Yolen, Jane and Mark Teague. How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe? New York: The Blue Sky Press, 2015. 978-0-439-24104-5. $16.99. Grades PreK–2.

The latest addition to Jane Yolen and Mark Teague’s How Do Dinosaurs… series explores ways to stay safe while still enjoying everyday activities. The rhyming text unfolds in a large, easy-to-read font size, and readers are asked whether behaviors such as climbing high ladders, riding a bike without a helmet, running down the stairs, and jumping on beds are safe. Then, safe behaviors are modeled, including holding an adult’s hand when crossing the street, not going off with strangers, and staying in a parent’s sightline while swimming. Young readers will love watching their favorite prehistoric creatures in everyday scenarios, and parents will find lots of conversation starters in this easily-accessible, yet not preachy, text.

Picture Book       Anne Bozievich, Friendship Elementary, Southern York Co.

This title will be a great addition to units about staying safe, and I plan to pair it with Peggy Rathmann’s Officer Buckle and Gloria. Other titles in the How Do Dinosaurs… series are very popular with my kindergarten students, and this one has been a winner as well. The bright illustrations draw students in, and their large scale allows readers to linger over the details.