That's What Dinosaurs Do

A dinosaur named Brian struggles with an innate characteristic that causes problems in his daily life. His natural tendency to be loud and roar makes it difficult for him to participate in activities that require quiet. Brian faces pressure from others to change his behavior and tone down his natural dinosaur instincts. His attempts to modify his actions lead to various situations at school and around his neighborhood. Pete Oswald's illustrations complement the narrative with expressive character designs and vibrant scenes that bring Brian's world to life. The visual storytelling captures both the humor and emotional elements of Brian's experiences. The book explores themes of self-acceptance and staying true to one's nature despite social pressures. It presents a message about embracing individual traits rather than conforming to others' expectations.

Parents and children connect with the main character's need to behave according to expectations while staying true to his nature. Reviewers note the humor works for both kids and adults, with engaging illustrations that complement the story. Liked: - Message about accepting who you are - Works well as a read-aloud book - Simple text that young children can follow - Colorful, expressive illustrations Disliked: - Some found it too similar to other dinosaur picture books - A few readers felt the message was too obvious Ratings: Goodreads: 4.14/5 (486 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (1,247 ratings) "Perfect for kids who struggle with indoor voices" - Goodreads reviewer "My 3-year-old requests this book every night" - Amazon reviewer "The expressions on the dinosaur's face tell the whole story" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems A stubborn pigeon's determined attempts to drive a bus mirror the humorous personality-driven narrative style found in That's What Dinosaurs Do.

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin The book presents a singular focus on dragons' relationship with tacos in the same way That's What Dinosaurs Do explores a dinosaur's need to roar.

I'm a Shark by Bob Shea A shark's boastful proclamations about fearlessness reveal underlying insecurities through character-focused storytelling.

We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins A young T-Rex learns to control natural impulses while attending school, exploring similar themes of dinosaur behavior adaptation.

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson A mouse navigates encounters with predators through clever manipulation of expectations, focusing on animal nature and behavior patterns.

🦕 Author Jory John has written over 20 bestselling children's books, including "The Good Egg" and "The Bad Seed" 🎨 Illustrator Pete Oswald has worked on major animated films like "Madagascar" and "Hotel Transylvania" 🦖 Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic Era, which spanned from about 252 million to 66 million years ago 📚 The book's message of self-acceptance aligns with child development research showing that positive self-identity typically begins forming between ages 3-5 🏆 Jory John and Pete Oswald's collaborations have earned multiple accolades, including the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list