Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I’m so excited to feature this debut picture book from the lovely Robin Currie. You first saw the Cover Reveal here…and I thought, wouldn’t it be great to invite her back when the book launched…which is in just a couple of days on March 1st! And there’s also a GIVEAWAY! So please make sure you leave a comment for the chance to win a copy of this awesome book.

How to Dress a Dinosaur

Written by Robin Currie

Illustrated by Alycia Pace

Published by familius (March 2022)

Ages: 2-5

Themes: getting dressed, imagination, dinosaurs

Synopsis: From Amazon:

Every parent knows the struggle of getting a child dressed and out the door. But with a cast of hilariously coiffed dinosaurs to teach toddlers how to stomp their feet into pant legs and reach their claws into shirts, getting dressed becomes a game.

WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK:
1. This is a book that every parent can identify with…at one time or another, most kids don’t want to get dressed or put on their socks or whatever. And kids will LOVE the dinosaur analogies!
2. Fun text will have kids and parents laughing out loud!
3. Diverse characters and kid-friendly illustrations will keep kids engaged!

RELATED ACTIVITIES:

Photo courtesy: Dinosaur Theme- Weekly Home Preschool | What Can We Do With Paper And Glue (paper-and-glue.com)

For more dinosaur books for toddlers: Dinosaur Picture Books (212 books) | Goodreads

For more activities for kids, Robin Currie, the author of HOW TO DRESS A DINOSAUR, has a Pinterest page with books, crafts and snacks to make any dino lover ROAR!:  https//www.pinterest.com/currie0535/how-to-dress-a-dinosaur/

And, not only did Robin help me put this post together because she knew how busy I was, she also stopped by to share with us her thoughts on why humorous books are so important for children. Take it away, Robin!

ROBIN: We ALL Need a Laugh!

It has been a long cold Covid!

Since March of 2019 we have worried, fretted, isolated, crawled tentatively back out like so many prairie dogs to see if the coast was clear, only to hunker down again as another variant comes by. Many of our children have only been alive of aware of a COVID world – with the restrictions on family visit, day care closures and quarantines, library and community events cancelled and rescheduled. And constantly as parents we have weighed: is this activity worth the risk?

One thing that has sustained many adults is laughter. On TV, podcasts, social media, or books the opportunity to smile genuinely, chuckle loud enough that someone else asks what is funny, laugh until you can’t breathe. Remember the photo of Bernie Sanders with mittens? That was FUNNY!

Children need this opportunity, too. They do not demonstrate the frowny faces and worry lines we are developing but they are surrounded by hushed – or not so hushed – conversation, newscasts and radio interruptions. They need to find FUNNY!

Mayo clinic recommends laughter. ( Stress relief from laughter? It’s no joke – Mayo Clinic)  Here are some benefits they include:

• Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
• Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure.
• Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce stress.

Make time today to read a funny story, tell a joke (Remember: Knock knock…?), dance to fun music and laugh, laugh, laugh!

Thank you so much, Robin! This was great!

And friends, please don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway of a copy of HOW TO DRESS A DINOSAUR.

And please remember that the best gift we can give our favorite authors is to 

• Buy their books
• Write reviews
• Tell friends about the book
• Ask your local library to purchase it for their collection

We are counting down the days till the #50PreciousWords Contest. And we’ve added a few more prizes! If you are a writer, we’d love you to participate! And if you know a writer, please tell them about it. The Bookery, the independent bookstore that is facilitating the literacy initiative, has contacted three schools,