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How to Catch
How to Catch a Dinosaur
From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling team comes a dinomite How to Catch adventure sure to delight every dinosaur fan!
Do dinosaurs still walk among us? Sure, no one has seen one, but if alligators, whales, and even birds still exist, then dinosaurs must too, right? Join the daring How to Catch Kids as they try to wrangle a dinosaur in time for the school science fair and prove they're still around! Parents, young readers, dinosaur lovers, and educators alike will roar with laughter in this dinosaur picture book that blends STEAM concepts with hilarity and clever chaos. Do YOU have what it takes to pluck a prehistoric pal? Perfect for kids ages 4-10, this fun story makes a great birthday and back to school gift, stocking and basket stuffer, or read aloud for any occasion!
Can you catch a dinosaur and prove they're still around?
Use your brain and set your traps to get that dino found!
Also in the How to Catch
How to Catch a UnicornHow to Catch a MermaidHow to Catch a DragonHow to Catch a MonsterHow to Catch an Loveosaurusand more!
Do dinosaurs still walk among us? Sure, no one has seen one, but if alligators, whales, and even birds still exist, then dinosaurs must too, right? Join the daring How to Catch Kids as they try to wrangle a dinosaur in time for the school science fair and prove they're still around! Parents, young readers, dinosaur lovers, and educators alike will roar with laughter in this dinosaur picture book that blends STEAM concepts with hilarity and clever chaos. Do YOU have what it takes to pluck a prehistoric pal? Perfect for kids ages 4-10, this fun story makes a great birthday and back to school gift, stocking and basket stuffer, or read aloud for any occasion!
Can you catch a dinosaur and prove they're still around?
Use your brain and set your traps to get that dino found!
Also in the How to Catch
How to Catch a UnicornHow to Catch a MermaidHow to Catch a DragonHow to Catch a MonsterHow to Catch an Loveosaurusand more!
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2019
486 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
Adam Wallace
198 books282 followersAdam Wallace is a New York Times, USA Today and Amazon Bestselling author of the How to Catch series!
Adam's passion is to bring excitement and energy and humour and joy to children (of all ages!) through his books and videos.
He spends his non-writing time thinking about writing and going to as many live music shows as he can. He's also teaching himself piano, and plays golf too.
Adam's passion is to bring excitement and energy and humour and joy to children (of all ages!) through his books and videos.
He spends his non-writing time thinking about writing and going to as many live music shows as he can. He's also teaching himself piano, and plays golf too.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
March 11, 2020
We have read several books in this series and I don’t really feel like they were trying with this one. The traps were pretty simple, but they also ended up in the Science fair. It’s never explained why dinosaurs are around accept that sharks and alligators are from that time so dinosaurs should be around too.
The premise is the same, kids setting up traps to catch a dinosaur. We see trap after trap evaded page after page. It’s a fine story with good rhyming text. Maybe the freshness is wearing off for me.
The nephew loved this story. He loved seeing the dinosaur living under the school at the end. He did say he could come up with better traps than those kids did. He began planning in his head what to do. He thinks he can do anything. He gave this 4 stars.
The premise is the same, kids setting up traps to catch a dinosaur. We see trap after trap evaded page after page. It’s a fine story with good rhyming text. Maybe the freshness is wearing off for me.
The nephew loved this story. He loved seeing the dinosaur living under the school at the end. He did say he could come up with better traps than those kids did. He began planning in his head what to do. He thinks he can do anything. He gave this 4 stars.
May 2, 2019
I don't think this series is for me.
I read How to Catch the Easter Bunny last month, and I found it weird and uninspired. What kind of prey gives hunting suggestions to a predator? I figured that may just have been the weirdness of that particular book since it deals with a mythological creature. Unfortunately, even though we're dealing with a real creature here, I didn't like this one much more.
The story this time, rather than being told from the point of view of the dinosaur (as I was expecting, given how that other book was written), is told by a young boy who wants to win the science fair. He thinks that if he can just catch a dinosaur, he might have a chance. The book does point out that dinosaur relatives are still around, and that birds are distant cousins of the "terrible lizards". But then it basically shows an anthropomorphized dinosaur running around a modern neighbourhood. (That blurs the line between reality and fantasy just a little too much for me. While that premise didn't bother me so much in the book about the Easter Bunny, it could be confusing to some kids when they read a book that implies real dinosaurs are still around.)
As for the writing... Oh, dear. The rhyming text is so clunky. Getting the rhythm and meter right must be a tricky thing to do, because I rarely see it done well. It's not done particularly well here at all. You can't just rhyme the last two words of the second and fourth lines and ignore the number of syllables in the rest of the text. At least, you can't if you want it to roll off the tongue.
Overall, this didn't impress me that much. The illustrations are perhaps the strongest part of the book. But the implication that dinosaurs are running around suburbia coupled with the clumsy rhyming text make this a book that I'd have a hard time recommending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Wonderland for providing a digital ARC.
I read How to Catch the Easter Bunny last month, and I found it weird and uninspired. What kind of prey gives hunting suggestions to a predator? I figured that may just have been the weirdness of that particular book since it deals with a mythological creature. Unfortunately, even though we're dealing with a real creature here, I didn't like this one much more.
The story this time, rather than being told from the point of view of the dinosaur (as I was expecting, given how that other book was written), is told by a young boy who wants to win the science fair. He thinks that if he can just catch a dinosaur, he might have a chance. The book does point out that dinosaur relatives are still around, and that birds are distant cousins of the "terrible lizards". But then it basically shows an anthropomorphized dinosaur running around a modern neighbourhood. (That blurs the line between reality and fantasy just a little too much for me. While that premise didn't bother me so much in the book about the Easter Bunny, it could be confusing to some kids when they read a book that implies real dinosaurs are still around.)
As for the writing... Oh, dear. The rhyming text is so clunky. Getting the rhythm and meter right must be a tricky thing to do, because I rarely see it done well. It's not done particularly well here at all. You can't just rhyme the last two words of the second and fourth lines and ignore the number of syllables in the rest of the text. At least, you can't if you want it to roll off the tongue.
Overall, this didn't impress me that much. The illustrations are perhaps the strongest part of the book. But the implication that dinosaurs are running around suburbia coupled with the clumsy rhyming text make this a book that I'd have a hard time recommending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Wonderland for providing a digital ARC.
August 12, 2019
4.5 Stars: My grandson loved this story. He loves dinosaurs and science/inventions so this was right up his alley. A young boy has set his sights on winning his school's upcoming science fair. His plan is to catch a dinosaur. He makes plans and with the help of his friends, they might just make this dream a reality. The excited dinosaur hunters head to the local park to try their luck at catching just one dinosaur. Along the way they discover clues that let them know they are heading in the right direction. Are they going to be successful? Will they win first prize, a bright red shiny bike?
The illustrations are very well done. They show expression and emotion on the faces of the children. They are animated and make the search look real. Unfortunately the text was not quite as good. The cadence of the rhymes was inconsistent with some great pages, then some awkward verses. As the reader I think it bothered me more than my grandson who was listening to the story. He really enjoyed it. He liked the illustrations and the idea that they were hunting for a dinosaur, even though he kept telling me that dinosaurs don't live on earth anymore, it is just pretend. He asked me to "keep this one so I can read it to him again when he comes over this week." A definite keeper. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
The illustrations are very well done. They show expression and emotion on the faces of the children. They are animated and make the search look real. Unfortunately the text was not quite as good. The cadence of the rhymes was inconsistent with some great pages, then some awkward verses. As the reader I think it bothered me more than my grandson who was listening to the story. He really enjoyed it. He liked the illustrations and the idea that they were hunting for a dinosaur, even though he kept telling me that dinosaurs don't live on earth anymore, it is just pretend. He asked me to "keep this one so I can read it to him again when he comes over this week." A definite keeper. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
February 16, 2021
I've only read one other book in this series, but I liked this one. No, it's not realistic, and the rhymes aren't perfect. But it was cute, and my son liked it (especially finding some of the extra details in the illustrations).
January 2, 2022
Not bad for a three year old or younger but... It felt like pages are missing or ideas are missing.
First, it talks about a science fair coming up and the little kid has never won one. Then it quickly goes into "trying to trap a dinosaur". The dinosaur avoids the first trap then by the second trap the story feels off or missing. This continues until the very end.
Decent though, needs work.
First, it talks about a science fair coming up and the little kid has never won one. Then it quickly goes into "trying to trap a dinosaur". The dinosaur avoids the first trap then by the second trap the story feels off or missing. This continues until the very end.
Decent though, needs work.
February 4, 2024
I wish these books either rhymed the whole way or not at all, that really bugs me as an adult. The illustrations are great, and it’s a fun read for a kid. I would say it’s more of a 3.5-3.75 but I don’t want to give it a 4.
March 29, 2020
Loved reading this with my little one. The adventure kept her entertained and excited throughout the story.
December 13, 2022
My 2 year old really liked this one.
January 20, 2024
A fun romp chasing dinosaurs!!! :)
April 13, 2023
I've enjoyed this series, but this one is definitely not my favorite.
May 10, 2019
This newest installment in the New York times and USA Today bestselling series is sure to delight every dinosaur fan!
"Can you catch a dinosaur
and prove they're still around?
Use your brain and set your traps
to get that dino found!
A young boy has set his sights on being first in his school's upcoming science fair. How does he plan to achieve his goal? He's going to catch a Dinosaur that's how. But will his dream become a reality?
With the help of his friends plans are hatched that just might do the trick. The excited dinosaur hunters head to the local park to try their luck at bagging a big old beast. They discover clues along the way that confirm that they are on the right track. Is catching a dinosaur obtainable? Will first prize, a bright red shiny bike, be theirs to keep?
The illustrations are truly remarkable. They bring expression, emotion and animation to the rhyming tale. As for the rhyming? Sad to say I found it awkward and choppy and extremely hard to read aloud as the text did not flow happily off of your tongue. I think kids will relate to the book because the illustrations are so strong and enrich and drive the storyline along. I just wish the rhyming was better then it would be winner for me for sure.
"Can you catch a dinosaur
and prove they're still around?
Use your brain and set your traps
to get that dino found!
A young boy has set his sights on being first in his school's upcoming science fair. How does he plan to achieve his goal? He's going to catch a Dinosaur that's how. But will his dream become a reality?
With the help of his friends plans are hatched that just might do the trick. The excited dinosaur hunters head to the local park to try their luck at bagging a big old beast. They discover clues along the way that confirm that they are on the right track. Is catching a dinosaur obtainable? Will first prize, a bright red shiny bike, be theirs to keep?
The illustrations are truly remarkable. They bring expression, emotion and animation to the rhyming tale. As for the rhyming? Sad to say I found it awkward and choppy and extremely hard to read aloud as the text did not flow happily off of your tongue. I think kids will relate to the book because the illustrations are so strong and enrich and drive the storyline along. I just wish the rhyming was better then it would be winner for me for sure.
January 25, 2020
Can 4 kids attempt to catch a dinosaur for the school science fair? What if they fail? Or will they?
Very clever, imaginative ideas and wonderfully told and illustrated by Adam Wallace.
The "How to Catch a" series by Wallace is a GREAT way to offer ideas for kids for creative thinking, instill a love of invention/imagination, and are a great read aloud series for Storytime or Bedtime.
Very clever, imaginative ideas and wonderfully told and illustrated by Adam Wallace.
The "How to Catch a" series by Wallace is a GREAT way to offer ideas for kids for creative thinking, instill a love of invention/imagination, and are a great read aloud series for Storytime or Bedtime.
October 10, 2019
A young boy is excited about the science fair because he is going to catch a dinosaur. He and his friends try many things to catch a dino, but nothing actually works. When it comes time for the fair his friends have to remind him that they does have some awesome creations created to catch the dino, and he could enter those in the fair. So he does.
The rhyming is awful; contrived and clunky. Backmatter states that the illustrations were "sketched, then painted digitally with brushes designed by the artist." Frankly I'm surprised the illustrations were sketched by hand as they lack movement. They appear static and entirely digital.
Not recommended.
The rhyming is awful; contrived and clunky. Backmatter states that the illustrations were "sketched, then painted digitally with brushes designed by the artist." Frankly I'm surprised the illustrations were sketched by hand as they lack movement. They appear static and entirely digital.
Not recommended.
June 24, 2019
This was a cute book about a group of kids wanting to catch a dinosaur for their science fair. Their traps get more elaborate as the book goes on but the dinosaur always slips through and goes free but that's ok because their robot trap ends up winning anyway! It was well illustrated and the rhyming story flowed really well without any hang ups. If you have a kid who loves dinosaurs, they'd really enjoy this fun book.
I received a copy of this book for my honest review. Thanks #netgalley #adamwallace for #howtocatchadinosaur .
I received a copy of this book for my honest review. Thanks #netgalley #adamwallace for #howtocatchadinosaur .
January 24, 2020
For the class science fair a boy is determined to catch a dinosaur and win first prize. Fun illustrations.
July 12, 2019
While some of the lyrical rhymes are forced, this is a pretty cute book about 4 kids who want to capture a dinosaur to win their Science Fair. The protagonist is a white male but has help from a diverse cast of friends throughout the entire book. They come up with some pretty creative ways to try to catch their elusive reptile while giving handy facts and alluding to several pop culture references along the way. Will be purchasing for our library.
June 7, 2019
Thank you #netgalley for giving me a copy of this book to review. This cute picture book is good little adventure book for kids. I thought some of the rhymes were a little forced, but overall very nice. The tricky dinosaur was a character that my kids liked. A good addition to an elementary library.
June 13, 2019
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very cute book about a group of friends that want to win the science fair by having a dinosaur. It gives some generic information about dinosaurs. The pictures are fun and bright. The text is flowed well and rhymed. If you have a child that loves dinosaurs. this would be a fun read aloud.
This was a very cute book about a group of friends that want to win the science fair by having a dinosaur. It gives some generic information about dinosaurs. The pictures are fun and bright. The text is flowed well and rhymed. If you have a child that loves dinosaurs. this would be a fun read aloud.
August 5, 2019
The "How to catch" series is a really fun one. I've read all of the titles in the series, and have enjoyed them all. They have the same theme, and vibrant illustrations that kids will spend time looking at. These books are great for a quick, and entertaining bedtime story. Coming up with elaborate ways to capture something is an idea that all kids will think about and be interested in.
September 30, 2019
This was so cute! My favorite of the series (that I've read so far). The main character wants to catch a dinosaur for his science fair project and ends up doing a bunch of other 'typical' science fair projects along the way (volcano, magnets, etc.). The rhyming was especially fun and helped to really elevate the story.
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
September 25, 2019
This book along with all the how to catch a books I’ve read with the littles have been great! this one was amazing for the group of kiddos I read to! Both girls and boys enjoyed it and found it entertaining and funny! We got quite a few giggles throughout the book! we love this series!
September 25, 2019
Someone wants to win the science fair by catching a dinosaur. But is that possible? His friends try to help by using their own science fair entries. The dinosaur escapes every trap, but the friends end up winning the science fair with all the other things they made.
November 21, 2019
It's pretty hard to catch a dinosaur nowadays but in this book, the author continues his telling of "How to Catch" something series. The boy and his friends are adventurous and clever in thinking of ways to catch one for the science fair project. Read it and see how it turns out.
December 17, 2020
This is a really fun addition to the series. Some of the rhymes are harsh and throw off the cadence, but the story and the great illustrations will see kids reading these books for years to come.
#Wintergames #teamreadnosereindeer +16
#Wintergames #teamreadnosereindeer +16
May 17, 2019
Cute illustrations and rhymes, but (spoiler alert) no dinosaurs are caught. So it doesn't really show you how to catch one.
June 25, 2019
I really like this series. I have shared several of them with my niece and nephew over the years and I thought this one would be enjoyed by both. Can't wait for them to read it with me.
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December 9, 2019A rhyming picture book where kids try to set traps to catch a dinosaur, and keep missing it. This book is very similar to the dragon and unicorn books in the same series.
December 22, 2019
Really liked this book, particularly how the mom is an engineer and the kids design all these gadgets to catch the dinosaur. Also liked the ending.
January 18, 2020
We love these books. They’re so cute!
March 14, 2020
It's time for the school science fair and this imaginative youngster is determined to catch a dinosaur so he can win first place! With the help of his friends, he chases what seems to be a dinosaur all over his school and through his neighborhood, devising plans and creating ways to catch it!
This rhyming book has amazing illustrations with lots of detail, texture, and angled perspectives that truly make this story and its' characters come to life! These kids have lots of fun ideas for how to catch this dinosaur and the traps they set will keep your children's eyes busy throughout the story.
My daughter has always been pretty fascinated by dinosaurs so we picked this up and then realized it's a series with an odd array of creatures that range from mythological creatures like unicorns and mermaids to holiday-related ones like the Easter Bunny and Santa's elves. It's no surprise to me that dinosaurs were our introduction to this series!
The physical hardcover book has an amazing cover with raised text and pictures on both front and back so that it feels textured!
This picture book review was originally shared on Lazy Day Literature.
This rhyming book has amazing illustrations with lots of detail, texture, and angled perspectives that truly make this story and its' characters come to life! These kids have lots of fun ideas for how to catch this dinosaur and the traps they set will keep your children's eyes busy throughout the story.
My daughter has always been pretty fascinated by dinosaurs so we picked this up and then realized it's a series with an odd array of creatures that range from mythological creatures like unicorns and mermaids to holiday-related ones like the Easter Bunny and Santa's elves. It's no surprise to me that dinosaurs were our introduction to this series!
The physical hardcover book has an amazing cover with raised text and pictures on both front and back so that it feels textured!
This picture book review was originally shared on Lazy Day Literature.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews