Tiny Tooth

by Max Amato, Brendan McAuliffe

A romping, rhyming, onomatopoeic tale of Simon the Sabertooth Tiger! 

Join Simon the Sabertooth on his first hunt through the Ice Age. What prehistoric animals will he meet? What sounds will he hear? What places will he visit? Most importantly, can he save his pack from the terrible dire wolves?

A rhyming, immersive read-aloud experience, Tiny Tooth explores the awesome world of the Ice Age through one tiny sabertooth's eyes. With a message of bravery and working together, readers will root for Simon, the runt of the pack, and his friends! Back matter about the Pleistocene epoch, prehistoric animals, and common pack behavior included. A great story for any school or home library.

This book is the second book in a series, following STOMP, SOAR, DINO ROAR!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

38 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiny Tooth, written and illustrated by Max Amato and Brendan McAuliffe, is an engaging and imaginative picture book designed for children ages 3–8. Set for release on October 7, 2025, this is the second installment in the Dinos, Rhinos, and More collection—and it’s a standout addition.

There is much to admire in this Ice Age-themed adventure, from the playful rhyming text and rich sound-based descriptions to the atmospheric illustrations that perfectly suit the prehistoric setting. Simon, the titular "tiny tooth," is an endearing young saber-toothed cat whose bravery, cleverness, and loyalty make him a compelling character for children to root for.

One of the highlights of the book is the “Frosty Facts” section at the end, which introduces readers to real Ice Age creatures featured in the story. The authors also explore pack dynamics in a child-friendly way, offering insight into how different species interact and work together in groups. These educational elements are seamlessly woven into the book, adding depth without overwhelming younger readers.

The story is well-suited to a broad age range: younger readers will enjoy the rhythm and adventure, while older children will appreciate the factual content and learn something new about prehistoric life.

I rated Tiny Tooth four out of five stars and recommend this title for families, educators, and young explorers who enjoy a blend of storytelling and science.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Reading Adventures]

✨ New Read‑Aloud Favorite ✨
Simon the Sabertooth may be small, but his first hunt through the Ice Age is full of big lessons—bravery, teamwork, and finding your roar! 🐯❄️

We loved stomping, dashing, and growling along with the rhyming text, and the fun sounds had my kids giggling and joining in. The back matter adds fascinating facts about the Pleistocene epoch and Ice Age animals, making this story both exciting and educational.

Perfect for family storytime or classroom shelves, Dash, Growl, Tiger Prowl is a joyful reminder that even the smallest voice can be mighty. 🌟

📖 This is the second book in the series, following STOMP, SOAR, DINO ROAR!

KidsBooks #ReadAloud #FamilyReading #HomeschoolLife #IceAgeAdventure #BookReview #SabertoothTiger

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Kids through NetGalley.
Simon the Sabertooth struggles as his roar is too small and his claws are too short when compared to the rest of his pack. He tries to be intimidating to other animals but is mostly ignored. He gets discouraged and decides to abandon the hunt, but meets with Dire Wolves. He feels the love when his pack protects him and keeps him safe. I love the message that he will grow, but even if he doesn't he has a family. Realistic illustrations capture the time period and the species. Don't miss the brief summaries of the various animals shown and other informative text at the end of the book.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiny Tooth is the runt of the saber tooth tiger pack. He is still expected to go out and hunt. But all these animals are much bigger, much meaner-sounding than he is. What is he to do? And then he discovers the benefits of being a member of the pack, as the older members give him some backup. The illustrations show all the sounds and movement. This would work very well as a read-aloud using all the sounds the animals might make. The end had great ice age facts for readers.

If you or your children like dinosaurs and ice age mammals this would be a nice addition.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Explore, in exchange for a review.

[Yolanda Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Sourcebooks Inc., Max Amato and Brendan McAuliffe and Goodreads. I received this book as a giveaway.

Simon, a young saber-tooth, is going on his first hunt. The story is about his day ‘hunting’ and how his size impacts the things he does. In the end, he realizes, all though he is small, with his pack/family behind him he can do anything.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It has great illustrations and fun to read by adding all the descriptive sounds too. The authors also added some additional facts at the end. It was interesting to read about the animals and what life might have been like during the ice-age.

Overall, really enjoyed the book.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an engaging read in my family. We enjoyed learning how Simon found his place amongst his pack as well as the power of illusion when you’re surrounded by friends. It was also interesting to see some of the other prehistoric creatures that lived at the time of the sabertooth tigers. We especially loved reading the different facts about the animals included at the end of the story. The illustrations perfectly showed what was happening in the story making it easy to follow along. Overall, I’d recommend checking out this one.

eARC courtesy of Sourcebooks Explorer

[Sarah Starling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 5 year old and asked her opinions. She really liked the end of the book when Simon used his shadow to scare the dire wolves away. Her least favorite part was when Simon was feeling really sad.

As a parent reading this now nightly, I enjoy how quick it is and the (optional to read) animal noises throughout the book. It's also got very pretty illustrations.

#GoodreadsGiveaways

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun little book about a saber tooth tiger during the Ice Age and its troubles trying to learn to be a part of the pack.

If I had to guess, the lesson of the story is to never give up and find something that you can do. The book is full of extinct animals and facts about those animals.

People with younger children that like animals might want to give this book a try.

**I received a copy via a goodreads Giveaway.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is wonderful. It has a cadence and it flows, but there are some rough patches. This is about Tiny Tooth the sabretooth tiger. He is small so all the other animals in the jungle pay him no mind. until the dire wolves come, and the pack helps. This was a lovely story. I especially like the illustrations. They feel different than other children’s artwork. Like most children’s books there is more information in the back. The human versus animal size a great add-on.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the success of this book will depend on how you read it. You need to do all the animal sounds to make it fun. The illustrations are very two dimensional and not very engaging. The story is cute and appropriate for younger kids. The “frosty facts” at the end of the book are aimed more at older kids.
I received this galley from NetGalley.

[GEP Dodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiny Tooth by Max Amato is a charming and clever picture book that turns a simple visit from the Tooth Fairy into a delightful adventure. The playful illustrations and gentle humor make it a joy to read aloud, while the story’s warmth and whimsy leave you smiling long after the last page. A tiny treasure of a book!

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads Giveaways for this book. My children liked reading about the baby saber tooth and how his family/pack protected him. The illustrations were really cool. The informational pages at the end were a bonus. My 6 year old said he’d give it 99 out of 5 stars!

[Kait Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite children’s picture book! I love the theme of “you are stronger with your pack”, the onomatopoeia, and all the ice age animals introduced throughout. Super cute! I want more books like this!

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC from Netgalley.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon is not the most ferocious sabertooth tiger-- at least, not yet. Tiny Tooth features many boisterous, mega-sized Ice Age creatures along Simon's journey to find his voice!

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

In addition to the story, quick facts about each of the referenced prehistoric creatures are included. Filled with sounds within the text, this will be a fun read aloud for young dinosaur fans.

[Stella Marchione · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Simon struggles on the hunt, but the pack helps him in the end. Such good lessons to be learned here!

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This picture book is so fun! I love all the sounds and movement. This would be a super fun read-a-loud. The illustrations are beautiful. The end had great facts for littles. I highly recommend it for all littles and anyone else who likes dinosaurs and ice age mammals. For a fun, icy walk through the past, pick up this book!