Jory John is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and two-time E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor recipient.
Jory's work includes the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book, The Good Egg, and the #2 New York Times bestselling picture book, The Bad Seed, both illustrated by Pete Oswald. He is also the author of the popular picture books, Penguin Problems and Giraffe Problems, both illustrated by Lane Smith, the award-winning Goodnight Already! series, illustrated by Benji Davies, the New York Times bestselling Terrible Two series, the recent picture books Quit Calling Me a Monster! (with Bob Shea), Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? (with Liz Climo), and the international bestseller, All my friends are dead, among many other books for both children and adults.
From the team that brought us The Bad Seed and The Good Egg comes a story that seems like it should have a moral... but actually doesn't (unless the moral is to let down all your inhibitions and be an unmitigated jerk).
William the dinosaur has such a successful weekend roaring at people (and farm animals) that he gives himself a sore throat. The doctor tells him he can't roar for a whole week. It's tough, because William really has an urge to roar. But he manages to hold off. After a week, his throat is a little better, so the doctor says he can roar again. And he does, scaring those around him and torpedoing his own social life.
What irks me about this one is that, in the first part of the book, William proves that he can be a decent guy by not roaring. Everyone around him is much happier. But after that, he gives in to his urge to roar every single time, destroying what little goodwill others have started to give him. When someone asks him why, he just says, "That's what dinosaurs do."
Okay... Let's change that answer to, "That's what bullies do." Would the book still work? Of course not. But William is a bully. And he's hurting himself as well as everyone else around him. Why should that be excused with a flippant catchphrase?
The illustrations by Oswald are fun, and there's even a nod to The Bad Seed in one of the pictures. I like William's bedroom and seeing him hang his head out of the bus window like a dog. But even the cutest pictures in the world won't make a book with such a problematic message work. I kept waiting for William to finally learn his lesson and see the error of his ways. That epiphany never came. All we got were excuses.
Though it might have fun illustrations and an anthropomorphized dinosaur, That's What Dinosaurs Do isn't really appropriate for children... unless you want them learning that they can just give in to any little urge and then shrug it off with a careless catchphrase. (I can't see that going over very well!)
This looks like a cute picture book about a dinosaur learning to stop roaring all the time, but it's actually an attractively packaged moral lesson in... I don't even know. There is no moral philosophy that encourages people to bother everyone AND harm themselves. This dinosaur harasses the whole community, injures his throat, and then, after a week of trying not to roar, returns to his natural instincts with unapologetic abandon. Since this dinosaur seriously injures his throat and alienates everyone, nothing about his roaring is personally profitable. This isn't a subversive moral philosophy; it's just chaos.
Nothing about this book indicates that it is intended to be satirical. Nor does it try to teach virtue through a bad example. Even though some children may walk away from this story with the newfound knowledge that blindly following your instincts is an absolutely terrible idea, this book does not offer any resolution or moral message to indicate that you shouldn't act like this dinosaur. I find it highly doubtful that the author intended to teach anything through this story, but if he did, he should have presented it in a manner that would invite a less literal reading.
I might be able to explain this book away if a novice had written it, but Jory John is a well-respected, bestselling picture book author who ought to know better. I cannot imagine why he would encourage toddlers and preschoolers to wantonly embrace their most destructive, antisocial tendencies. Even though picture books and conventional advice mantras are often full of half-baked and unwise ideas, I have never seen anyone actually tell a child, "Do whatever comes naturally to you, even if it harms you and is cruel to everyone else." Apparently, that's because most people aren't as brave and forward-thinking as Jory John.
I have no idea why he wrote this, or why a publishing company would have so little respect for their bottom line or their target market that they would pick up such a useless piece of garbage, but sometimes we have to live with enigmas like this. I guess it's time to move on and stop overthinking a thirty-two page book.
The illustrations are wonderful, but I feel like the jerk in "Big" when he raised his hand and sarcastically announced, "I don't get it."
Well, I don't. The story is basically about a dinosaur who roars, which leaves him with a sore throat and a whole bunch of people angry with him because he's being a dick.
But "that's what dinosaurs do" is the message, which isn't an answer. It's an excuse, and not even a good one.
However I'm trying to imagine if I were two years old and simply bursting with energy and mischief. Would identifying with a roaring dinosaur feel good? You bet.
Will my mom lose her mind listening to me roaring and stomping around because a book told me it was okay? Sure, but there are certainly worse things I could be encouraged to do.
Three stars, because I wasn't the target audience, but I think I might kind of, sort of get where they were going with this. The toddler in me found it liberating.
The message in this book is to "be who you are," but the main character in this book decides to continue roaring because "that's what he does," even though it's giving him a severe sore throat and scaring his friends. Huh? This book is a huge disappointment from an otherwise great writer.
William had a really great weekend. But now his throat hurt from way too much roaring. William went to the doctor.
This story follows William the roaring dinosaurs who roars way too much because...that's what dinosaurs do. The dilemma is that William gets sick from all his roaring.
But don't worry. When he gets better he goes right back to roaring because...that's what dinosaurs do.
I bought this book for my 3 year old dinosaur obsessed godson. I was sad at the ending. I found it disheartening. In my opinion it was just bleh. BUT he loved it and roared around the house for hours. He ran to get all his dinosaurs out and had a great big dinosaur party. The pictures are very good and I enjoyed it all until the very end where I have to agree with most reviews, it fell flat. But my godson, who the book was intended for, loved it very much.
I really like the beginning, but then when we hit the end and William never learned his lesson, I felt like that was a bad lesson to learn. He wouldn't change his ways, even though he continued to upset others and be a harm to himself. So not really a great takeaway.
I really enjoyed the story and illustrations. I did not, however, like the way it ended. The message that dinosaurs, and perhaps people, can do things that frighten and annoy others and use the excuse that "that's just what I do" is not a great message to send.
The book surprised me with the direction it took. What could have been an opportunity to teach children about how their actions impact others really just turned into an unapologetic Cartman-like "I do what I want" motif. I think the author was trying to use this story as an allegory to teach kids to love and be themselves, but it falls flat since "roaring" is a violent and basic reaction (ie. "well, my child throws rocks at other kids, and it hurts and scares them, but they are just going to have to understand that that's just 'what he does'"...ugh). A plot correction idea: maybe if the dinosaur liked to sing and dance, and it annoyed his fellow dinosaurs who thought it was more "dinosaur-like" to roar, I could get behind the intended message of "be yourself." Sure, dino, you do you. If you want to wear tutus and dance and be different from other dinosaurs, I'm all for it. Those other dinosaurs are just naysayers; don't pay attention to them! BUT ...when the dinosaur's behavior is base and scares others (and the illustrations of frightened people show that is the case), I think it is a missed opportunity to teach the dinosaur empathy and to learn how to still be himself while also not always doing the first impulsive thing that comes to him, like roaring and scaring the bejesus out of everyone he comes into contact with. "We Don't Eat Our Classmates" has a similar plot but with a much better execution and resolution. Sorry, Penelope, if you want friends, maybe you shouldn't eat them, my dear. Good lesson. In short, the activity of "roaring" was probably not the best choice to show kids it is okay to be oneself.
This book practically begs kids to join in with plenty of ROARs. Silly story, silly illustrations. Ending falls flat since it's nothing new and the character hasn't changed, but I'm not sure kids will mind. ROOOOOARRRRRR!
Great, retro-style illustrations. Not an especially good message--our dinosaur refuses to be sorry for roaring at everyone and scaring them because "that's what dinosaurs do." Would you like to hear a kid nonstop roaring in a movie theater, a doctor's office, or library because they're pretending to be a dinosaur and dinosaurs aren't sorry for roaring? Didn't think so.
Yes, I'm still on a dino hunt for my little reader. 🦕
This one is cute enough. I like the illustrations more than the actual story- the illustrator is actually who I recognized on this title and pushed me to buy it. The story is a little lack-luster. Not to mention doesn't have a good lesson? I mean not all books need a lesson, but in this one the Dinosaur hurts his throat and has to stop roaring and when he gets his roar back he just goes back to terrorizing the community. And, I get it "that's just what dinosaurs do", but there's actually a disgruntled mob of neighbors at his house at one point. It feels very much like that "Boys will be boys" saying and I'm very much more of that "teach them to better" mantra.
Like I said, it's cute enough in an inner active fun way that most kids like, but for me it's the subtle artwork instead that carries this book. The pictures aren't vibrant or really bright- think muted crayons. All the homie colors; like worn blue jeans vs sky blue or homemade cherry pie red vs. fire engine truck read. (I've either really lost you or you know exactly what I'm talking about).
Even the illustrations that aren't accompanied by text are good. And, that's always my favorite, when there's a really good non-verbal story telling happening as well. It's imaginative.
This book is worth a look, but I don't think it should be taken seriously. Please don't teach them to take this seriously.
ROARRRRR! William the dinosaur has to hold his roars while he has a soar throat. He can't wait to roar again, because that's what dinosaurs do! I loved this whimsical story, and it has darling artwork to go along with it.
Not a fan of the plot to be honest. Is William really the good guy here? It seems like your options are Be True To Yourself or Play Nice With Friends. Why are these opposites? Why can't William be a dinosaur and also play with the little kids?
I was excited about finding a dinosaur picture book and remained excited up until the end. Our dinosaur does what all other dinosaurs do and goes around roaring at people. He gets a sore throat and the doctor puts him on restricted roaring. So he goes through his day Not roaring at people and they are smiling and waving and inviting him to play. His sore throat heals and he goes right back to roaring and all the people hate him again. Including me.
Jory John and Pete Oswald work together again in this book. William is a dinosaur who loves to roar, but gets a sore throat from roaring much too often. When his doctor prescribes silence, it is up to William to decide whether he will obey or not.
This story is absolutely wonderful--until the last page and a half, at which point it takes a steep nosedive from which it cannot recover. Readers will love William and empathize with him when he gets sick, and as he works to exercise self-discipline in not roaring. Unfortunately, instead of realizing that he can be kind and make friends, William goes back to his roaring ways--despite the townspeople's protests. While John may have thought it was fun to have a character that did not change his ways, it ultimately results in an unsatisfying and frustrating ending for the reader. It also conveys such a negative message to young readers.
Oswald's illustrations--which are scanned watercolor textures and digital paint--are excellently rendered. They add so much value to the text, and give the story fun and empathy, engaging the reader page by page. Unfortunately, the illustrations and the wonderful beginning of the story are not enough to save it from its conclusion.
Run William out of town and skip this dinosaur book.
It's true, this book doesn't have a kind of "lesson" to be learned as the dinosaur at the center of the story learns nothing after hurting his throat by roaring too much and then going on to roar some more with the title as his excuse.
But, this book doesn't have to be a lesson. It's just silly fun and if you have a child who likes dinosaurs, this just adds to their fascination. Does it have to have a lesson? That would be nice. But not everything for children has to be so dramatically methodized with a moral lesson. In fact, this could be a book for open-ended Q&A: Do you think the dinosaur was right to keep roaring? Why? Why not?
Otherwise, there's a lot of good illustrations paced throughout each page with just enough wording to keep interest without overwhelming the reader.
This one is about 50/50 and the decision should be up to the parent of its worth. For public readings, works well with dinosaur themes or audience participation with the roaring.
Usually children's picture books with dinosaurs in them are cute or the dinosaur is integrated with the society in which they inhabit. The titled dinosaur in this tome is not. Sure he is cute in the illustrations but he ROARS at people because That's What Dinosaurs Do.
After his doctor tells him not to, he still persists in this behaviour. The physician tells him to go back to normal, he goes back to being a boorish dinosaur and ROARing at people. He does not quit because, even after people picket his house, That's What Dinosaurs Do.
Oh, I had such problems with the message that this sent. It's okay to keep a behaviour because it is in their nature? Even after people communicate that they don't like it? It is acceptable to continue? No, just no. NO.
A humorous, if somewhat misguided, story of a dinosaur who roars because that's what dinosaurs do. He loses his voice after a week of roaring and the doctor tells him no more. So he closes his mouth for the weekend even though it was quite difficult. Once the doctor clears him for more roaring the dino is back to his old self. In the end the townspeople protest outside of the dinos home for him to stop roaring but the dino is unapologetically a dinosaur.
This story is hilarious, as all Jory John books are. However it falls flat on execution as it feels like there should be some recompense for the dinos behavior, especially with people being clear what the problem is, but there isn't.
Props for a surprise ending...but it basically stinks - the ending that is. I loved the Bad Seed, and wanted to check out Jory John's other books and I can't believe he also wrote this. The Bad Seed has a great message - and this book has an awful message. The dinosaur never learns any moral lesson and ends up hurting others and himself. I do not get the point of this book. (And if read to a child over and over, I could see that child internalizing it and just replying, "That's just what I do, Mom.")
I wrote two other reviews of Jory John books today, and they were FABULOUS (the books, not the reviews). But this one is a mystery to me. Not his usual humor, and the message that comes across to me, at least, is that if you're annoying it's okay because that's just the way you are. Nope. Growing up is a process of learning to tame the annoying parts of ourselves. And we all have annoying parts.
Get some of his other books instead. He's fabulous and funny most of the time.
Cute illustrations. My kids like dinosaurs and I like other books by Jory John. However, this one was a disappointment. It has the moral that even if you hurt yourself and others, you should keep on doing it because that's just how you naturally are. I think it's meant to be about loving your quirky self, but instead it seems like it's teaching my kids that it's OK to be jerks if it makes them happy.
Not a great message. Just because roaring is "what dinosaurs do" doesn't mean that he should scare everyone around him. They don't appreciate it, and when they complain, his response is just that that's what dinosaurs do. No apology. No compromise. No consequences. Everyone in the world has to just deal with him because that's the way he is.
Horrible children’s book with no consequences. Dinosaur likes to roar: hurts his throat and scares everyone in the town. However, he continues to do so. The end. The illustrations were lovely though. Going in the goodbye pile.
Loved the illustrations but won’t be reading this again to my son. He’s 5 months old so didn’t understand the message but it’s not one I would want him to comprehend. It’s ok that the dinosaur scares people and makes himself sick bc that’s what dinosaurs do? No.
This book would be a great book to read when discussing the fact that everyone can change and that one way fun in never appropriate. Dinosaur decides that it doesn't matter how many people he scares or makes uncomfortable, that he can do what he wants to do when he wants to do it. It's a great book to discuss that when people act this way that no one wants to be around them.
** Talking points: Who do you think are the people in your circles who are the most courteous and kind and thoughtful? Do you like to hang around them? Who do you think are the people in your circles who are the most rude and unkind and thoughtless? Do you like to hang around them? Which kind of person do you tend more to be? If it were up to you, what would you do to solve the problem of Dinosaur roaring? Are there better ways to deal with your thoughtless or rude friends?
** Essential Oil Pairing Tip: I'd pair doTERRA's Motivate Essential Oil Blend with this book. Because until someone is motivated, they are never going to change.