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We Are the Dinosaurs
Laurie Berkner, “the queen of children’s music,” ( People ) pairs the lyrics of her beloved hit with Ben Clanton’s whimsical illustrations in this winning, adorable picture book—a must-have for fans of Laurie, dinosaurs, and all things cute.
We are the dinosaurs
Marching, marching
We are the dinosaurs
Laurie Berkner’s chart-topping, beloved hit “We Are the Dinosaurs” is now a picture book! Featuring an adorable cast of characters and vibrant, playful art by Ben Clanton, We Are the Dinosaurs transports readers back in time to when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.
WHADDAYA THINK OF THAT?
We are the dinosaurs
Marching, marching
We are the dinosaurs
Laurie Berkner’s chart-topping, beloved hit “We Are the Dinosaurs” is now a picture book! Featuring an adorable cast of characters and vibrant, playful art by Ben Clanton, We Are the Dinosaurs transports readers back in time to when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.
WHADDAYA THINK OF THAT?
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
December 9, 2024
DINOTASTIC! This was a really fun read! Lots of dinos are in this book; a child interested in a particular dino will then be able to do more reading on it. Books like this really help a child start to focus on a particular subject; going from a very broad overview to a more research driven focus that helps them learn more.
March 28, 2019
Using her song, "We Are the Dinosaurs," as a starting point, children's musician and author Laurie Berkner presents this picture-book adventure featuring a group of young dinosaurs who venture out on the nearby mountain for a day of hiking and fun. The main text of the song is augmented by the dialogue amongst the dinosaurs, and the accompanying artwork by Ben Clanton is done in pencil, acrylic and watercolor.
Truth be told, I had never heard of this song before picking up We Are the Dinosaurs, so I had no auditory point of reference whilst reading. I suspect that this affected my enjoyment level, and that I would have been less indifferent if I actually knew the tune. That said, I do tend to feel that if a song doesn't tell enough of a story to stand up by itself textually, it probably isn't the best selection for a picture-book. I've noticed recently that many of the song-based picture-books I've picked up (Bob Dylan's If Dogs Run Free comes to mind in this respect) were less than impressive. Recommended primarily to those who are already fans of the song.
Truth be told, I had never heard of this song before picking up We Are the Dinosaurs, so I had no auditory point of reference whilst reading. I suspect that this affected my enjoyment level, and that I would have been less indifferent if I actually knew the tune. That said, I do tend to feel that if a song doesn't tell enough of a story to stand up by itself textually, it probably isn't the best selection for a picture-book. I've noticed recently that many of the song-based picture-books I've picked up (Bob Dylan's If Dogs Run Free comes to mind in this respect) were less than impressive. Recommended primarily to those who are already fans of the song.
August 27, 2023
Would be greatly improved
if the words were removed.
if the words were removed.
March 21, 2017
Taking off on a friend-packed adventure, these dinosaurs march over, on and beyond with thrills and fun.
This book is based on a song from Laurie Berkner, and although I haven't had the chance to hear it, this book is a fun filled adventure all of its own. The dinosaurs are friendly, ready to explore and have a good time. The friendship between them resonates off every pages as they go out into the world, explore and simply have a great time.
Younger listeners up to 3 or 4 years old will especially enjoy this prehistoric gang. There isn't much of a message behind it, outside of friendship and having a good time together, but its a sunny attitude which comes across loud and clear. It's sure to leave a grin and happy giggles time and again.
The illustrations are bright, fairly simple and colorful. The dinosaurs are a cute group and worthy of several smiles. The adventures are simple and invite for page turning and exploring again and again. Especially dinosaur fans will enjoy this one and wish they could romp around and enjoy life with this bunch too.
I received a complimentary copy and found it adorable!
This book is based on a song from Laurie Berkner, and although I haven't had the chance to hear it, this book is a fun filled adventure all of its own. The dinosaurs are friendly, ready to explore and have a good time. The friendship between them resonates off every pages as they go out into the world, explore and simply have a great time.
Younger listeners up to 3 or 4 years old will especially enjoy this prehistoric gang. There isn't much of a message behind it, outside of friendship and having a good time together, but its a sunny attitude which comes across loud and clear. It's sure to leave a grin and happy giggles time and again.
The illustrations are bright, fairly simple and colorful. The dinosaurs are a cute group and worthy of several smiles. The adventures are simple and invite for page turning and exploring again and again. Especially dinosaur fans will enjoy this one and wish they could romp around and enjoy life with this bunch too.
I received a complimentary copy and found it adorable!
June 7, 2017
This is a cute book about dinosaurs (originally a song). It is illustrated by one of my favorite authors (Ben Clanton) and has adorable pictures!
September 7, 2018
2.5 stars for the text, 4 stars for the illustrations => 3 stars.
July 14, 2026
Sing-along book | Colorful illustrations | Humorous - Emma
December 9, 2024
My Granddaughter loves this book! We love to march, march like the dinosaurs! Our library also plays the song by Laurie Berkner as the toddlers march around the library. Berkner is such a fun author/singer for littles!
May 24, 2019
The 2 yo's favorite song is also a favorite book!
PS-The song is a major earworm, proceed at your own peril
PS-The song is a major earworm, proceed at your own peril
June 20, 2017
This book is bound to be a favorite for all dinosaur loving preschoolers. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and very engaging. The adventure that the dinosaur friends go on is fun and exciting (picnic on a mountain--volcano). The main text is made up of the words to Laurie Berkner's song, "We Are the Dinosaurs". For a story time, it would work well to teach the students the words to the song by reading through the book first, then having the students chant (or sing with the recording) as you repeat the book a second time. The commentary included with the art adds further opportunities to interact. I could even see myself having the students (or children in the case of a public library) getting up and marching behind you as you lead them on an adventure. Loads of fun to be had with this book.
January 19, 2018
Beloved children's musician Laurie Berkner reprises her fun action song in this very appealing picture book. Kid dinosaurs march around for the fun of marching and feeling big and powerful. They take a nap, but when they wake the ground is rumbling, so they all race back to their dinosaur families. Exuberant, vivid cartoons channel the goofy kid dinosaurs perfectly, some with jewelry, bandanas, or glasses, as they roam around. Exclamatory captions add depth to the individuals. Of course, all end up safe in the arms of loved ones. Endpapers show a roughly drawn map of the action. Sheet music for the song is printed on the back book cover.
May 10, 2017
Finally, a book to go with the best action song every for preschoolers.
The dinosaurs are cute and friendly and are great friends in this book.
The endpapers have a map for children to look at of the dinosaurs journey.
Should be a hit!
The dinosaurs are cute and friendly and are great friends in this book.
The endpapers have a map for children to look at of the dinosaurs journey.
Should be a hit!
September 25, 2017
Fun book with lyrics and a chant to repeat all the way through. The children you read it through will repeat and remember the lyrics and probably want to do the actions. If you buy the book you get sheet music from the author's band.
May 21, 2017
Maybe five stars because I love the song so much? The illustrations are great
May 23, 2017
Loved the pictures and the story
August 21, 2017
Perfect for preschool story time!
August 31, 2017
We love Laurie Berkner's music and it was fun to have a book to go with it. You can't help but sing the words and my kids marched around our house humming the tune for a long time.
September 27, 2017
Lots of fun if you read it while you listen to the song.
December 21, 2017
A picture book version of the popular children's song by the same title, this might be a fun choice for a storytime singalong. The song and text incorporate several action words (march, eat, rest) that can get audiences moving. Kids will especially enjoy getting to do a great big roar!
The illustrations are cute, featuring big-eyed cartoon dinosaurs made from simple shapes. The many dialogue asides can get a little distracting, however, especially if you plan to sing the story. I would probably just leave them out if I were to use this for a read aloud.
There are also a few places where the pictures are confusing. For instance, there's one page where the narration says the dinosaurs "stop and take a rest over in our nest," but they're clearly sleeping in a cave, not a nest. It also took me a while to figure out why the dinosaurs are frightened toward the end of the story. It wasn't until I saw the map on the endpapers that I realized the volcano had just erupted!
I do feel like Berkner overcomplicated things a little by trying to incorporate an actual storyline into the book. I think it would have worked better simply as illustrations paired with the lines of the song. Still, it's a cute book with a catchy song, and I could definitely see myself using this for a dinosaur themed storytime!
The illustrations are cute, featuring big-eyed cartoon dinosaurs made from simple shapes. The many dialogue asides can get a little distracting, however, especially if you plan to sing the story. I would probably just leave them out if I were to use this for a read aloud.
There are also a few places where the pictures are confusing. For instance, there's one page where the narration says the dinosaurs "stop and take a rest over in our nest," but they're clearly sleeping in a cave, not a nest. It also took me a while to figure out why the dinosaurs are frightened toward the end of the story. It wasn't until I saw the map on the endpapers that I realized the volcano had just erupted!
I do feel like Berkner overcomplicated things a little by trying to incorporate an actual storyline into the book. I think it would have worked better simply as illustrations paired with the lines of the song. Still, it's a cute book with a catchy song, and I could definitely see myself using this for a dinosaur themed storytime!
May 11, 2017
Review originally published on my blog,
Nine Pages
.
This book takes the text of Laurie Berkner’s song and adds more of a story to it with its illustrations and asides. I read the story before finding the song. The song talks about dinosaurs broadly. The picture book narrows the story a group of friends—different types of dinosaurs—who adventure towards the top of a volcano—and run away from the rumbling mountain and back to their parents to revel in their bravery and adventure. Ben Clanton’s bright, cartoony dinosaurs are memorable but I didn’t discern much personality from any of the dinosaurs, which was a bit disappointing.
This book takes the text of Laurie Berkner’s song and adds more of a story to it with its illustrations and asides. I read the story before finding the song. The song talks about dinosaurs broadly. The picture book narrows the story a group of friends—different types of dinosaurs—who adventure towards the top of a volcano—and run away from the rumbling mountain and back to their parents to revel in their bravery and adventure. Ben Clanton’s bright, cartoony dinosaurs are memorable but I didn’t discern much personality from any of the dinosaurs, which was a bit disappointing.
January 3, 2018
If you, and your storytimers, know this song by Laurie Berkner, then you can totally read this book and have a great time MAR-CHING, MAR-CHING. My toddler niece is obsessed with this song.
If you don't know the song, the book doesn't hold that well on its own. The illustrations tell the story of a group of dinosaur children on an adventure that feels eerily similar to the children's game "going on a lion hunt," and will work as a lapsit, but the actual words of the song don't work well as a book without signing them.
However. This song is awesome and this book is adorable and my toddlers would love this for a sing-along dinosaur-themed toddler storytime if you can help newbies through the lyrics.
If you don't know the song, the book doesn't hold that well on its own. The illustrations tell the story of a group of dinosaur children on an adventure that feels eerily similar to the children's game "going on a lion hunt," and will work as a lapsit, but the actual words of the song don't work well as a book without signing them.
However. This song is awesome and this book is adorable and my toddlers would love this for a sing-along dinosaur-themed toddler storytime if you can help newbies through the lyrics.
July 31, 2018
Berkner’s well-known song brough to life in a book. The group of young dinosaurs take a trip to a “mountain” which turns out to to be —surprise — a volcano (kids enjoyed seeing that)! Kids love getting to roar and seeing the different actions that the dinosaurs are doing (interest in what they’re eating and where they are traveling to). Great for story time or any addition to a reader who has an interest in dinosaurs.
However, if your readers want to sing along with the lyrics - it can be easier to bypass the cute dialogue that the dinosaurs have with one another in the illustrations and sing instead.
However, if your readers want to sing along with the lyrics - it can be easier to bypass the cute dialogue that the dinosaurs have with one another in the illustrations and sing instead.
August 26, 2018
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
A wonderful illustrated adaptation of Laurie Berkner's insanely catchy song, "We Are the Dinosaurs". Nice pictures. I liked that there is some dialogue thrown into the book to add another element. I also liked that the book sort of made a little story out of the song and gave some personality to the characters.
Great for dinosaur lovers and Laurie Berkner fans alike. This book is perfect for sing-along time or helping children learning to read who are familiar with the song and can follow along with the words.
Warning: this song will be stuck in your head for days.
A wonderful illustrated adaptation of Laurie Berkner's insanely catchy song, "We Are the Dinosaurs". Nice pictures. I liked that there is some dialogue thrown into the book to add another element. I also liked that the book sort of made a little story out of the song and gave some personality to the characters.
Great for dinosaur lovers and Laurie Berkner fans alike. This book is perfect for sing-along time or helping children learning to read who are familiar with the song and can follow along with the words.
Warning: this song will be stuck in your head for days.
August 4, 2017
Sing-songy text reminds me of "We're Going On a Bear Hunt" as this is an adventure and can be chanted and invites youngsters to 'sing' and march along even though no tune is shown. They are scared by noises, but no source is identified.
A bit of a surprise ending that they return home to their parents. Young dinosaur fans will love shouting the last "Rooaarrr!"
Full color illustrations of dinosaurs with large eyes (one even has glasses) incorporate side sounds and dialogue, such as "Grunt" "Slurp" and "Snore."
A bit of a surprise ending that they return home to their parents. Young dinosaur fans will love shouting the last "Rooaarrr!"
Full color illustrations of dinosaurs with large eyes (one even has glasses) incorporate side sounds and dialogue, such as "Grunt" "Slurp" and "Snore."
November 27, 2017
Do you have an emerging reader? Have you heard the classic kindergarten sing-along "We Are the Dinosaurs"? If so, this book is for you! It's brightly colored illustrations, and fun text illustrates and adds on to the classic primary song. To help struggling readers, Berkner also included "Our Map" in the beginning of the story to help younger readers follow along with the many different settings of the story. Overall, a great book to help kids get excited about reading while comprehending the text.
August 26, 2023
I don't understand how this is even a book. I read this as part of a story walk for the Hudson Public Library (Ohio), and was completely disappointed. What I came away from it was that they are dinosaurs and they liked to stomp on the earth and make it flat. Leaving a very strange, confusing message, (I mean what was the message)? I didn't understand the point of the book, I didn't even feel like any of the dinosaurs liked what they were doing, they just did it because that's what they do. It was very one dimensional. Highly not recommended.
April 29, 2021
A tale set to a rousing beat and melody that will have storytime participants interacting--marching, stomping, laughing, and roaring (sheet music included on the reverse side of the book jacket; performance also accessible via YouTube)
Publication Date: 2017
Elements: Lyrical text (can be sung aloud); bold, vibrant illustrations
Connection/Topics: Dinosaurs, exploration
Related Resources:
https://www.simonandschuster.com/auth...
https://youtu.be/TnPAWLKUd1c
Publication Date: 2017
Elements: Lyrical text (can be sung aloud); bold, vibrant illustrations
Connection/Topics: Dinosaurs, exploration
Related Resources:
https://www.simonandschuster.com/auth...
https://youtu.be/TnPAWLKUd1c
May 5, 2017
As someone unfamiliar with the song I had a reeeaaally hard time figuring out the pacing. Also, all of the little additions in word bubbles makes this a challenging read-aloud. But the story is cute enough and the illustrations are fun. Berry and I looked up some of the author's music videos after and while super cheesy, she thought they were fun. ;)
May 23, 2017
A rhythmic read aloud about the hit dinosaur song set against mixed media illustrations that depict the dinos in preschool simplicity as opposed to a strictly realistic rendering.
This would be a fun read aloud for Toddlers and PreK, but the dino side conversations were a bit distracting and I might omit them when I chose to share this aloud.
This would be a fun read aloud for Toddlers and PreK, but the dino side conversations were a bit distracting and I might omit them when I chose to share this aloud.
January 29, 2019
I simply love how many opportunities this book presents. Children can learn and understand what dialogue is, sound effects, and different tones. The illustrations were the first thing I noticed with this book and they continue to get better as the book goes on. So vivid and welcoming. The age group I would suggest this with is 3 to 6 year olds.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews