I Used to Be a Dinosaur
Will be published approx. on 30. July 2026
Book
Hardback
32 pages
978-0-06-289031-3 (ISBN)
Description
A mama hen demands respect for herself and her chicks-after all, they used to be dinosaurs! From acclaimed author Casey Lyall and award-winning artist Laurie Keller, this is a laugh-out-loud picture book about farmyards, self-esteem, and evolution for fans of Interrupting Chicken and Are You a Cheeseburger?
Did you know that chickens are descendants of dinosaurs? A soon-to-be mother hen just found out, and now she is reexamining her entire life. She used to be a dinosaur, a prehistoric queen with a mighty roar! Now she spends her days on a farm, waiting for her eggs to hatch. It's downright fowl! At least, it is until she decides to summon her own inner dinosaur.
This award-winning author and artist pair is a comedic dream team! A Spoonful of Frogs author Casey Lyall's read-aloud text is rhythmic and sassy. And Geisel Award winner Laurie Keller brings her signature zany sense of humor and irresistible energy to the expressive chicken and her dinosaur dreams. The result is a story time pleaser that gets sillier with every page turn.
A very funny, inventive picture book with themes of self-love and evolutionary science, I Used to Be a Dinosaur is a perfect choice for those who love Click, Clack, Moo and Mother Bruce.
Did you know that chickens are descendants of dinosaurs? A soon-to-be mother hen just found out, and now she is reexamining her entire life. She used to be a dinosaur, a prehistoric queen with a mighty roar! Now she spends her days on a farm, waiting for her eggs to hatch. It's downright fowl! At least, it is until she decides to summon her own inner dinosaur.
This award-winning author and artist pair is a comedic dream team! A Spoonful of Frogs author Casey Lyall's read-aloud text is rhythmic and sassy. And Geisel Award winner Laurie Keller brings her signature zany sense of humor and irresistible energy to the expressive chicken and her dinosaur dreams. The result is a story time pleaser that gets sillier with every page turn.
A very funny, inventive picture book with themes of self-love and evolutionary science, I Used to Be a Dinosaur is a perfect choice for those who love Click, Clack, Moo and Mother Bruce.
Reviews / Votes
"A riotous exploration of avian evolution. . . . With sparse text and high-energy illustrations, this is an ideal read-loud. . . . A hilarious, surprisingly informative standout." - School Library Journal (starred review)"Rousing. . . . Legacy is nothing to cluck at for the protagonist of this brassy story about unflappable confidence-no matter how many millennia are perched on the family tree." - Publishers Weekly
"A solid primer on evolution doubling as a silly story of the ultimate identity crisis." - Kirkus
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: Preschool, Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Dimensions
Height: 279 mm
Width: 216 mm
Weight
408 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-289031-3 (9780062890313)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Casey Lyall is the author of the acclaimed picture book A Spoonful of Frogs, illustrated by Vera Brosgol, as well as the picture book I Used to Be a Dinosaur, illustrated by Laurie Keller; the middle grade novels Gnome Is Where Your Heart Is; Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities; and the popular Howard Wallace, P.I. series; and the graphic novel The League of Littles, illustrated by Sara Faber. She lives in southwestern Ontario, Canada, where she also works at her local library.
Laurie Keller is the bestselling author and illustrator of many books for children, including The Scrambled States of America, Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners, Potato Pants!, and Arnie the Doughnut. We Are Growing!, part of the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series, received the Geisel Award. She lives in Michigan with her cats, who were disappointed to learn that they did not descend from dinosaurs. www.lauriekellerbooks.com
Laurie Keller is the bestselling author and illustrator of many books for children, including The Scrambled States of America, Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners, Potato Pants!, and Arnie the Doughnut. We Are Growing!, part of the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series, received the Geisel Award. She lives in Michigan with her cats, who were disappointed to learn that they did not descend from dinosaurs. www.lauriekellerbooks.com