Dinosaur Ballet

A cute journey into the world where dinosaurs gracefully pirouette through classical ballet. The book story the hilarious escapades of Billy's pet velociraptor as it joins his sister's ballet class. At first, the idea of dinosaurs attempting ballet seems ludicrous, but under the strict guidance of Madame Ciporilli, the dinosaurs master the art, challenging stereotypes along the way. What I enjoyed most about this children's picture book is its delightful blend of playful poetry and fun illustrations. The story not only entertains but also imparts a valuable lesson about breaking gender norms and embracing one's unique talents. Dinosaur Ballet was a wonderful read that brings laughter and a touch of whimsy to the world of children's literature.

Get ready for a dino-mite adventure with Dinosaur Ballet! S.P. Somtow doesn't just tell a story; he throws a full-blown dino ballet extravaganza! Picture this: a pet velociraptor in a ballet class. Yep, you read that right. This ain't your usual "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" bedtime story. Billy's dino is busting moves and stealing the spotlight in a world of tutus and T-Rexes. And guess what? It's freaking awesome! Why? Because Dinosaur Ballet isn't just another story; it's a riot of laughter and a dance party for your imagination. If you want your kiddos to giggle, learn about ballet, and witness dinosaurs twirling like pros, grab this book ASAP. Trust me, bedtime will never be the same again!

It’s really difficult to create visuals that are both hilarious and beautiful at the same time, but the illustrations in this delightful book managed it incredibly well.

This is such a cute idea for a book and one that (despite a seemingly wacky premise) actually does exactly what it sets out to do: Educate kids on ballet using basic dinosaur facts,

I was delighted both by the illustrations and the poems. My kids loved and may have (gasp!) accidentally learned something. And my 70-year-old mother who wants to better educate herself on ballet loved it and said she got a lot out of it. What a gem of a book, and as our family can attest, fun and enlightening for all ages.

I wish I could give this more than 5 stars. The pictures are so gorgeous and the poems are HILARIOUS. I recommend this book to everyone, no matter how old you are, because it's hilarious. I read a copy provide by NetGalley but I'm saving it to read a couple more times.
Thanks so much to NetGalley! And to S.P. Somtow for making these!

S.P. SomTow, the author and illustrator of this unique picture book full of darling poems, shows he knows his audience from the very first poem:

D’ye ever get the feeling
That all you do is boring?
Just get a dinosaur on stage
The public will stop snoring.

As a teacher in an elementary school, I can attest to that! Dinosaurs are everything! SomTow, a composer and the author of Dinosaur Symphony: A Book of Poetry and Pictures about Dinosaurs and Classical Music, takes on educating children on ballet through dinosaurs, as well.

Do I love the humorous poems? Of course! But the real star of this show (pardon the pun) are SomTow’s breathtaking illustrations of these lithesome dinosaurs (and ballet dancers, too). What child could resist ballet after this? Do yourself a favor: Buy this book even if you have no children in your life. You won’t regret it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Boys Town Press Publishing and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA in exchange for an honest review.