Dinosaur Dream

by Dennis Nolan

Late one night, Wilbur hears a tapping at his window. There, standing in the yard outside his window, is a baby apatosaur. Knowing that the dinosaur can't stay, Wilbur begins the long journey back through time to take him home.
Bravely facing a fierce saber-toothed cat and narrowly escaping a monstrous Tyrannosaurus rex, the two new friends trudge through the Ice Age and past the Cretaceous period, finally arriving at the Jurassic period. Once his long-necked friend is safely home, Wilbur makes the journey forward to his own time atop the largest, most spectacular dinosaur he's ever seen.

Genres: Picture Books, Dinosaurs, Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction, Animals

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1990

About the author

Dennis Nolan is an illustrator and writer of children's books.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a excellent way to introduce an interest in dinosaurs. Gideon is adorable (especially the face he makes as they tumble down the waterfall) and the text itself has a dreamy quality that works really well.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pictures and story couldn't be better.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story and the art work

[Emily Ntovas · Rating 4 out of 5]

#15 This book would be a great read aloud and anticipatory set to a lesson. We can even do water color painting with our stories to imitate the illustrations. It was really beautiful.

[James Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

from Heather:

This is a beautifully written book about a little boy who loves dinosaurs and learning about the different periods and animals that live in them. He dreams that he finds a baby dinosaur and must take him back to his correct time. During their journey they pass through each period, from the Ice Age, Age of Mammals, Cretaceous Period all the way back 190 million years to the Jurassic Period, the first age of dinosaurs. They have adventures meeting many animals of each period; saber- toothed cats, wooly mammoths, dawn horses, triceratops and barely escape from a tyrannosaurus Rex before they find their way to a herd of apatosauruses.

The book lays out each age in an exciting and easy to follow way so that you don't even realize how much you are learning while following Wilber and Gideon, the dinosaur named after Gideon Mantell who discovered the first dinosaur fossil. In the back of the book is beautiful time chart. It has become a favorite of my six year old.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful and simple book is what makes his stories so much fun to read. If you are a fast reader, than you know that you can finish this book in like five minutes, but for beginning readers, especially ones that like to read about dinosaurs, this is one story to really take the time to read and enjoy.

The story is basically about a boy who likes reading about dinosaurs and before bed he likes to look at one of his favorite ones. Then something happens and he hears a sound coming from his bedroom window. It is what he finds outside of his window that takes him on an adventure that he will never forget.

If you read this as a child, read it again, just for the sheer pleasure of the story and wonderfully illustrated pictures. I plan to read it again a few years down the road.

[Crazyharp81602 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own this book. A great adventure story where a little boy who leads a small baby Apatosaurus, Gideon, back to his respective timezone, The Jurassic Period and be reunited with his mother. Along the way, they encountered perilous obstacles such as a run in with a saber-tooth cat Smilodon, a drop over a waterfall and a scary encounter with a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Eventually, Gideon is reunited back with his mother in the Jurassic Period. A great bedtime book to read with your kids.

[Eithne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a library sale for my nieces sometime ago but forgot to give it to them. I'm sorry I didn't read it sooner, they've outgrown this sort of book now and what a pity. It's a lovely simple book that introduces children in a clever and gentle manner to the Quaternary, Tertiary, Cretaceous, and Jurassic periods. The illustrations are rich and beautifully done. Great book for young children in the first or second grades.

[EDUC535]

Sierra Birdsall Educ 535

This book is about Wilbur who hears something out his window late one night. In his yard was a baby apatposuar. Wilbur knows the dinosaur can't stay so the two of them head out of a journey back in time. The baby apatosuar and Wilbur meet some challenges along the way. They make it back to the Jurassic period where the dinosaur is safe and sound. Wilbur snuggles in on the dinosaur back and falls asleep.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little boy (who loves dinosaurs) finds himself face to face with a baby apatosaurus. Using his dinosaur books as a guide, he goes back through all the ages (e.g. ice, Cretaceous, etc) to take the little dinosaur homes.

Charming illustrations.

[Dawn Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Illustrations!!!

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dinosaur Dream
Nolan, Dennis
a dog and a dinosaur, find inspiration through their friendship

[Nakitah]

This book helps students explore the Jurassic time period and dinosaurs

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilbur loves dinosaurs and falls asleep after reading his favorite dinosaur book. He awakens to a baby Apatosaurus tapping on his window. Wilbur decides to take him back home to the Jurassic period.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle tale with excellent illustrations. A good night-time read.

[Eli Poteet · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think im most touched by the time chart in the back of this short story. the ancient periods and what species lived during them is a largely misunderstood concept of dinosaur kids books. the inacurrate combinarions of species is often the first thing i criticize actually so im very pleased by the precision of the author. the illustrations are by the author and i love the beautifully constructed images. if i was decorating a childs room i would love to have prints from this creator. i found the story a bit boring/slow/sleepy but for a bedtime story it seems very appropriate and intentional.