Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Dinosong

Rate this book
“A rousingly rumbly ramble.” —Kirkus Reviews The Land Before Time meets Eric Carle in this delightful read-aloud featuring “melodious and spare” (USA TODAY) language by master storyteller Tim McCanna.Follow a triceratops, a sauropod, and an ankylosaur on a prehistoric adventure filled with sights and sounds identified by playful onomatopoeia. Chip. Chop. Flip. Flop. Shatter. Scatter. Smack. Vibrant illustrations and crisp, fun language make this the perfect read-aloud, and backmatter about rock types and more inform curious readers about the world dinosaurs lived in.

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2020

1 person is currently reading
48 people want to read

About the author

Tim McCanna

21 books19 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
28 (21%)
4 stars
34 (26%)
3 stars
53 (41%)
2 stars
9 (6%)
1 star
5 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Kathryn.
4,784 reviews
January 8, 2021
Cute, non-scary dinos adventure together in pleasant (if unremarkable) onomatopoeia-based story.
Profile Image for A.C..
346 reviews2 followers
November 15, 2023
really just a note to self if I read this again for a storytime that it is more fit for the younger kids, like toddlers and preschool
Profile Image for Colleen.
1,024 reviews10 followers
May 5, 2022
This book is rendered in gorgeous watercolor with digital finishing. Each page is filled with shadows and light evoking a faraway time and place while drawing the readers interest with pops of color. The text is mostly onomatopoeia as three dinosaurs tramp, tromp and bump across the land, but its fun. Kids will definitely enjoy.
Profile Image for Tasha.
4,165 reviews137 followers
August 25, 2020
A little ankylosaur is heading down a steep slope, other dinosaurs walk and fly near him. After tripping on a rock, he rolls downhill clanking and clacking, crinkle crackle, finally landing with a clunk. Soon he meets two other dinosaurs, seeking shelter from the rumbling thunderstorm and the smoky volcanoes. After lightning hits a nearby stone formation, the volcano starts to spill lava. The three dinosaurs run to shelter in a cave where they find fresh water to drink. Then they glimpse light on the other side and emerge to find a safer and quieter landscape full of other dinosaurs.

Told in rhyming words, this simple picture book uses those words to create a merry prehistoric soundscape. There is the sound of the tromping dinosaurs, the storm, the volcano, and the quiet of the cave. The pace is brisk and the tale has plenty of action to keep things moving ahead. People looking for a great read-aloud dinosaur book should look no farther, they don’t even have to try to pronounce dinosaur names!

Smythe’s illustrations are filled with jewel-colored dinosaurs. The dinosaurs are friendly and funny, whether happily joining together on an adventure or wildly rolling or dashing across the scenes. The scenes move nicely from pastel humor to dangerous orange to the deep black of the cave.

A winning dinosaur read aloud sure to please the youngest dinosaur fans. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
151 reviews3 followers
December 9, 2020
This is a very simple book, but it packs a lot of punch. This is a story (in very few words!) about a group of dinosaurs going about their day and avoiding an erupting volcano as well. We see all kinds of dinosaurs flying in the sky, eating plants, rolling down a hillside, and running from an erupting volcano. There is very little text, as a matter of fact, there are only about two words on each page. Some of these words include “shake”, “zoom”, “sizzle”, “whack”, and “clank”. This is a great book to read aloud with young children and have them join in with the various sounds.

The illustrations in this book are wonderful. They appear to be watercolor and the dinosaurs are in vibrant blues, greens, and purples. The dinosaurs also have some vivid expressions and I think this will appeal to young children. Also, the author provides some additional information about dinosaurs and the world they lived in many years ago.
Profile Image for Susan Eaddy.
17 reviews2 followers
August 9, 2020
This book makes brilliant use of spare text. The entire story unfolds through action verbs punctuated with yell-worthy sounds in a FUN read-aloud! Kids will love the colorful and stinking cute dinosaurs with their bumbles and tumbles and happy ending. The non-fiction back matter lets the book work at many levels, from pre-school to school age. And for a special treat be sure to watch the book’s trailer, with the song & music written by the author, Tim McCanna.
Profile Image for Diana Murray.
Author 29 books272 followers
September 10, 2020
The whole story is told in musical, fun-to-read, onomatopoeia ("sip slurp" "scribble scrabble" "BOOM!"). There is a dramatic volcano explosion but safety for friends and family at the end. Kids will love following this dino-riffic rhyming tale full of sound effects! The illustrations are beautiful, kid-friendly watercolors with lots of texture.
Profile Image for Gretchen.
Author 5 books12 followers
October 15, 2020
Dinosaur lovers, make room on your book shelves for Dinosong! McCanna and Smythe bring you a dynamic and reassuring tale of dinosaurs surviving a series of challenges topped off with a volcanic explosion. Told almost exclusively in rhyming verbs this story is clever and satisfying both visually and emotionally.
Profile Image for Lisa.
2,626 reviews19 followers
January 5, 2021
When three little dinosaurs meet up, they stick together to find safety from a volcano, a storm, a dangerous path, giant rocks and a dark cave.
Tim McCann's text is simply the sounds the dinosaurs and the objects around them are making, the sound of footsteps, eruptions, rolling rocks etc. A fun, practically wordless picture book with large colorful illustrations.
Profile Image for Anna.
2,440 reviews15 followers
June 21, 2022
This book just consists of Onomatopoeia words. Even though the sounds and the illustrations make the story, I was expecting a nice cute song about dinosaurs. Totally not what I was expecting and I feel like the title is a bit misleading. Very short and simple book though. If you're into Onomatopoeia then you'll love this book. The illustrations are really cute too.
Profile Image for Emily.
1,697 reviews13 followers
October 24, 2022
Rhyming onomatopoeia make up the text of this book, with the illustrations taking the heavy lifting to tell the plot. The words are lyrical and flow nicely, and the illustrations are fun and attractive. A page of infomational text at the end talks briefly about dinosaurs, but spends most of the space talking about the rock cycle and types of rock and mineral formations.
Profile Image for Aimée Bissonette.
Author 11 books36 followers
August 5, 2020
Sweet and simple - simply sweet! This is a dinosaur book for the youngest of readers (but with back matter to satisfy the curiosity of older siblings and parents). Friendly, colorful illustrations. The fun rhyme and alliteration make for a super read aloud experience.
129 reviews4 followers
August 9, 2020
A tongue-twisting, romping-stomping Dino adventure! Clever onomatopoeia takes you along with the baby Dinos' journey to safety. As always, masterful rhyme and alliteration by McCanna. Soft and playful illustrations by Richard Smythe.
Profile Image for Erin Dealey.
Author 20 books79 followers
September 29, 2020
Less is so much more in this delightful read aloud. McCanna's selection of onomatopoeia (sound) words not only makes the story SING, McCanna's rhyme is DINOmite! (I had to do that, Tim.) Richard Smythe's gorgeous illustrations add to the magic. Bravo.
Profile Image for Edward Sullivan.
Author 6 books224 followers
November 22, 2020
Playful use of onomatopoeia in this vibrantly illustrated picture book following a triceratops, a sauropod, and an ankylosaur on a prehistoric adventure filled with sights and sounds identified back matter.
Author 6 books3 followers
December 29, 2020
These three young dinosaurs journey through treacherous land until they reach safety together.
The sparse text of rhyme serves as the sound track; the illustrations provide the bulk of the story.
A perfect marriage of the two parts of the whole.

Back Matter:
Listen to the Dinosong - nofiction facts about this time in history
Profile Image for Amy.
3,509 reviews33 followers
February 3, 2021
3.5 stars
Told entirely through playful, rhythmic onomatopoeia, this is a fun romp with 3 dinosaurs through daily dino adventures. I can see younger, preschool-age children really loving the feel and illustrations in the book.
Profile Image for Lori.
Author 77 books30 followers
August 5, 2020
Fun and simple, young readers will enjoy this read aloud romp as two dino friends make their way to safety after a storm. Readers will also enjoy the extra information about dinosaurs in the back.
Profile Image for Michelle Schaub.
Author 15 books38 followers
October 22, 2020
Perfect for little paleontologists! A dino-sized dose of onomatopoeia in this fun rhyming book.
Profile Image for Melissa Stoller.
Author 14 books53 followers
October 30, 2020
Run rhymes, onomatopoeia, and alliteration make this a great read aloud for dinosaur fans. Back matter adds enrichment and the illustrations are picture perfect! A winner!
Profile Image for Pinky.
7,034 reviews23 followers
November 2, 2020
Dinosaurs and the noises they make turn into a song which you can sing along to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sara.
303 reviews2 followers
November 6, 2020
Pretty illustrations, but no actual story. Just verbs and sounds, I guess this was over my head and my toddler’s. We were preferred an actual story about Dinos.
Profile Image for Mischief.
5 reviews
December 17, 2020
This book has no story it's just a bunch of onomatopoeia. My two year old wasn't into it and neither was I.
Profile Image for Molly Cluff (Library!).
2,491 reviews50 followers
December 29, 2020
I'm sure this will check out a whole bunch from our library. The dinosaur illustrations will be sure to appeal with little readers. The text is completely onomatopoeic and had a fun rhythm to it.
Profile Image for Mariposa Aristeo.
Author 3 books82 followers
June 1, 2022
A unique, fun picture book with gorgeous illustrations. One of my new favorite picture books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.