What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night (What the Dinosaurs Did #1)

This toys-come-alive story uses the seeming verisimilitude of photography and a passel of ubiquitous plastic dinosaurs to make very funny magic (this book was inspired by the Tumas' Tumblr, "Dinovember," and a version for adults was published in 2014). Shot almost entirely in the Tumas' house, the comic tableaus assert that the toy dinos are running wild by night--well, not "running," exactly, since they are as immobile as when they emerged from the manufacturer's mold. But given the right camera angles and clever propping, it becomes remarkably and delightfully easy to project vividly mischievous personalities onto these inanimate critters. Place a squirt bottle of mustard in the hands of one, and a condiment outlaw is born; stick a pigtailed doll wig on another, and it's a whole new twist on "fierce." The text can be overly literal ("Your parents probably don't let you play in the bathroom, but dinosaurs aren't very good at following the rules"), but it successfully captures the wonder, exasperation, and secret admiration provoked by these terrible lizards' terrible behavior. Ages 3-6. Agent: Kristyn Keene and Liz Farrell, ICM Partners. (Oct.)

K-Gr2—Filled with whimsy and imagination, this book will delight children of all ages as a group of rogue dinosaurs seek misadventure, since they "aren't very good at following the rules." Reminiscent of the humor and themes (toys come alive when children go to sleep) from the movie Toy Story, this picture book comes alive with bold action. In an authors' note, the Tumas detail the origins of the work and how they decided to document their children's dinosaur toys as they came to life each night. This book is a collection of photographs inspired from their Dinovember collections on social media. Scenes range from mud-filled messes, art inspired graffiti as "sometimes they go too far" and spray paint each other to images of the dinos playing in the laundry room, where the authors' warn that "dinosaurs are dry clean only." Detailed photographs will keep kids turning the pages and parents enjoying the rockling dino antics. VERDICT Recommended for picture book collections and coffee tables alike.—Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI