Some Dinosaurs Are Small – written and illustrated by Charlotte Voake

 Some Dinosaurs Are Small – written and illustrated by Charlotte Voake, Candlewick, 9781536209365, 2020 

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4

Format: Hardcover

What did you like about the book?  This simple story about dinosaurs has absolutely beautiful illustrations. Some dinosaurs are small and some are big, but they are all gorgeous, with simple flat, watercolor planes rimmed with thick, black lines. There’s lots of brushstrokes in evidence and subtle variations in color to indicate shadow and texture. A little, tiny and fanciful dinosaur is out collecting fruit in a tiny metal pail (already telegramming readers that this will not be a dino-fact book). We do learn that some have flat teeth for munching leaves while the big T-Rex-types have sharp teeth and pointy claws, meant for taking food away from the little ones and eventually eating them. The cutie is soon on the run but will be saved by the timely arrival of an ENORMOUS dinosaur, who happens to be her mom. Hooray! A nice meditation on being rescued by Mom and an absolutely knockout jacket with a huge, yellow T-Rex tiptoeing up behind an unsuspecting future meal, winsomely carrying a flower.

Anything you didn’t like about it? No.

To whom would you recommend this book?  Children ages 3-6, especially those who aren’t too picky about dinosaur facts.

Who should buy this book? Elementary schools and public libraries.

Where would you shelve it? Picture books.

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No

Reviewer: Susan Harari, Keefe Library, Boston Latin School, Boston, MA

Date of review: August 8, 2020