Both Julie Abery board books, Baby Stegosaurus and Baby T. Rex are due in August 2023. However, I had the opportunity to read them via an online reader copy. And they are exactly what you think they would be. Really cute, simple, and quick stories about a baby dinosaur doing things. One is trying to save an egg that has rolled out of the nest, and the other is trying to catch up to their family. Both have exciting adventures along the way to the end. They are nothing fancy, but they are fun. They are good for the little dinosaurs in your life. Gender neutral characters, and rhyming text allow all babies to toddlers to see themselves and be engaged.
The rhyming text (for me) can be a hit or miss, but it was fun here. There are also words and phrases to grab your attention (the volcano gives off a crack!) These sounds and rhymes are also in Abery’s Little Otter and Little Walrus. Both are currently available, but I found reader copies online. The little otter has the adventure of trying to open an oyster but is having trouble. So, Mama comes to the rescue. We have another story with a crack! But this time we are getting a snack! And then the little walrus shows us what a baby walrus does (has fun with mom, annoys aunties, gets lost) and the happy ending. These books are also short, sweet, and simple. Just a fun reading time.
These four board books are great gifts. The nice thing about them is that the dinosaur books and the otter and walrus books have two different illustrators. Gavin Scott goes back in time to imagine dinosaurs sweet, funny, colorful, and more cartoon-like artwork. And Suzie Mason decided to go with more realistic drawings. Still colorful, they might not be as bold as the dinosaurs. And all of them are simply detailed, with enough to enjoy but not overwhelm, still are busy to look at.
