I love the artwork, its a really cute book for younglings!
And also for Adults that love their Dinosaurs! Easy to
read, easy on the eyes... and fun!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7423293269

If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur was a funny read that features all of the unconventional ways to "use" a dinosaur - my son was smirking throughout the book and wanted to read it again right away. The particular style of illustrations really aligned with the playful element and added a ton of personality to the pages.

If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur is a must-read for Dino loving kids! It's an absolutely great children's book that sparks the imagination with all the fun (and a few challenges) of having a dinosaur as a pet. From using it as a lawnmower to a burglar alarm, the possibilities are endless—except for one small downside… they eat a lot! The playful, cartoon-style illustrations add charm and humor to the story. My children were captivated by the story and particularly loved the ending, which they are convinced hints at a sequel.

This is an adorable picture book. I can see many kids enjoying this funny book. Could be a cute way to talk about chores or jobs.

I would also like a dinosaur in my living room!

This book is so cute! I love the fun ideas how to "use" your dinosaur. The illustrations are bright and vibrant, and the ending leaves room for more in the series. I need to know what to do with a kangaroo!

This book was absolutely delightful, with creative illustrations that really bring the story to life. It was the perfect length where it was engaging but also long enough to let the imagination flow. The way the dinosaurs were incorporated into real life situations made it witty and full of humor. My seven-year-old enjoyed it and got a few chuckles out of it. I highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin House Canada for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Just brilliant! I love the premise of a casual spare dinosaur “lying around” and the multiple suggestions of how to use them best. The illustrations made me laugh out loud and will be the source of much hilarity in many a home and classroom, I am sure! I’ll be using the idea to get my students to think of other multi-use animals. I do hope the ending is lining us up for a series!

This was super cute- especially if your child loves dinosaurs! My 2.5 year old had me reread it 5 times. The illustrations were vibrant and fun, there wasn’t a ton of text on each page. It held her interest perfectly!

Mother of two here, and we LOVED If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur! The illustrations, by Colin Jack, are fantastic, as it describes these silly uses for a dinosaur like, keeping away a burglar or grinding coffee. We loved the creativity of the writing by the author, Linda Bailey, and the open-ended question at the end. Such a fun book, perfect for my 8-year-old to read to my 5-year-old! It reminded us of Never Let a Dinosaur Scribble or How Do Dinosaurs Go To School. I would definitely recommend this to a dino-loving family!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this eARC!

First, the illustrations in this book are superb and felt a little nostalgic to the book illustrations I grew up with. This story is a lighthearted exploration of all the different ways dinosaurs could be useful if we had them lying around. It was short enough to remain engaging and not lose its charm but long enough to be useful for practicing engaged listening with younger children. If I was still teaching preschool I would definitely add this to my classroom.

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to read and review this today.

Who knew how useful different dinosaurs can be in normal life? This is a cute book for all of the young dinosaur lovers out there following the silly things that a dinosaur can help out with. And the illustrations are cute for readers of all ages.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada, NetGalley, and Linda Bailey for giving me access to this eARC for my honest review.

5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Linda Bailey for allowing me to read and review this book.

This book is a hilarious book of the many different uses of a dinosaur. It also talks about all the ways a dinosaur is not necessarily helpful with domestic activities.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with a dinosaur loving child. It will have them laughing and wishing for a dinosaur. I will definitely be buying this book for my child.

"If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur" is a charming blend of 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie' with a lovable Dino twist. The storytelling style pays homage to classic children's books while embracing the unique qualities that only a dinosaur could bring to life. The design and artwork are truly captivating, with the text gracefully weaving around the illustrations, creating an immersive reading experience. This book is a wonderful choice for dino enthusiasts.

I absolutely love the imaginative and playful spirit of this book! I can already tell it will become a favorite in my household. It's so enjoyable to envision all the things a dinosaur could help with, along with the fun reminders of what to avoid asking your Dino to do. The ending is particularly heartwarming, inspiring children to explore the wonders of various animals in their lives.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Pub Date Apr 29, 2025
Penguin Random House Canada | Tundra Books
Children's Fiction

I loved this book!!! Well-drawn, with little Easter eggs in the drawings that the adults will catch! This book is charming, silly and will fully engage both child and parent. It’s a great one for reading to a younger child but also a great one when a 4-6 yo starts to read to herself! I can’t say enough about this book…should be an instant classic! Might we see a sequel about the kangaroos?

I’m a sucker for fun illustrations!

My toddler dinosaur loving boy was obsessed with this book. It’s a funny and lighthearted book about what you can do (and not do) with a dinosaur.

This is one of the children’s books that you won’t get bored of when you have to reread it over and over!

Loved the illustrations, loved the story and loved the where's the bat aspect. I think children will be highly entertained.

Gorgeous and fun illustrations. Perfect pacing of the story. Love the idea of useful pets and every kind of dinosaur is unique with specific examples. Well done. Loved this one

This is a fun story telling all the things you can do with a dinosaur. It reminds me of books by Elise Paisley (If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don't). Children will enjoy reading about the many things one can do with a dinosaur and will even be given some suggestions on what not to do with a dinosaur. Great for early elementary aged students. Bright, colorful illustrations make this a fun read.

Such a fun new picture book to love! What if you had a dinosaur? What would it be good at, and what would it not be good at? Fun for any Dino lover in your life! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Great book for any dinosaur loving child. The illustrations are cute and goofy and my children loved looking at the pictures. The story takes you through how having a pet dinosaur can help you out by mowing your lawn, being a foot stool, but to never let your dinosaur around food! Very quick and easy read that I would recommend for ages 3-6.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Tundra Books for the advanced reader copy. This book is set to publish on Apr 29, 2025. I will be adding this to my physical book collection.