"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.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K-A rhyming, moral read-it-again tale. "How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light?/Does a dinosaur slam his tail and pout?" Teague's wonderful rounded illustrations show 10 dinosaur species (all identified) as they settle down for the night in their human households. "Does a dinosaur stomp his feet on the floor/and shout: 'I want to hear one book more?'" After demonstrating a variety of bad bedtime behaviors, the reptiles are then shown to be model youngsters. "They give a big hug, then give one kiss more." While the message is a little obvious, it is impossible to resist Teague's endearing dinos.Kathleen Whalin, Greenwich Country Day School, CT Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Parents' Choice®
As the subject of a book for youngest listener/viewers, dinosaurs are like money in the bank to publishers. And when they are accompanied by a seasoned author like Jane Yolen and an illustrator as ingratiating as Mark Teague, nursery best-sellerdom is virtually guaranteed. While adults may initially question these lumbering behemoths as suitable bedtime-story fare, Teague has miraculously contrived to render Allosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex, and eight other creatures of their ilk irresistibly cuddly. Yolen's lilting, reassuring verse cries out for repetition, so grown-up readers should brace themselves for countless requests to "Read it again." A 2000 Parents' Choice® Approved winner.

Reviewed by Selma G. Lanes, Parents' Choice® 2000

From Booklist
The text is sweet and simple--just right for the wonderful pictures that really make this picture book special. Teague's art takes dinosaurs out of their usual context and plops them into bed (a rather comical fit) for a sleepy-time tale with a difference. Endpapers introduce the critter cast in all their gorgeous glory: tyrannosaurus rex, dimetrodon, and more, in vivid, yet still earthbound colors. Prima donna dinos, they yawn and fuss and throw toys about, procrastinating (just like real kids) any way they can as human Moms and Dads, ready to put "baby" to bed, look on in various stages of impatience, anger, and surprise. The whimsical expressions on the "children's" faces give solid clues to the joke. By cleverly varying his perspectives, Teague adds dramatic punch to the pictures--readers watch from above as one behemoth baby whips its neck from side to side; they watch from below when another stamps its huge feet; and they're face to face with one snoozing T-rex hugging its teddy bear close. Alert lookers will notice the dino's name incorporated somewhere into each picture--pteranodon is neatly spelled out in blocks on the floor. A delight from start to finish; better buy more than one. Stephanie Zvirin

FROM OUR EDITORS

The toothy T-Rex from Jane Yolen and Mark Teague's How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? is now an adorable plush! Holding a pink blanket and teddy bear, this bedtime cutie is just right for cuddling up with any child who's ready for sleep.

ANNOTATION

Mother and child ponder the different ways a dinosaur can say goodnight, from slamming his tail and pouting to giving a big hug and kiss.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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."

Here is a new staple for bedtime reading, a book children will ask for again and again.

FROM THE CRITICS

Parents Magazine

This beautifully illustrated tale shows that young dinos hit the hay just as kids do.

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 Cahners Business Information.|

Children's Literature - Children's Literture

"How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light?" The brief, simple, rhyming text in large type explores the possibilities of a "dinosaur" kid's antics at bedtime. The reactions of a variety of human dads and moms to different dinosaurs demanding another book, a piggyback ride, or pouting or roaring, give humorous touches to the typical nightly struggles. Ten portraits of different dinosaurs, identified by name and engaged in a range of bedtime sports, decorate the endpapers hinting at the fun inside. Double-page scenes are full (really full), of solid, richly colored, sculpturesque creatures acting petulantly while a small father or mother stand, helpless, nearby. Imaginative details make believable the strange juxtaposition of dinosaur child and human parent. The reader who recognizes the behavior can't help but laugh. 2000, The Blue Sky Press/Scholastic Inc., Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

School Library Journal

PreS-K-A rhyming, moral read-it-again tale. "How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light?/Does a dinosaur slam his tail and pout?" Teague's wonderful rounded illustrations show 10 dinosaur species (all identified) as they settle down for the night in their human households. "Does a dinosaur stomp his feet on the floor/and shout: `I want to hear one book more?'" After demonstrating a variety of bad bedtime behaviors, the reptiles are then shown to be model youngsters. "They give a big hug, then give one kiss more." While the message is a little obvious, it is impossible to resist Teague's endearing dinos.-Kathleen Whalin, Greenwich Country Day School, CT Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Karen Carden - The Christian Science Monitor