IRISAURUS

by Steve Antony

A joyful and fun read-along tale of one family's quest to find the Rainbowsaurus, featuring lots of colourful creatures.

We're following a rainbow to find the Rainbowsaurus.
We're following a rainbow. Would you like to join us?

Join two dads and their three children as they set off on an adventure to find the Rainbowsaurus. On their way, they meet animals that are all the colours of the rainbow who all want to find the Rainbowsaurus, too.

From the author and illustrator of the Mr Panda series and The Queen's Hat collection, comes this instantly classic-feeling adventure. A perfect story to read at bedtime again and again.

Genres: Picture Books, LGBT, Storytime, Dinosaurs, Animals, Childrens, Gay

32 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2024

About the author

Since his 2014 debut, Steve Antony has so far written and illustrated over 20 picture books, including the Mr Panda series, The Queen Collection, Unplugged, Green Lizards Vs Red Rectangles, Amazing and You Can. Steve has been nominated seven times and long listed once for the Kate Greenaway Medal. The Queen's Hat was adapted into a musical concert by the London Symphony Orchestra and won the Evening Standard's Oscar's Book Prize. His award winning Mr Panda series has so far sold over one million copies worldwide and has been optioned for TV. Steve also illustrated Tim Minchin's When I Grow Up, a cover of the Famous Five and the all-new Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (adapted by Peter Bently). He has contributed work to the LGBTQ+ Pride YA anthology and Drawing Europe Together.

Reviews

[Josh Campeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be a fun read-a-loud for ages 3-5. It has a lyrical quality and would be good to get a call and response with kids because of the colors and animal noises utilized through the book. Also it's a queer family book which I love. 3.5/5

[Elizabeth]

This book has a nice beat to it.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

20th Steve Antony book has a lock of colourful creatures and a the title character in a skinny absurdist plot.
Some young readers will love the colourful array of creatures.

[Pinky LO · Rating 4 out of 5]

GREAT STORYTIME BOOK

[Gecko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book read to us by the fabulous Mama G which is the best way to experience books really!

[Ms. Madalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just not my vibe, also probably too long for storytime.

[Dinah King · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is very cute, every page a different animal and color. if you want a read aloud to pair with Brown Bear, Brown Bear, this would be a fun choice

[Steph]

Turn/Level: 1/3

Longer, LGBT(not obvious), really mostly about colors

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toddlers, preschool, and school-age
A Pride dino!

[Daisy Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great color book. The colors don't match the animal that they are attached to, which i like and it breaks the stereotypical mold.
Paired with bright and silly illustrations.

[Christie Angleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joy to read aloud!

[Emily ☠️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely bedtime story which is very much enjoyed in my family 🩷🧡💛💚🤎💙🩵💜🏳️‍🌈

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story full of animals sounds to read out loud with incidental LGBTQ+ representation.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you think that if the word you were hearing or reading ended in ‘saurus’ it must refer to a dinosaur of some sort? Well, Steve Antony would like to prove you wrong and introduce you to Rainbowsaurus – he is not a dinosaur, he is the Rainbowsaurus! Don’t believe me? I strongly suggest finding a copy of this beautifully vibrant book and looking for yourself. Whilst you are there, I should advise that you are also going to be introduced to two dads, their three children, ten colours, animals, and sounds so I hope that you are ready to have some fun, pay some close attention and do a little teeny tiny bit of learning along the way… I have a feeling that this book will become a classic that children read, save, share, read to their own children in years to come. There is something special about it. Something unique, simple and yet complex, something that we know will draw us back to it over and over again. This is a story meant for sharing.

We are usually told that if we follow the rainbow, we are looking for a pot of gold but not in this story. Nope. This family are following the rainbow to find the Rainbowsaurs and they are inviting us along on the adventure. I think we should join them and the red cow with his moo, agrees. As we follow the rainbow, the family, and the cow across the pages we soon meet an orange snake and a yellow cat, both of whom want to join in the search. Green pig, indigo bear and violet turkey are soon included too. Before long the party are joined by black duck, brown bee, blue sheep, and pink donkey, not forgetting white rooster! Oh, and of course, before I forget, as the group grows so do all the sounds they make, be sure to make them too as you learn the colours, the animals, and the sounds all together. But there is a problem, they don’t seem to have found the Rainbowsaurus yet. I wonder where he could be. Do you think we might find out before we get to the end of the book? I do hope he is real…