Princesses Versus Dinosaurs

by Linda Bailey, Joy Ang (Illustrator)

Two popular storybook titans, princesses and dinosaurs, battle to determine who should star in this laugh-out-loud picture book for fans of Shark vs Train and The Book With No Pictures .

This is a princess book!

No, it's a dinosaur book!

No, it's . . . a T. rex book? A dragon book? A rubber ducky book?!

From Linda Bailey, award-winning and critically acclaimed author, and Joy Ang, Adventure Time -artist and illustrator of the Mustache Baby series, comes an irresistibly irreverent picture book in which plucky princesses and determined dinosaurs have a battle royale over whose book this is. When they start calling in the big guns -- or rather, the big carnivores -- and decide to build a wall to resolve their differences, princesses and dinosaurs alike learn a thing or two about open-mindedness and sharing.

Genres: Picture Books, Dinosaurs, Childrens, Humor, Dragons, Fantasy, Princesses

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

I was born and grew up in Winnipeg —a daydreamer with her nose in a book. In my twenties, I traveled around the world, mostly by ship. Later, I moved to Vancouver, where I earned a B.A. and M.Ed. at the University of British Columbia. Among my jobs were travel agent, college teacher, instructional designer and editor.

For years, I dabbled with writing. But I didn't begin to write in earnest until I had two young daughters. My first book was published in 1992, and I have since written more than thirty others, including novels, picture books and non-fiction.

I live in Vancouver, a short walk from the sea. I write full-time and still love to travel, read and daydream.
- Source

Series:
* Stanley
* Stevie Diamond Mystery
* Good Times Travel Agency

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (1997): How Can a Frozen Detective Stay Hot on the Trail?
◊ Best Juvenile (2000): How Can a Brilliant Detective Shine in the Dark?

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite part of this book was the beautiful illustrations. This book does have a great message and I think kids will really enjoy this book.

This was not my favorite but kids will love it so I will be adding this to my library!

[Dax · Rating 5 out of 5]

This...THIS book is beyond hilarious and wonderful!! The color schemes are magical and fierce. Honestly I loved every single thing about this brilliant picture book!!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a boy in a dress and a dino singing showtunes--this book makes my heart happy. This is definitely a good one to add to your inclusive kid library.

[Liander (The Towering Pile) Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big storytime hit. My favourite part is definitely the surprise appearance part way through (just after Dennis and Shirley). I don't want to spoil it because it's part of the experience, lol!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really fun. I found this on a list of books that had positive portrayals of chubby kids and was happy to see that there was also a boy princess. Wins all around!

[Tara Engel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to dock a star for the taunting and telling each other to go suck an egg

[Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd honestly give it Eleven stars if I could. What a hit, my nieces are huge fans. I read it twice in a row!

[Becky B · Rating 2 out of 5]

The princesses think this is a princess book. The dinosaurs think this is a dino book. A disagreement ensues, and they call in their big backups. But that misfires. Will there be any peaceful resolution?

I'm not sure who the target audience is supposed to be for this book. The concept is fun and cute, but the dialogue seems aimed at middle graders or teens. At one point the princesses and dinos lob "Go suck an egg" at each other. Not exactly something any parent of kindergartners I know wants to hear them repeating. There's also a "What the heck" which I know would also get some young kids I know in trouble. Because of the graphic novel format of the illustrations, this almost seems like a short middle grade graphic novel. The concept is humorous, but it felt out of touch with the target audience. If it were a little longer and marketed for middle grade it would have earned more stars.

[Samantha Fraenkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my daughter and she loved it so much. I honestly like everything about this picture book: the super fun illustrations, the inclusive message, the funny dialogue, the whole package! Highly recommended!

ARC Provided by NetGalley

[Betsey Stahler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. Loved the illustrations and the "message."

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Penguin Random House Canada through NetGalley.
Humor on every page as the various book characters try to take control of the book. The princesses start and the dinosaurs soon appear. They spat and each brings in their big character - T-Rex and Shirley the Dragon. Then a massive rubber ducky takes command. Eventually, they build a wall down the center so the princesses and dinosaurs each have a side. After all the arguing and building, they realize they would have more fun together so start playing with each other. This way, it is indeed, everyone's book.
Clever humor with an important message underneath. Great book to enjoy laughter together and then talk about how we may like different things but underneath, we're all okay together.

[Katie Bloom · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. Why in a children’s book are the dinosaurs yelling at the princesses to “Go suck an egg!” So inappropriate. Be warned!

[Elley Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really cute and the illustrations are great, but be prepared to do some voices if you're reading this to kids who can't read on their own. The first few pages have narration, and then it devolves into all dialogue between the princess and the dinosaurs, which was sort of hard to read. The kids were really entertained by it, but it took some pointing to who was talking and explaining that Dennis is the T-Rex and LOTS of different voices to explain it's the various people in the book talking. There are some funny plot twists and a final message about both princesses and dragons having stuff to offer and we don't need to choose just one. Really cute but reads more like a comic book with the really heavy dialogue and the super limited narration.


Guest review by Jaime (age 6):
"I loved the T-Rex and the dragon dragon and the ducky! I love the ending part, like rubber duckyyyyy with the rubbery duckyyyy."
Where there any parts you didn't like? "I didn't like the first part."
(The review then dissolved into him singing "rubber duckyyyyy" over and over again and distracting his little brother from what he was trying to say.)


Guest review by Link (age 4):
"SO GOOD! And I love the dragon part! It's everybody book."
Where there any parts you didn't like? "I didn't like the dinosaur parts, I just only didn't like the dinosaur parts."
(Regardless, this was the most excited they've been to share their thoughts at the end of a book we've read for review together, so they were clearly VERY involved!)


A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.

Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a showdown between some diverse princesses and a bullying group of dinosaurs. Each are vying for top-dog stardom in a book! A shouting match occurs and lines are drawn as each side declares their right to be the headliners.

Things heat up. with no one backing down, so the dinosaurs decide to outrank the princesses by calling out their secret weapon which is surely to settle the argument. It's a humungous, scary, T-Rex named Dennis. Their mammoth surprise roars, crunches, stomps and crashes away as he tries to intimidate the princesses and gain control. Does the strategy work? No way. The princesses reciprocate by announcing their top-gun named Shirley. She is a huge purple dragon who Rrraahhhs and crackles and whooshes right back at the frightening T-Rex and his dinosaur homies. Oversized Rubber Ducky then shows up claiming he deserves to be the star of the book. Oh my!

The princesses then attempt to build a wall to keep their adversaries at bay hoping to restore peace once again. Will that solve the problem? Both sides learn valuable life lessons about acceptance, inclusiveness, open-mindedness, empathy and sharing. The fun illustrations are detailed, colourful and full of action and expression. Kids will love the vibe and discover the moral of the book...

"THIS IS A BOOK FOR... EVERYONE!"
"Princesses verses Dinosaurs" is a fun picture book that kids will love. I highly recommend it.

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts out with some princesses singing and dancing. The next page has dinosaurs roaring. Is it a princess book or a dinosaur book? They can’t decide so they have to bring in their friends to figure out what kind of book it is. Eventually they separate the book with a wall, but it may be more fun for everyone if they can all play together.

As soon as I saw the title of this book, I knew it would be adorable. The characters break the fourth wall by talking about what the book is about. It was also funny when they brought in some friends who took over the story.

This book defies the stereotypical gendered children’s stories. Princess stories are usually targeted towards girl readers, while dinosaur books are targeted towards boys. This book has both princesses and dinosaurs, so it is for everyone. There was also a princess who looked like a boy, so any child can see themselves in the princess characters.

This is a fun picture book!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princesses Versus Dinosaurs had me laughing like a kid hopped up on birthday cake and glitter glue! From the very first page, the book can’t even decide what it is and honestly, that’s half the fun.

Is it a princess book?
A dinosaur book?
A T. rex book?
A dragon book??
A rubber ducky book???

By the time the characters started arguing with me about who should be in charge of the story, I was absolutely cackling. Linda Bailey nails that chaotic, meta, fourth-wall-breaking humor that makes you want to read it out loud in your most dramatic voice just to fully lean into the silliness.

And the best part? The princesses and dinosaurs are equally extra sparkles and roars, tiaras and teeth, tantrums and tail swishes. It’s basically storytime turned into a comedy showdown, and I had such a blast watching these two camps duke it out for book-domination bragging rights.

If you love picture books that go completely off the rails or if you’ve ever had tiny humans in your life fight about what book should be read, this one will feel hilariously familiar!

[Theediscerning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extra-cheesy, super-silly, and ultra-worthy, this book shouldn't work, but does, through sheer bravura chutzpah. Some lovely princesses, of all body sizes and of course of all ethnicities, want this to be their book. Until some dinosaurs turn up out of their fiery prehistory, and demand it be their book. They eat princesses, they say – which is not what you want to hear from one of the vegetarian dinosaurs, but there you go. The dinosaurs call for back up, as do the princesses, and it all gets really antagonistic until it becomes clear it is a book for everyone. This is so inclusive you just have to wonder which dinosaurs self-identify as gay, and how many princesses are cis. The two sides get conveyed really well here; the dialogue is simple and obviously gearing up to conveying A Message, but still is in keeping with the plot, and never at any time feels forced. Great design, simple yet equally great story construction – this hits all the marks.

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a princess book. Wait, no... it's a dinosaur book. No, princess! I'm tellin' ya, dinosaur! Nah, it's a dragon and T. Rex book! It's a rubber duckie book!
At this point, things have gone too far, we're back to princesses vs. dinosaurs. Each side builds a wall to keep the other side out, but a couple of the princesses peek over and think the dinosaur side looks like fun. A couple of dinosaurs see cool stuff on the princess side, and want to check it out. Pretty soon, there are no more walls, and it's an everyone book!
This story is super cute, and the art is adorable! Also, I love how inclusive the princess group is- different skin colors, different body types, and different genders are represented. The messages of both sides having something to offer, and to try playing different things was conveyed well, and in a funny and engaging way. This would make a great read-aloud, but the reader needs to be prepared to do quite a few voices!

[Sushie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Iggi's Storytime Criteria
Age group: Elementary+
Content: princesses, dinosaurs, not getting along based on superficial differences, "I'm bigger so I win"
Plot: Er, not much. The book is split with Princesses mostly on the left page and dinos mostly on the right, with them arguing about whose book it is. They summon a t-rex and a dragon respectively to settle the fight, but a very big and very silly rubber ducky intrudes, then they build a wall. Then they get over the wall and play together.
Wordiness: Medium
Length: Medium
Illustrations: Why I gave this book 2 stars instead of one. Beyond the Princesses all looking like they had sunglass tans, it was all very cute and well drawn! Super fluid and expressive.
Page Gloss: Semi
Other: Gotta do the voices for this one, if I was going to do it, which I probably won't because the plot is quite flat. This theme of "girly" thing vs "boyish" thing has been done in other books to better results.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Princesses Versus Dinosaurs' by Linda Bailey with illustrations by Joy Ang is a picture book that doesn't quite know what it wants to be.

At first, the book is about princesses, but then the dinosaurs show up and claim it is their book. The battle goes back and forth in the pages of the book with each side escalating. Who will win?

I loved this loud, silly book and I suspect kids will too. The illustrations are fun and funny as well. I laughed out loud a few times reading this one.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Nicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story limps along with princesses' and dinosaurs' dialogue. They are fighting over whose book it is. The dinos bring in a t-rex to win the argument, then the princesses bring in a dragon. Then, inexplicably, a giant rubber ducky comes in a declares it is his book. Everyone ignores the big things and build a wall to divide princess area from dino area. Then they peak over the wall and decide that what the other side is doing looks fun. They all play together and invite the big things back to play too. "It is an everybody book". Look! The whole book in 1 paragraph instead of however many dozen pages it took. And to top it off, one of the princesses was a boy! Really?! Waste of paper.

[Carolyn at Bloomers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book.
The last two pages exclaim "this is a book for EVERYONE!" but the bulk of the book is exclusion and name calling. After 10 pages of that, the inclusiveness is kinda lost. The kids hear that last page as an adult saying Get along. An imposition, not a desire.

After reading this story aloud, I had to mediate real life conflicts among my preschoolers who copied the unkind words written here. That was the take away.

The message is buried. The story lacks any meaningful resolution; the two sides just decide to get along. There is no thought or consequences for harsh words spoken, no empathy building.

Sadly, disappointed.

[Jaymie · Rating 3 out of 5]

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

3.5 stars = Good+
This is cute. I liked the arrangement of the pages, like the split pages where the princesses are on one side and the dinosaurs on the other. I loved when they called in their heavy hitters to deal with the conflict. The ending where they figure out how to get along was fun. I got a kick out of this one. I think this will work as a read-aloud, but kids are going to also want to get a close up look at the illustrations.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As told by my 8-year-old daughter "this book is for everyone" and that can not be more true. Regardless of who reads this book or who you get it for it is not defined for a single type of person or gender. Girls or boys will enjoy it equally, not just that is is also funny and very inclusive. The illustrations are engaging enough to keep the kids entertained and is very simple to read and understand the concept. In this book, princesses and dinosaurs are fighting because they each want the book to be about themselves. After a series of different silly discussions they find out that the book does not have to be about a certain or specific thing but it can be about everything and for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Penguin Random House Canada) for an electronic copy to read and review although all opinions are my own.

[Delaney mybooksandkidsbooks]

What is this book about?
👑Princesses!
No!
🦕 Dinosaurs!
No!
Or maybe it’s about rubber ducks, or maybe even dragons!

This story is such a joy to read! Perfect for my son and daughter who usually do not choose the same books. Thank you to @tundrabooks for gifting this book to me for us to read and enjoy and honestly recommend to everyone we know! I think this book would be a perfect gift to a big brother or big sister of a new baby.

#lindabailey #joyang #bookreview #childrensbooks #picturebooks #kidslit #kidsbooks #childrensbookreview #bookrecommendations #gifted

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

When reader's begin this book they will encounter princesses. But wait, now there are dinosaurs! Is this a princesses book or a dinosaurs book? If each side builds a wall then it can be a princesses AND dinosaurs book! But what happens if the other side is doing an activity that the other side wants to do?

A humorous story that kids will enjoy. I'm just not sure about this book. Walls are built, one-up-manship is prevalent and there's questionable language: "go suck and egg". When I was a kid, this was the kid-version of swearing. Reader's can decide.

[suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the art style and the creativity that went into this book, though at times I feel it can be a bit cluttered. I do believe that was the point of the artist. However, I like how the story is about coming together no matter who you are. You can be friends even if you are different :) Plus who doesn't love dinosaurs and princesses.

Another one to add to my purchase list.

Side note:: I enjoyed the inclusion of the yellow princess~ so cute.

[Susan Underbrink · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin/Random House Canada/Tundra Books for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Thanks is a children's book. I found it to be a cute book, but very silly. The graphics were cute but a few times overwhelming as in bed cluttered. Including everyone is a great concept and accepting everyone an important thing to learn. Overall, an interesting read. 3 stars

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pure awesomeness. The princesses and the Dinos have a book war. Who does this story belong to? The illustrations are really what make this book. The wording is just bubble speech passing volleys back and forth a sometimes invincible wall. But sometimes taking time to look and see what the other is actually doing will make all the difference to see that they can coexist. Lots of fun for all readers, just some advice, change the cover.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bwahahahahahahaha. I loved this book. I work at a library and saw the cover so I had to read it. It was 100% worth the time. Princesses are fighting with the dinosaurs over the book. They both have to call in reinforcements, which backfires on them.

I loved that even though they are very different, they all end up liking the same things and banding together to save their book.

"This is a book for... EVERYONE!"