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The Dinosaur's Packed Lunch
On a school trip to the museum to see the dinosaurs, everyone in the class has a packed lunch. Everyone, that is, except for Dinah. Until a friendly IGUANODON decides to help. Soon Dinah has a very special packed lunch — and a huge surprise to come.
64 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1996
5 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Wilson
398 books5,713 followersJacqueline Wilson was born in Bath in 1945, but spent most of her childhood in Kingston-on-Thames. She always wanted to be a writer and wrote her first ‘novel’ when she was nine, filling in countless Woolworths’ exercise books as she grew up. As a teenager she started work for a magazine publishing company and then went on to work as a journalist on Jackie magazine (which she was told was named after her!) before turning to writing novels full-time.
One of Jacqueline’s most successful and enduring creations has been the famous Tracy Beaker, who first appeared in 1991 in The Story of Tracy Beaker. This was also the first of her books to be illustrated by Nick Sharratt. Since then Jacqueline has been on countless awards shortlists and has gone on to win many awards. The Illustrated Mum won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the 1999 Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and was also shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Children’s Book Award.
Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award.
Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million!
In 2002 Jacqueline was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she was the Children’s Laureate. In 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson.
One of Jacqueline’s most successful and enduring creations has been the famous Tracy Beaker, who first appeared in 1991 in The Story of Tracy Beaker. This was also the first of her books to be illustrated by Nick Sharratt. Since then Jacqueline has been on countless awards shortlists and has gone on to win many awards. The Illustrated Mum won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the 1999 Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and was also shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Children’s Book Award.
Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award.
Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million!
In 2002 Jacqueline was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she was the Children’s Laureate. In 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 2, 2018
Buku anak-anak mah ga ada matinya!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ *sebuah kalimat 'pembenaran-diri-sendiri' karena nyadar udah kadaluarsa umur buat baca buku first-reader macam ini (//▽//) ahahahaa~
Asli, ceritanya imut banget~ (≧◡≦)❤ Bocah yang kesepian dan perjumpaannya dengan Iguanodon
*kalau versi sini, mungkin "I-gua-no-dong"
.....
**krikkrikkrik**
...maap, garing (^//^;;)
Dan seperti biasanya, cerita yang bagus itu rasanya kesedikitan ^^; we want moaarr~
Asli, ceritanya imut banget~ (≧◡≦)❤ Bocah yang kesepian dan perjumpaannya dengan Iguanodon
*kalau versi sini, mungkin "I-gua-no-dong"
.....
**krikkrikkrik**
...maap, garing (^//^;;)
Dan seperti biasanya, cerita yang bagus itu rasanya kesedikitan ^^; we want moaarr~
October 13, 2025
Who wants to be a single-parented hungry girl with anger issues whose dad always forgets her lunch? Boring! Better to be a dinosaur instead.
This was a sad, strangely empty little tale saved by Sharrat's illustrations.
The premise is simple, a young girl (maybe 6?) is acting out on a field trip to the museum where her dad forgot to pack her a lunch and she has no money for the museum shop. That's not a problem though because one of teh dinosaurs - who has big thumbs, just like her - feeds her a tasty snack of leaves and some strange green juice.
And in the morning all of her problems are solved - because if you behave like a dinosaur and are a dinosaur it's a lot more acceptable!
There's a sad edge to this though. The girl will go back to being human, her antics unchanged, her father still neglectful. An oddly hollowed out tale for such a young audience - but Wilson favors the tragic so it's not really a surprise.
====== Jacqueline Wilson Rereads 2025 ======
For some reason I got a real hankering in 2025 to reread Jacqueline Wilson. Here's all the reviews so far:
1) Best Friends
2) The Story of Tracy Beaker
3) The Dinosaur's Packed Lunch
4) Double Act
5) Bad Girls
6) The Mum-Minder
7) Girls in Love
8) Girls Under Pressure
9) Girls Out Late
10) Girls In Tears
11) Think Again
12) Glubbslyme
13) The Suitcase Kid
14) The Bed and Breakfast Star
15) Cliffhanger
This was a sad, strangely empty little tale saved by Sharrat's illustrations.
The premise is simple, a young girl (maybe 6?) is acting out on a field trip to the museum where her dad forgot to pack her a lunch and she has no money for the museum shop. That's not a problem though because one of teh dinosaurs - who has big thumbs, just like her - feeds her a tasty snack of leaves and some strange green juice.
And in the morning all of her problems are solved - because if you behave like a dinosaur and are a dinosaur it's a lot more acceptable!
There's a sad edge to this though. The girl will go back to being human, her antics unchanged, her father still neglectful. An oddly hollowed out tale for such a young audience - but Wilson favors the tragic so it's not really a surprise.
====== Jacqueline Wilson Rereads 2025 ======
For some reason I got a real hankering in 2025 to reread Jacqueline Wilson. Here's all the reviews so far:
1) Best Friends
2) The Story of Tracy Beaker
3) The Dinosaur's Packed Lunch
4) Double Act
5) Bad Girls
6) The Mum-Minder
7) Girls in Love
8) Girls Under Pressure
9) Girls Out Late
10) Girls In Tears
11) Think Again
12) Glubbslyme
13) The Suitcase Kid
14) The Bed and Breakfast Star
15) Cliffhanger
September 6, 2012
Dinah is a young girl who becomes bored of her daily routine. She thinks her breakfast, going to school and school trips are all boring. However this all changed when Dinah visited a museum whilst on a school trip.
Everyone except Dinah has their own packed lunch. Dinah lived with her Dad and often forgot to do things like that. However later that day, Dinah felt a big hand tap her on the shoulder. It was a dinosaur. The friendly decided that he wanted to help Dinah so he picked her up in his big arms and cradled her like a baby. They soon shared a packed lunch together which consisted of some dinosaur specialities. Little did Dinah know that she is for a special surprise too, when she later also turns into a dinosaur after sampling some dinosaur juice.
I think that this book would ideal as part of free choice reading. I think this book would appeal to children in lower KS2, perhaps for a middle or lower ability reader. The easy read book consists of about 60% simple text, such as short sentences and 40% illustrations.
Characters
Dinah
Dad
Dinosaurs
Judy
Miss Smith
Doctor
Everyone except Dinah has their own packed lunch. Dinah lived with her Dad and often forgot to do things like that. However later that day, Dinah felt a big hand tap her on the shoulder. It was a dinosaur. The friendly decided that he wanted to help Dinah so he picked her up in his big arms and cradled her like a baby. They soon shared a packed lunch together which consisted of some dinosaur specialities. Little did Dinah know that she is for a special surprise too, when she later also turns into a dinosaur after sampling some dinosaur juice.
I think that this book would ideal as part of free choice reading. I think this book would appeal to children in lower KS2, perhaps for a middle or lower ability reader. The easy read book consists of about 60% simple text, such as short sentences and 40% illustrations.
Characters
Dinah
Dad
Dinosaurs
Judy
Miss Smith
Doctor
June 5, 2020
Since I was a young girl, I’ve loved Jacqueline Wilson. I’ve always wanted to read this book, but could never find it in the shops, so I had to resort to reading it on Apple Books (ebook).
This was unexpectedly very short, but is a children’s book so oh well. It only took me about 10 minutes to read too, so I bumped up my reading quickly which is awesome.
This was a great read, with very funny parts in it. Dinah is a very funny, slightly rude but imaginative and likeable character. The story goes exactly how a child’s trip to the museum would be dreamed or feared of.
Overall a lovely tale to read to children, I’d give it a four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was unexpectedly very short, but is a children’s book so oh well. It only took me about 10 minutes to read too, so I bumped up my reading quickly which is awesome.
This was a great read, with very funny parts in it. Dinah is a very funny, slightly rude but imaginative and likeable character. The story goes exactly how a child’s trip to the museum would be dreamed or feared of.
Overall a lovely tale to read to children, I’d give it a four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 6, 2021
So, this is one of Jacqueline Wilson’s earlier stories and it’s definitely one aimed at much younger children but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t enjoyable in its own right.
Dinah is a young girl who becomes bored of her daily routine, until a school trip to the local museum turns things on their heads and Dinah finds herself in a very unusual predicament.
This is such a fun concept that younger kids would definitely latch on to, especially if they are also finding it difficult to manage a daily routine or finding it difficult to concentrate on their daily tasks.
Definitely a good one to read with your kids.
Dinah is a young girl who becomes bored of her daily routine, until a school trip to the local museum turns things on their heads and Dinah finds herself in a very unusual predicament.
This is such a fun concept that younger kids would definitely latch on to, especially if they are also finding it difficult to manage a daily routine or finding it difficult to concentrate on their daily tasks.
Definitely a good one to read with your kids.
January 4, 2018
The story is about this girl Dinah who finds everything boring. Her school is going on a trip to the museum of dinosaurs and all the kids bring their lunch with them but Dinah's dad forgets to pack her lunch. While she is there, she imagines that an iguanodon gives her lunch and looks after her like a mom would. When she comes back home, she feels weird and after her dad puts her to bed she turns into this dinosaur. Well I am just rambling, long story short, she turns back into a girl and all is well. Overall, it makes for a light bedtime story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2025
It's cute and would stir up a child's imagination. However, I'm not entirely certain the message of becoming happier after you become something much, much different from yourself is a good moral for a child.
May 4, 2017
It's too short. I need more of this.
September 9, 2017
Actual rating: 2.5 stars.
February 6, 2020
A quick read but aimed for younger readers!
March 13, 2020
It is pretty good but is kind of short so if you prefer a longer book I wouldn't recommend this book.
August 4, 2020
another one I read while I was supposed to be doing library service in the kids section how wholesome and kind! kinda psychedelic! Dinah is a little shit though
August 30, 2020
Cute.
May 13, 2022
This was the 1st book I read by myself every easy read I loves it and now Obsessed with dinosaur
January 13, 2023
Adorable story for new readers. Large text and illustrations make it an easy read.
Read
January 3, 2025Read as a child
November 20, 2016
812 - 2016
April 26, 2016
This book is a fantastic was of getting children from single parent homes to be able to relate to a main character. From the start we know that Dinah lives with her dad, and he sometimes isn't the perfect parent. On the day of the school trip to the museum Dinah's dad forgets to give her a packed lunch to take with her. In the museum she goes off to visit the Dinosaur Exhibition, whilst there complaining of hunger her feels an iguanadon pick her up and share their dinosaur lunch with her. The following day, Dinah wakes up to discover that she is a dinosaur.
Personally I feel that there is a moral to this story whereby children can relate to sometimes behaving like Dinah did and being a bit different and getting to spend more time with their.
This book can be used before taking the children on a school trip to explore the importance of following rules. It can be used in circle time where children can discuss if they have anything in common with Dinah.
The language used through the book is ideal for lower KS2 children to read for themselves.
Personally I feel that there is a moral to this story whereby children can relate to sometimes behaving like Dinah did and being a bit different and getting to spend more time with their.
This book can be used before taking the children on a school trip to explore the importance of following rules. It can be used in circle time where children can discuss if they have anything in common with Dinah.
The language used through the book is ideal for lower KS2 children to read for themselves.
January 26, 2013
This is lovely story of a child’s vivid imagination, which was read to a group of year 2 children who absolutely loved the story and the illustrations which brought the story to life. The story is about a girl called Dinah who is bored of her mundane life, and dreams of adventure. Until one day, to Dinah’s surprise a dinosaur taps her on her shoulder, who agrees to share his packed lunch with her. She drinks the dinosaur juice, however when she awakes the next morning she feels odd....to her surprise she has turned into a dinosaur. Mayhem follows as with Dinah’s new found look she intends to do whatever she wants....
This is a great book for children, full of adventure and humour; it can be read as a class or for a fluent reader in lower key stage it can be read independently. Jacqueline Wilson showcases her unique talent for writing beloved children’s stories, for all to enjoy.
This is a great book for children, full of adventure and humour; it can be read as a class or for a fluent reader in lower key stage it can be read independently. Jacqueline Wilson showcases her unique talent for writing beloved children’s stories, for all to enjoy.
December 11, 2016
read by my 6 year old.
she really enjoyed the story as dinosaurs are one her her favorite subjects. so the most tricky words really in this book are the dinosaur names. but being mad on dinosaurs she knew then all.
am enjoyable story, and being a relative easy read it kept her attention. I think the subject helped.
she really enjoyed the story as dinosaurs are one her her favorite subjects. so the most tricky words really in this book are the dinosaur names. but being mad on dinosaurs she knew then all.
am enjoyable story, and being a relative easy read it kept her attention. I think the subject helped.
February 19, 2015
Read this at a spur of the moment while waiting for something. Just because I'm a kid at heart and being 23 will not change the fact that I will never ever stop loving Jackie Wilson's books and Nick Sharatt's illustrations.
Read
July 1, 2011it was interesting
July 1, 2012
Read this with Elise at bedtime, she thought it was really funny :)
March 17, 2014
I loved this book so much because it's funny and entertaining and would recommend this for children's bedtime
Read
June 1, 2014Very childish and easy to read in 15 mins
November 27, 2014
seen as it's a childrens book it wasn't that interesting to me but i wasn't a terrible book... i mainly read it as i have nothing to do in class and finished my book.
April 19, 2016
A gorgeous little story with Nick Sharratt's fabulous illustrations - what's not to love!
October 21, 2016
BEST BOOK EVER
December 6, 2021
it's not my reading type but oh well, there was nothing to read so desperate times call for desperate measures lol
June 12, 2015
Chapter book for 5-8 year olds.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews