Book Description
for Tiny Dino by Deborah Freedman
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
“Did you know, did you know? I’m a DINOSAUR!” The tiny hummingbird making this proclamation is met by skepticism as a turtle and a frog point out all the differences between hummingbirds and dinosaurs. Dinosaurs had big feet that “stomped and clomped,” notes the turtle. “Your feet are too small to stomp and clomp.” The hummingbird eagerly points out it has toes just like a T. rex (four toes, three facing forward). Hollow bones, feathers, and scales are other similarities with various dinosaurs. But what about claws? What about being fierce? “I have CLAWS! I am FIERCE!” Then along comes a crocodile, which the frog and the turtle mistake, with genuine panic, for a dinosaur. The shocked, upset crocodile insists it isn’t a dinosaur. The hummingbird agrees and then points out things it has in common with the crocodile (both hatched from an egg, have scales on their toes, and have a similar heart structure). “We are part of the same family tree …. We’re cousins!” The humorous primary narrative is paired with supplementary text on each page spread providing more facts and information, while the art skillfully conveys both the feelings of the characters and additional facts, incorporating visuals that further illustrate the veracity of the hummingbird’s fiercely proud claims. (Ages 4-8)
CCBC Choices 2023. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2023. Used with permission.