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How Do Dinosaurs...?
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
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.
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.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2000
100 people are currently reading
10286 people want to read
About the author
Jane Yolen
942 books3,197 followersJane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 923 reviews
September 22, 2024
How do dinosaurs say good night? is a cute picture book to share with very young children. Written by Jane Yolen, and illustrated with great humour by Mark Teague, it was published in 2000 as one in a series of “How do dinosaurs …” books. All the books depict situations familiar to every young child: how to eat their food, play with their friends, clean their room, stay safe, learn to read, and so on. There are 23 such books so far, each describing a specific scenario.
The books convey useful information about these situations children find themselves in, showing different way of behaving, and what they might lead to. In this one, we follow the antics of eleven different dinosaur children at bedtime. Part of what amuses us, is that every single one is crammed into a tiny child’s bed, with human “parents” coming to tuck them in at night. The lively details in the pictures lead to lots of observational chat between those sharing the book, and the expression on the faces on both humans and dinosaurs is priceless.
The very short commentary – just one sentence per page or less – is all in rhyme:
“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?”
It has lots of repetition; perfect if a young child is just beginning to recognise initial letters and be able to predict odd words. The illustrator, Mark Teague uses various different perspectives in his full-page pictures, making the reader laugh out loud sometimes at the antics of the dinosaur child. Each is a different type of dinosaur, whether a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, a Stegosaurus, a Pteranodon, an Allosaurus or many more favourite dinosaurs. Cleverly, the name of each appears somewhere in the picture, either as a name on the door, inscribed on end of the bed, or perhaps spelled out in coloured play bricks on the floor. As well as the variety of dinosaurs, the parents are also very diverse, representing all sorts of people from many different ethnic groups.
The delaying tactics and tantrums employed by these young dinosaurs will be very familiar to young readers! And each time, although we see what appears to be the dinosaur behaving in this way, we learn that no, that is not what they did. We chuckle along, knowing that they are being very silly and look ludicrous. We try pouting like they do, in that funny fashion. Do they really behave like that?
The answer is no, they most certainly do not! And then we find out how they DO behave, which is very cute indeed.
The dinosaur children give their prehistoric parents great big hugs and kisses, cleverly use their enormous tails to turn out the light, tuck themselves in, and whisper, “Good night”. Cue for everyone to say “Aaah”, which I duly did, and my little 4 year-old Turkish friend smiled from ear to ear and pronounced it “Good”. He had enthusiastically spotted lots of details in the illustrations too, and enjoyed following the story. Keen to read, he sometimes guessed the words, which are printed in a satisfyingly large font, perfect for this.
At the beginning of the book, the frontispiece shows each of the eleven dinosaur children playing on their bed. One is blowing bubbles, one jumping up and down on the mattress, one reading quietly and so on. Each is affectionately drawn, making us smile at their postures and clearly conveyed characters.
Jane Yolen describes how she came to write this particular book. Her editor had a baby just a year old. One day she called and said, “My little boy hates going to bed at night and loves dinosaurs. Can you write something for him?” This short little tale written in verse was the result. When the author first saw the illustrations by Mark Teague, depicting knowingly naughty dinosaur children, and their parents in various stages of frustration and despair, she knew “he’d taken my little rhyme a giant step further on”.
How do dinosaurs say good night? has won many awards. It is a lovely playful book, full of whimsy and fun but also with a great friendly message.
The books convey useful information about these situations children find themselves in, showing different way of behaving, and what they might lead to. In this one, we follow the antics of eleven different dinosaur children at bedtime. Part of what amuses us, is that every single one is crammed into a tiny child’s bed, with human “parents” coming to tuck them in at night. The lively details in the pictures lead to lots of observational chat between those sharing the book, and the expression on the faces on both humans and dinosaurs is priceless.
The very short commentary – just one sentence per page or less – is all in rhyme:
“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?”
It has lots of repetition; perfect if a young child is just beginning to recognise initial letters and be able to predict odd words. The illustrator, Mark Teague uses various different perspectives in his full-page pictures, making the reader laugh out loud sometimes at the antics of the dinosaur child. Each is a different type of dinosaur, whether a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, a Stegosaurus, a Pteranodon, an Allosaurus or many more favourite dinosaurs. Cleverly, the name of each appears somewhere in the picture, either as a name on the door, inscribed on end of the bed, or perhaps spelled out in coloured play bricks on the floor. As well as the variety of dinosaurs, the parents are also very diverse, representing all sorts of people from many different ethnic groups.
The delaying tactics and tantrums employed by these young dinosaurs will be very familiar to young readers! And each time, although we see what appears to be the dinosaur behaving in this way, we learn that no, that is not what they did. We chuckle along, knowing that they are being very silly and look ludicrous. We try pouting like they do, in that funny fashion. Do they really behave like that?
The answer is no, they most certainly do not! And then we find out how they DO behave, which is very cute indeed.
The dinosaur children give their prehistoric parents great big hugs and kisses, cleverly use their enormous tails to turn out the light, tuck themselves in, and whisper, “Good night”. Cue for everyone to say “Aaah”, which I duly did, and my little 4 year-old Turkish friend smiled from ear to ear and pronounced it “Good”. He had enthusiastically spotted lots of details in the illustrations too, and enjoyed following the story. Keen to read, he sometimes guessed the words, which are printed in a satisfyingly large font, perfect for this.
At the beginning of the book, the frontispiece shows each of the eleven dinosaur children playing on their bed. One is blowing bubbles, one jumping up and down on the mattress, one reading quietly and so on. Each is affectionately drawn, making us smile at their postures and clearly conveyed characters.
Jane Yolen describes how she came to write this particular book. Her editor had a baby just a year old. One day she called and said, “My little boy hates going to bed at night and loves dinosaurs. Can you write something for him?” This short little tale written in verse was the result. When the author first saw the illustrations by Mark Teague, depicting knowingly naughty dinosaur children, and their parents in various stages of frustration and despair, she knew “he’d taken my little rhyme a giant step further on”.
How do dinosaurs say good night? has won many awards. It is a lovely playful book, full of whimsy and fun but also with a great friendly message.
December 1, 2016
One of those books that --when your child wants you to read it for the 171st night in a row, with fervor? You don't mind one bit.
June 16, 2010
This book is tricksy. Kids love it because it has dinosaurs and adults love it because it is brainwashing in the best way. This is how it goes:
"Oh, does little one not want to go to sleep?"
"NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"What did you just scream at me like you were possessed of the devil?"
*sigh*
"Okay, let's read a book about how all the dinosaurs you love go right to bed without any fuss. Hmmm...Pteranodon, now does he throw a fit when daddy tells him to get in bed? No! Of course not! He would never throw his teddy bear. How about Allosaurus, Corythosaurus, or Triceratops, do they bitch and moan and sulk and cry when it's nighty-night time? Hell no. Even T-Rex, the big ass meanie doesn't give mommy any trouble. Everyone knows, sweet child, that dinosaurs don't do any of that. They are so good, these dinosaurs. They give kisses and turn off their own lights, and whisper good night. Don't you want to be a big, bad dinosaur too? Yes? Wonderful."
"Oh, does little one not want to go to sleep?"
"NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"What did you just scream at me like you were possessed of the devil?"
*sigh*
"Okay, let's read a book about how all the dinosaurs you love go right to bed without any fuss. Hmmm...Pteranodon, now does he throw a fit when daddy tells him to get in bed? No! Of course not! He would never throw his teddy bear. How about Allosaurus, Corythosaurus, or Triceratops, do they bitch and moan and sulk and cry when it's nighty-night time? Hell no. Even T-Rex, the big ass meanie doesn't give mommy any trouble. Everyone knows, sweet child, that dinosaurs don't do any of that. They are so good, these dinosaurs. They give kisses and turn off their own lights, and whisper good night. Don't you want to be a big, bad dinosaur too? Yes? Wonderful."
December 26, 2023
کاور این مجموعه کتابا، یه بچه دایناسوره با والدین انسان و موقعیت انسانی. محیط بازی و اتاق و فضای زندگی همش انسانیه. خیلی طنز باحالیه بنظرم.
January 18, 2022
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."
March 12, 2019
The illustrations of dinosaurs in bedroom settings are really well done. There is a playfulness to the art that my kids really enjoyed.
August 31, 2024
A fun children's picture book that uses rhyme and alliteration, as well as a lot of cute dinosaurs in bed, to illustrate polite bedtime behavior for children. These dinosaurs are young enough to still kiss their parents goodnight. So there's probably an upper age limit on appreciation. This library copy says it is only available through the school market. It is a Scholastic product.
July 2, 2010
I did not expect to like this book very much. Sometimes I love being wrong. This book had me laughing from first page to last.
Jane Yolen is not only a prolific writer; she’s incredibly eclectic. The story rhyme is terrific.
The illustrations are outstanding and they’re hilarious. The pictures show a variety of large dinosaurs in human size bedrooms, with a variety of human size human mothers and fathers, and dog size family dogs, and human child size toys and beds and teddy bears. They’re so, so funny.
Children will certainly identify with the bedtime delaying tactics and behaviors the dinosaurs (don’t!) use.
This is very cute and perfect for a bedtime story, as there aren’t too many words and the theme is how to go to bed without a fuss. However, if the adults (and children?) are laughing too much, it might be hard to settle down to pre-sleep stage. This really is very funny, illustrations and story too.
This is one of six dinosaur related books selected for the July Picture Books Club at the Children's Books group.
Jane Yolen is not only a prolific writer; she’s incredibly eclectic. The story rhyme is terrific.
The illustrations are outstanding and they’re hilarious. The pictures show a variety of large dinosaurs in human size bedrooms, with a variety of human size human mothers and fathers, and dog size family dogs, and human child size toys and beds and teddy bears. They’re so, so funny.
Children will certainly identify with the bedtime delaying tactics and behaviors the dinosaurs (don’t!) use.
This is very cute and perfect for a bedtime story, as there aren’t too many words and the theme is how to go to bed without a fuss. However, if the adults (and children?) are laughing too much, it might be hard to settle down to pre-sleep stage. This really is very funny, illustrations and story too.
This is one of six dinosaur related books selected for the July Picture Books Club at the Children's Books group.
March 24, 2011
Dinosaurs are extinct 'cause they went to sleep and never woke up. Night owls are still around.
I read this in line at the supermarket (beats tabloids any day. Unless Elvis does decide to really come back). It's cute and funny. Love dinosaurs. (I still love Dr. Seuss more.)
This reminds me of the time when I was a kid and the grandparents gave me an ironic nightgown with a dinosaur on it who didn't wanna go to bed. I'd point to it as my reason/explanation for not going to bed. Dinosaurs don't sleep! Guess they do. Who needs 'em, anyway?
My pet gator only pretends to sleep. She will attack me and claim she had a "nightmare" that people turned her family into purses. "You ate your family! Nice try."
I sleep with one eye open.
I read this in line at the supermarket (beats tabloids any day. Unless Elvis does decide to really come back). It's cute and funny. Love dinosaurs. (I still love Dr. Seuss more.)
This reminds me of the time when I was a kid and the grandparents gave me an ironic nightgown with a dinosaur on it who didn't wanna go to bed. I'd point to it as my reason/explanation for not going to bed. Dinosaurs don't sleep! Guess they do. Who needs 'em, anyway?
My pet gator only pretends to sleep. She will attack me and claim she had a "nightmare" that people turned her family into purses. "You ate your family! Nice try."
I sleep with one eye open.
December 13, 2018
I don't know why it's taken me so long to try this first "How Do Dinosaurs..." book from author Jane Yolen and illustrator Mark Teague, but I'm glad that our July dinosaur theme, over in the Picture-Book Club to which I belong prompted me to give it a chance, as How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight is an absolute delight! With a rhyming text that just begs to be read aloud - "How does a dinosaur say goodnight, 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?" - and brightly colored illustrations that capture the humor of each (possible) situation, it makes for an ideal bedtime selection. Highly recommended to all the little dinosaurs out there!
May 31, 2020
I enjoyed the illustrations and that the dinosaur species were creatively labeled. I appreciated the representation of racially diverse parents.
September 4, 2025
Do dinosaurs mope and shout when bedtime rolls around? Nope, they're well behaved.
Ages: 3 - 6
Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
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Ages: 3 - 6
Here’s a few of our bedtime favs: watch my reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
March 22, 2016
Now anyone would think it would be easier to put a 2 year old boy down for a nap than to put a dinosaur to bed.
You'd be wrong. Dinosaurs are surprisingly well behaved at bedtime. They even tuck in their tails! And read in bed!
A Grandson Storyhour Recommendation
November 4, 2020
Day two of Hannah's picture book challenge - a book to read before bed.
Children will laugh out loud with this book, they see a young dinosaurs behaving very badly, then coming around and doing it right. Although don’t even bother checking this out if you’re worried about your kids learning bad bedtime manners!
Children will laugh out loud with this book, they see a young dinosaurs behaving very badly, then coming around and doing it right. Although don’t even bother checking this out if you’re worried about your kids learning bad bedtime manners!
July 2, 2025
(The dinosaurs are a metaphor for toddlers)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2024
Книжка про все, що динозаври НЕ роблять перед сном, яка викликає логічний аргумент: але ж Я не динозавр? Проте намальовані вони розкішно. Розумію, чому колись давно додала її собі в TBR.
May 22, 2011
I suppose it is not surprising how many children's books are illustrated in a simplistic, spare, or at best cartoonish fashion. And that's fine, of course: art doesn't have to be complicated to be good. What surprises me is how many children's books - even children's books bearing impressive looking award seals - have illustrations that might kindly be described as abstract, but would more likely described as "ugly" by the average 6-year-old. The beautiful "Carl" series (example: You're A Good Dog, Carl!) springs to mind as an exception, but these books also happen to have an absolute minimum of text: the paintings are relied upon entirely to tell the story. The "How Do Dinosaurs" series is a rare intersection of well crafted rhyming text and lavishly executed yet playful illustrations of dinosaur children preparing for bed as their (human) parents look on. I think they're adorable, fun to read, and imbued with useful morals. My 2-year-old is already getting into the act, answering "no" at the appropriate places in the text! We'll be looking to add to our collection as we find them at the used book stores.
July 7, 2010
The text was fun, nothing spectacular (maybe I was expecting more by the children's book goddess that is Jane Yolen) but the rhyme is great for those bed-time read alouds. And the story is a very cute and amusing concept. I think the illustrations really brought it to life. The expressions on the dinosaur's faces are SO funny, and the parents, gosh, I bet every mom and dad has made one of those faces at bedtime, haha! I thought it was really clever how the actual name of each dinosaur was written somewhere in the illustration and I also appreciated the multi-cultural aspect of the parents. I will have to look for more in this series :-)
November 29, 2017
This is a delightful book, perfect for bedtime. I particularly loved the rhyming structure, and the illustrations were perfect. Not only did they convey emotion, they also portrayed parents diversely.
September 28, 2018
This book is awesome. Id like to get the other books in this series also. My boys love it.
September 10, 2020
The illustrations are just SO GOOD
February 8, 2023
In all seriousness, fantastic book. Fun concept.
January 17, 2023
This was great for us to teach our 2 y/o about bedtime and how to work through being upset about it. It's also fun because it is dinosaurs. It is a quick but meaningful read so, 5 stars!
April 1, 2018
This is some quality literature right here
January 6, 2025
Great read 100% enjoyment 😀 i love dinosaurs.
March 9, 2022
I bought this for a baby gift, but of course I had to read it first.
April 14, 2023
made me question my research
December 31, 2016
All of the various dinosaurs pitching fits about going to bed are illustrated in a cartoonish manner mimicking the cartoonish behavior of small children. Sometimes I love the dino gestures and other times I love the look on the faces of the parents. I was surprised that the book was published in 2000 because many of the human parents have a 1950s illustrated vibe that seems out-of-place.
At the end the good little dinosaurs tuck in their tails and hit the sack. I do think the final illustration of a dino sleeping clutching his teddy is pretty darn cute!
At the end the good little dinosaurs tuck in their tails and hit the sack. I do think the final illustration of a dino sleeping clutching his teddy is pretty darn cute!
September 28, 2024
My grandbaby Reese (1 ) loves dinosaurs lately. I have an upcoming Grammy zoom call with all the grands. I am going to read this one. Tonight the older kids were in charge while my husband and I were celebrating our 28th anniversary. This is one of the books they read. Our family reads just about every night together. If I’m
gone somewhere the older kids send me a pic of each book read with their star rating. It works well.
gone somewhere the older kids send me a pic of each book read with their star rating. It works well.
July 17, 2010
What I really enjoyed about this book wasn't so much the story (which is fun, though nothing indepth) but the fact that each illustration has a dinosaur labeled with its saurian name! I think this is a great way to introduce children to the various types of dinos and familiarize them with their fantastic names.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 923 reviews