Some Dinosaurs Are Small

by Charlotte Voake

The concept of size is relative — and takes on prehistoric proportions — in a funny and reassuring tale from a maven of children’s books.

Some dinosaurs are small and slow. They take their time in the prehistoric jungle, collecting fruits and leaves and using their tiny teeth to munch them. Some dinosaurs are big and fast. With huge teeth and claws, they steal food from small dinosaurs, and they’re always hungry for more. So when three big dinosaurs come across one small one, what — or who — can save the little plant-eater? Beautifully drawn and brightly colored, Charlotte Voake’s imaginative introduction to the concept of size brims with visual humor and culminates in a sweet surprise ending.

Genres: Picture Books, Dinosaurs, Storytime, Childrens, Animals, Humor, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 4, 2020

About the author

"I don’t know that I’m a funny person," says author-illustrator Charlotte Voake. "But it seems when I begin to draw that the characters change, and they take on this amusing and amused look." Indeed, her illustrations are widely loved for this very quality of gentle wit, not to mention their quiet observation, airy exuberance, and utter charm.

Born and raised in Wales, Charlotte Voake says that book illustration is "the only thing I ever wanted to do," and she certainly has made a brilliant career of it. Skipping formal training in art, she studied art history at London University and worked at an art gallery before embarking on a freelance career in illustration. Among her most acclaimed picture books is GINGER, an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book that KIRKUS REVIEWS called a "flawless tale of two cats . . . to be read and reread." GINGER FINDS A HOME, a prequel to that award-winning picture book, shows how the loving ministrations of a little girl transformed the title character from stray to pampered pet. "We had a cat who lived at the bottom of our garden," Charlotte Voake says of her inspiration for this story. "It was a great moment when he decided to come and live with us."


Charlotte Voake was personally selected by the nephew of the esteemed children's book writer Eleanor Farjeon to illustrate the delightful classic, ELSIE PIDDOCK SKIPS IN HER SLEEP. More recently, Charlotte Voake wrote and illustrated PIZZA KITTENS, a dinnertime comedy of errors that she says stems from personal experience. "Good manners are not acquired overnight," she sighs. "The secret is to keep trying!"


Charlotte Voake lives in Surrey, England, with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entertaining picture book has a small amount of text which provides the most basic pieces of information about dinosaurs. The cartoonish illustrations give the book a playful tone, and indeed they tell most of the story as a small green dino finds his way to his shockingly large mother by the end of the book. This book would probably work best for a toddler who doesn't yet know much about dinosaurs. For a preschool dinosaur expert, it is probably already too basic. It would work well for a dinosaur story time for twos and threes, possibly along with If the Dinosaurs Came Back and Dig Those Dinosaurs.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful, but it side-steps the truth about carnivores.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few big dinosaurs are mean to a tiny dinosaur. But there's a surprise for them when they discover who (and how tall...) the tiny dinosaur's mom is.

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dino centric kids will like this book. I found it kind of meh. Nothing to really dislike but it just didn’t impress me. It’s a short read and could help young children with the concept of size.
Other reviews are talking about how it teaches about dinosaurs. I disagree. Not all large dinosaurs are meat eaters. And the meat eater dinosaurs in this book don’t actually eat the other dinosaur, they just steal his food... so I think it actually teaches misinformation about dinosaurs.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this very entertaining book and using spare language, Voake uses a childhood favorite for demonstrating the concept of size and proportion, and teaches readers a little about dinosaurs to boot. The story opens with a very small green dinosaur filling a pill up with fruits to eat later, while nearby lurks a very large dinosaur watching the little one. And yes, you guessed it, the big dinos gang up on the little one and take all his pickings to eat themselves. But is this the end of the story? No indeed it isn't, because size is relative and in this case, it's relative to the age of the dinosaur. And young readers will definitely laugh when they discover that little one's mom is enormous, relative to the large dinos. This is a great book for preschool and beginning readers. The text is simple and large, the unexpected ending is done with age appropriated humor and the quirky, but very appealing watercolor and ink illustrations, done is dusty shades of brown, green, and red, give the story a very prehistoric sense. I read this (repeatedly) to my young readers who loved it, a few of whom are budding dinosaur fans, and I'm pretty sure we will be reading it again and again.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the small amount of text on each page. Perfect for a child just learning to read independently and perfect for a read aloud. While I understand why the dinosaurs with sharp teeth and claws didn't eat the little dinosaur (I mean, this book is for kids), it did bother me slightly for accuracy. I think it's okay for kids to understand that in the animal kingdom (past and present) animals get eaten. But it did provide a funny moment when you think the dinosaurs are gonna eat the baby dino but they just steal the dino's bucket of food. And, in perfect irony, the tiniest dinosaur will actually grow up to be the biggest dinosaur! A good way to discuss opposites/sizes with kids too.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and simple, about a very tiny dinosaur who gathers food that bigger dinosaurs billy it out of, but then gets rescued by a HUGE long neck dinosaur. Simple story with very simple, bright illustrations (lots of foliage details). My younger kid loved it even though he was angry that the carnivores would be drawn eating plants? (Plus the plant eaters have baskets? That they gather leaves and fruit in?) not scientifically accurate but perhaps can be used to talk about size differences, or bullying.

[Linda Patchett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect length, amount of words and jump out fun graphics for toddler and preschool story time read about dinosaurs. The simple facts about dinosaur sizes and eating habit told through the text flow together with the pictures to tell a story of a little dinosaur who is being pursued by three bigger dinosaurs who take his foo. The children will love the fun ending. This is an excellent story to introduce a dinosaur unit for pre-schoolers thru K.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte Voake's brief wording and illustrations fill the pages with a jungle setting and dinosaurs both big and small and tell this story with a wonderful surprise ending! It's a chase and a smile all along the tale. I love the endpapers, too!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to read this in a storytime! This cracked me up. The simple, colorful, sharp black-edged line style of illustration is very fun. There are lots of contrasts and a bit of silliness. Nothing in-depth or with hard names to pronounce (tiny dinosaur experts can tell you all about which dinosaur is whom during/after storytime, haha), just a fun story.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of the book itself is very simple, though I enjoy the unique illustration style. A bunch of big dinosaurs (presumably meat eaters, though they are stealing and eating the plant-eating dinosaur's picnic) intimidate a small dinosaur until big ol' mama dinosaur shows up. Dino-lovers will certainly enjoy it, though it is a very quick read.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would work well for Dinovember or any other dinosaur themed storytime. Dinosaur fans would enjoy the interplay between carnivores and herbivores. The ending has a nice twist as well. The book goes through the opposites of big and small, providing opportunities for discussion. Illustrations are lovely earth-toned and work well with the text (which varies in sizes as well).

[Annie Behel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books I have read that I know I will want to read to my future students. The message is perfect because it addresses that no two bodies are the same, but it uses dinosaurs to illustrate this. It is a great body positivity message that encourages students to appreciate our differences in appearance. I would definitely recommend.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure how this story was going to play out. Emphasis on the big dinosaurs and the pointy teeth had me worried. Was hoping small dude was going to go the munch on their tails for some comeuppance! Good twist at the finish.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 5 year old loved it, but the small Dino walked on 2 feet and it’s mother on 4 which confused him. He thought the mother and child should walk the same way. But outside of that little confusion, we loved the story. Very simple, easy to keep little ones engaged.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do not recommend. Concept book for size. But I cant let go of the main dino looking like a bipedal lizard and plucking pineapples from the forest floor into a bucket just to turn out to be offspring of the ENORMOUS dino. He is also easy to miss. I didnt get much out of this. As with most picture books, it is cute though.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The science in this is, as other reviewers have said, lacking. It's a metaphor. About what, I'm not sure. Maybe bullying. Fun for the right audience, but let your child decide what to appreciate about it.

[Riley Gullett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book could have been longer and had a little bit more plot for it but otherwise, good illustrations and super cute! I think this would be a good book when children are first learning to read on their own since it is shorter!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story of size and proportion.

[Kelly]

This book is really cute. Some dinosaurs are small, some are scary, and some are...

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable and funny addition to any dinosaur storytime!

[Annese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awwwww!

[Colorado Buck · Rating 2 out of 5]

was not impressed. it's little because it's a baby - sorry not going to use for anything.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pair with You are (Not) Small by Anna Kang

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basic little story about a tiny dinosaur who gets one over on some T. rex bullies--a good beginning independent read, but not very memorable.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contrast big dinosaurs against a tiny dinosaur with a surprise ending. Great for the toddler crowd that loves simple dino stories.

[Kelsey McLane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo loves this one--he loves finding the little dinosaur on every page, and it teaches him that it's not nice to take someone's dinner away from them!

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Some dinosaurs are small. But don't worry, when bigger dinosaurs come and steal their food, these tiny dinos have a trick up their sleeve...

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would be good for storytime

[Gina Zappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a small dinosaur myself (I am very short) I loved this book! It was adorable and the colors were fabulous!