and their parents will love the expressions and antics of the eleven different dinosaur children depicted here, and each species is spelled out somewhere in the young dinosaur's bedroom. In the end, young dinosaurs behave a lot like people do: They give a big kiss, turn out the light, tuck in their tails, and whisper "good night."

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light? Does a dinosaur slam his tail and pout? Does he throw his teddy bear all about? Does a dinosaur stomp his feet on the floor and shout: 'I want to hear one book more!'? DOES A DINOSAUR ROAR?" Most certainly not. Dinosaurs give their mommies and daddies big hugs and kisses, tuck their tales in, and whisper "Good night!"

Every sleepy little dinosaur will recognize the tricks of the trade in these bedtime shenanigans. The chuckle factor is sky-high here, with giant, full-page pictures of cleverly identified Tyrannosaurus rexes, triceratopses, and Pteranodons. A variety of human mothers and fathers trying to put their dinosaur children to bed will bring the point home that the story may have something to do with human kid behavior as well. This good-natured nighttime book is sure to be a winner (even though it might inspire a few noisy dinosaur antics), especially as it's written by Jane Yolen, prolific Caldecott Medalist author of Owl Moon. Yolen and Mark Teague have teamed up to create a fun, silly, playful read-aloud. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Set to a lilting bedtime beat, this rollicking rumpus of a tale ups the humor ante in a familiar scenario by substituting dinosaurs for children: "How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light?" In a series of snappy lines, Yolen (Off We Go!, reviewed above; Queen's Own Fool, reviewed below) highlights a variety of postponement antics, some familiar (moping, sulking and demanding "one book more!"), some of a distinctly dinosaur variety--"Does a dinosaur slam his tail and pout? Does he throw his teddy bear all about?" Teague makes hay with the text, and as always his illustrations are a flurry of sly madcap inspiration. He chooses the winged Pteranodon (spelled out in ABC blocks on the bedroom floor) as the character who throws his teddy bear while flying about the room; for "Does he swing his neck from side to side" it's the snake-headed Apatosaurus who does the swinging. Under his sure direction, the sight gag never grows stale, and the sight of a T-Rex puckering up for a kiss, or an enormous Stegosaurus crammed into a tiny bed and daintily turning off the light switch with the tip of his tail, is sure to elicit giggles. As the endpapers reveal, there's a cast of 10 dinosaurs featured here, and sharp eyes will enjoy spotting their proper names tucked into each illustration. This rib-tickling bedtime fare packs plenty of appeal. Ages 2-up. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Blue Sky Press; First Edition edition (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590316818
• ISBN-13: 978-0590316811
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (206 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Dinosaurs
  • #10 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Sleep
  • #79 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction

More About the Author

Born and raised in New York City, Jane Yolen now lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College and received her master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. The distinguished author of more than 170 books, Jane Yolen is a person of many talents. When she is not writing, Yolen composes songs, is a professional storyteller on the stage, and is the busy wife of a university professor, the mother of three grown children, and a grandmother. Active in several organizations, Yolen has been on the Board of Directors of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, was president of the Science Fiction Writers of America from 1986 to 1988, is on the editorial board of several magazines, and was a founding member of the Western New England Storytellers Guild, the Western Massachusetts Illustrators Guild, and the Bay State Writers Guild. For twenty years, she ran a monthly writer's workshop for new children's book authors. In 1980, when Yolen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the citation recognized that "throughout her writing career she has remained true to her primary source of inspiration--folk culture." Folklore is the "perfect second skin," writes Yolen. "From under its hide, we can see all the shimmering, shadowy uncertainties of the world." Folklore, she believes, is the universal human language, a language that children instinctively feel in their hearts. All of Yolen's stories and poems are somehow rooted in her sense of family and self. The Emperor and the Kite, which was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1983 for its intricate papercut illustrations by Ed Young, was based on Yolen's relationship with her late father, who was an international kite-flying champion. Owl Moon, winner of the 1988 Caldecott Medal for John Schoenherr's exquisite watercolors, was inspired by her husband's interest in birding. Yolen's graceful rhythms and outrageous rhymes have been gathered in numerous collections. She has earned many awards over the years: the Regina Medal, the Kerlan Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Society of Children's Book Writers Award, the Mythopoetic Society's Aslan Award, the Christopher Medal, the Boy's Club Jr. Book Award, the Garden State Children's Book Award, the Daedalus Award, a number of Parents' Choice Magazine Awards, and many more. Her books and stories have been translated into Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Afrikaans, !Xhosa, Portuguese, and Braille. With a versatility that has led her to be called "America's Hans Christian Andersen," Yolen, the child of two writers, is a gifted and natural storyteller. Perhaps the best explanation for her outstanding accomplishments comes from Jane Yolen herself: "I don't care whether the story is real or fantastical. I tell the story that needs to be told."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding bedtime tale March 29, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? entertains while also teaching good bedtime behavior. Combine children's fascination with dinosaurs and Mark Teague's irresisible, humorous illustrations and you have a sure hit with both child and parent.

The text is rhyming and fun to read aloud. The question is asked repeatedly, "do dinosaurs do this (bad behavior)" and then the answer is in the last few pages, "no, they don't do this (bad behavior), they do this (good behavior)." The illustrations serve to emphasize the behaviors partly due to the huge size of the dinosaurs. Each picture contains the name of the dinosaur also.

Along with a variety of dinosaurs, this book also features a variety of moms and dads which helps to give it a multicultural flavor.

For those children who enjoy the book for its dinosaur content, I also highly recommend "Ten Little Dinosaurs" by Pattie Schnetzler and "Sammy and the Dinosaurs" by Ian Whybrow.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book! October 26, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This wonderful picture book, including ten tired dinosaurs from prize-winning writer Jane Yolen and best-selling illustrator Mark Teague celebrates the funny, endearing book that most children will love for many years. I thought this book was great! My 3 year old cousin comes over every so often to spend the night, but has trouble sleeping someplace else other than his home. When I saw this book there was no contemplating buying it, since Justin (my cousin) adores dinosaurs. The pictures are fantastic and the story line is excellent. This book works great when were trying to put him to sleep. The dinosaurs are a good influence in showing children that dinosaurs also give their loved ones hugs and kisses before going to bed, and may even cry a little or throw themselves on the bed. I think a lot of children can relate to this book, and find it enjoyable, and like my cousin, can not wait until we get to read the book. This humorous bedtime story I'm sure will be a hit for anyone who has younger children.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Bedtime with a dose of Humor July 29, 2000

By Roz Levine

Format:Hardcover

Jane Yolen has written a lovely bedtime story about the way little dinosaurs go to bed and say good night. Do they slam their tales and pout? Do they throw their teddy bears all about? No... they give kisses and hugs and whisper good night. This is a wonderful bedtime book, told in rhyme that will amuse and delight your pre-schoolers as they enjoy the familiar antics of going to bed. With large expressive illustrations and an easy rhyming pattern, children will be able to "help" you read this story in no time. This is the perfect book to share before tucking in and turning out the lights and a great addition to home libraries.