What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night: A Very Messy Adventure (What the Dinosaurs Did, 1)

Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal K-Gr 2—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

Praise for 'What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night: A Very Messy Adventure': A Bank Street College Distinguished Children's Book A 2017‑2018 Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee * 'The Tumas have much to answer for, as this album will join the many like scenes they have posted online as a record of their annual family 'Dinovember' celebrations which are already, no surprise at all, spawning fans and similar outbreaks of disorder in other locales. The authors may well have created a monster with this deliciously chaotic notion.'—Kirkus, starred review

'Filled with whimsy and imagination, this book will delight children of all ages. Detailed photographs will keep kids turning the pages and parents enjoying the rockling dino antics.'—School Library Journal

'Successfully captures the wonder, exasperation, and secret admiration provoked by these terrible lizards’ terrible behavior.'—Publishers Weekly

Praise for 'What the Dinosaurs Did at School': 'The Tumas' neon photographs of toy dinos draped in spaghetti, bouncing on soccer balls and devouring library books are mini‑masterpieces of creativity.'—USA Today

'The husband-and-wife team of 'Dinovember' fame pose their plastic dinosaurs with props and use perspective masterfully to stage their scenes. Better add plastic dinosaurs to the shopping list-kids will want in on the fun.'—Kirkus Reviews

'Amusing and fun, students who love dinosaurs will devour this book.'—School Library Journal

'The compositions are excellent, the props adorable, and the hyperbolic narration sustains a fever pitch.'—Publishers Weekly

Praise for 'What the Dinosaurs Did the Night Before Christmas': 'A fun-to-read, rhyming book that kids will enjoy...a nice addition to Christmas picture book collections.'—School Library Journal

About the Author Refe and Susan Tuma began photographing their dinosaurs' adventures in 2012, creating Dinovember-the month when plastic dinosaurs come to life-and igniting the imagination of children young and old across the world. They live in Illinois with their four children, Boris the dog, and, of course, the dinosaurs. They are the authors of the bestselling and award-winning What the Dinosaurs Did picture-book series. For more information and fun activities, they invite you to visit them online at dinovember.com.