How Do Dinosaurs Say Trick or Treat?

PreS-Gr 2–Yolen and Teague build upon the success of their long-standing “How Do Dinosaurs” series with a title just in time for Halloween. Readers of previous entries will be familiar with the standard format: Yolen questions the dinosaurs about their hypothetical missteps and finishes with a reassurance of correct behavior expectations and a message of love. In the case of Halloween, the creatures’ errant ways are slightly more murky, as this is one occasion where children are generally allowed to run wild. Because of this, the “appropriate” behaviors seem slightly out of place and reflect what an adult might do on Halloween: carve pumpkins, hand out awards, and open the door (with an illustration of a dinosaur holding the bowl of candy out to a trick-or-treater). This, however, will not prevent children and families from delighting in this latest title. Teague clearly takes great joy in his illustrations, introducing new and unusual scaled and feathered species to a diverse group of children who express shock and surprise at their presence.