The Tortosaurus

by Katie Cottle

Dot just wants to fit in at her new school, but is pretending she has a pet tortosaurus really a good idea? This gorgeously illustrated picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Katie Cottle reminds us that true friendship is all about being yourself.

A celebration of authenticity and coming out of your shell!

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Animals, Childrens, Dinosaurs, School

32 pages, Paperback

Published March 6, 2025

About the author

Born in Swansea, Wales, Katie Cottle is an illustrator and printmaker living and working in Bristol. Her work is often informed by the marks and colours created through traditional lithography. She also works digitally, using an
iPad, and occasionally paints with gouache.

Katie won the Batsford Prize for Children’s Book Illustration in 2017. She has also received the ‘Highly Commended’ accolade at the Macmillan Prize for Illustration on numerous occasions as well as a ‘One to Watch’ award at D&AD New Blood in 2017.

Reviews

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about realizing it’s ok to be who you are.

The Tortosaurus is a sweet story about Dot and her pet Tortious, Monty. Dot is going to a new school and wants to fit in and make friends. She becomes discouraged when her pet doesn’t seem to stack up to her classmates cool pets. She decides to take Monty to the next level and make him something he’s not. Read this adorable story to see if Dot stays on top or realizes being on top isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fitting in is never easy, but new girl, Dot, but in her attempts to make friends and seem interesting to her classmates, she exaggerates what her pet is, claiming that she has a tortosaurus. After a few embellishments to make Monty, her tortoise, look fierce and original, Dot brings him to school, and her new classmates are delighted. His fame spreads, but it takes a toll on Monty. Dot, too, realizes that her deception is harmful and hasn't reaped her any true friends. When Monty's real form is revealed at an assembly, Dot, who is angry at her pet at first, decides to make the best of the situation and be true to herself. As it turns out, there is a good friend out there who has similar interests. The digital artwork contains several humorous scenes of Monty as a tortosaurus, but my favorite illustration is the double-page spread where Dot is facing Monty in his natural form; they're eye to eye, larger than life-size, and it's clear that she loves her pet just as he is and that he reciprocates her feelings. This picture book [3.5 for me!] with its clever word play ["shell-ebrity" (unpaged), for instance,] would be a good read aloud for a class at the start of the year or before the arrival of a new student since it promotes empathy and self-acceptance.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother of two here, and we LOVED The Tortosaurus, by Katie Cottle. The story follows an adorable girl, Dot, as she starts at a new school and is nervous to make friends. When sharing about pets, in class, Dot tries to impress her classmates by sharing that she has a tortosaurus at home. She then heads home to create an entire costume for her adorable pet tortoise, Monty. Everyone is so impressed by her tortosaurus but Monty eventually reveals his true-self. The story is adorable and Dot ends up becoming great friends with someone else who also has a tortoise, wishing she had just been herself the whole time. As a mother, I felt so compassionate for Dot and the stress of starting at a new school but I loved that she was eventually accepted for who she is. It just takes one friend to make you feel good about yourself! My kids loved the story, and cracked up at Monty’s Tortosaurus costume. The story kept their attention, and they loved the illustrations. I would definitely recommend this book to an elementary-aged family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tiger Tales for this eARC!

[Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! I loved the level of imagination, the moral, and the execution of this book. It's clear that the author has a lot of imagination, and it showed itself in the main character's imagination with turning their pet tortoise into a TORTOSAURUS!! That whole aspect of the story was adorable, joyful, and fun, which is always a great thing in a kids' book. The story was presented in an organized way that made a lot of sense, and the plot moved at a perfect pace to keep the reader engaged and, at the same time, fully form the story and message. Speaking of the message, it was perfect! Wanting to fit in is a very real experience for every kid, and this book flawlessly teaches young readers that going with the crowd isn't all it's cracked up to be. I have no doubt that readers will take after the main character and find their own unique group of people, while staying true to themselves. Bravo!

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Torto-Saurus is a relatable, creative, engaging, and fun read! This book features a shy girl, dot, and her shy tortoise, Monty. They are the best friends who don't judge each other and move at each other's pace. Dot is struggling to make friends at school and in a moment of panic shares her pet is a Torto-Saurus. Dot finds a way to keep the lie going and at first it is great but eventually both Dot and Monty are feeling in over their heads.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so cute and has SUCH a great lesson. It's not in your face about it either, which is nice when you're reading 68735 diff kids books a day, iykyk.

I highly recommend this to anyone with littles, especially if they're not as comfy away from home or will be starting school/any kind of new big group activity.

(Thank you bunches to Katie Cottle, Publisher Spotlight, Tiger Tales and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for my honest review!)

[Nicole Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for my hones opinion.

Dot is nervous able starting school and when someone declares a tortoise is boring, she claims her best friend tortoise, Monty, is a Tortosaurs. I love how things get out of control from there and Dot has to slow things down for the mental health of Monty and herself, finding her own niche and people along the way. A cute book for those kids nervous about school and making friends.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

God's finding it difficult to make friends at our new school. When their teacher asks the class about what pets they have at home, Dot learns that a classmate has a tortoise just like she does. Maybe she can make a new friend. But when she's called on to tell the class what her pet is she panics and says she has a Tortosaurus. Now her poor tortoise Monty must help her fulfill her promise to bring her Totosaurus for show and tell.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoy this cute picture book with a "shell-ebrity" tortoise. It's the classic tale of a young kid who wants to fit in and make friends but ends up telling a little lie to make her simple tortoise into a torto-saurus. Finding a path to acceptance and finding friends along the way makes this a satisfying read. Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book. On their first day of school, they’re having questions about their pets, and when another child says that a tortoise is boring our main character says they have a tortosaurus instead of a tortoise. The tortosaurs become famous but discover they like playing make belief more than they like being in the spotlight. I like this book, but I do think it needs a new cover.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a spontaneous bid to be liked, the new girl tells her class that her pet tortoise is a tortosaurus.

This picture book captures the desire for acceptance by one's classmates and shows how the unintended consequences of a lie can spiral out of control.

The moral of the story is to simply be one's self, illustrating how stressful and exhausting keeping up a false front can be.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes time to share what pet everyone has, she thinks her tortoise is a delightful pet, until just before her announcement, her classmate who also has a tortoise for a pet who is labeled "boring" (is there anything worse?) so when it's time for Dot to share, she tells an itty bitty lie: her pet is a tortosaurus.

[zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover made it impossible for me not to pick this up while looking for some nice, short picture books to read because that's about all my brain can take in this heat. I really enjoyed the story and the illustrations, it was - as I seem to say about every picture book - lovely!

[Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC - Dot is adorable and I think the message of this picture book gets across well through the plot and the connection between Dot and Monty. This is so sweet!

[GS Dachslove · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute lesson in the value of being yourself and not pretending for other's attention or enjoyment

[Fyre.Katz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute book. I'm really enjoying my Children Book
Weekend so far- going thru my netgalley and using their
reader finally!

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

a cute story about being yourself and pet friendship