“All the elements of a winner come together in this enchanting effort: : a charming main character, Ayto’s stylish mixed-media illustrations with a jazzy color palate, polished prose and a rewarding story.” ―Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“The abstract, angular images are particularly striking…appealing unity in this quirky Christmas offering.” ―Booklist

“With its lively, bold watercolors filled with humorous details, this tale is likely to be a storytime hit well beyond the Christmas season.” ―School Library Journal

“Sophisticated readers will like this offbeat Christmas story.” ―Publishers Weekly

“A witty meander through the paths of bedtime books and fairy tales.” ―Daily Press

“Surprise! This is a holiday book. But, it’s the best kind. It’s festive, funny, clever and multi-layered enough to make it out of the ’tis the season stash to claim a spot on the shelf year-round.” ―Florida Times-Union

“Kids of all ages will like the silliness and the mash-up of all these stories…The details are fascinating… The story is fun, fast paced, and uses a large amount of dialogue, giving the reader many opportunities to stretch their vocal characters.” ―Kid Lit Reviews

“This delightful book, with its unique multimedia illustrations, will charm young readers who appreciate the importance of having a teddy bear to sleep with every night.”—Through the Looking Glass

“This hilarious import features a clever wolf, a nearsighted shepherd with a short attention span and a plot spun out through an artful blend of irregular rhyme and wordless scenes.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Ayto nicely developes the suspense… this book generates excitement with the tried-and-true sheep vs. wolf formula.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Children will giggle over the comical illustrations…Laughter will ring out.” ―School Library Journal

[show_more more=”Read More” less=”Read Less”]

“The rhyming verses roll along smoothly with some very satisfying turns of phrase, while the stylized ink drawings and fine watercolor work give the art real pizzazz.” ―Booklist

“The dynamic, cartoonlike pictures heighten the story’s humor; classic comic sight gags inject the scenes with energy and movement.” ―The Horn Book Magazine

“Playful illustrations, colorful commentary by the sheep, and rhythm of the text will no doubt make this an excellent read aloud and bedtime staple. This is a must have for all picture book collections.”—Baker & Taylor CATS Meow

[/show_more]

“Ayto’s minimalist line drawings deliver laughs…[Middleton] does a fine job of channeling the fears—or fantasies—of young dinosaur fans.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Children will enjoy the small museum warning signs, the droll humor, and most of all the surprise ending… Great for kids who like to tell their parents a thing or two about dinosaurs.” ―Booklist

“A comedic treat… The dialogue between father and son is delightfully conducive to a read-aloud, and Ayto’s artwork adds rich, rib-tickling layers to the book’s humor.… A highly entertaining selection that is sure to be a big hit.” ―School Library Journal

“Young children going through the ‘dinosaur phase’ of enthusiasm for the Mesozoic and its reptiles will get a kick out of Julie Middleton’s ‘Are the Dinosaurs Dead, Dad?’ with comic illustrations by Russell Ayto.” ―The Wall Street Journal

“This is a clever book, with delightfully whimsical illustrations…This is a great way to introduce kids to a few dinosaurs without making it seem like learning.” ―Blue Owl Reviews

“Instead of the usual skeletal dinosaurs, Ayto’s bright illustrations of the dinosaurs’ bodies, give life to the museum experience. Throw in the dinosaurs names on the pedestals and the amusing trip becomes a disguised learning opportunity. Recommended fun for the young reader and a great read aloud for parents.” ―Boys and Literacy

“I couldn’t wait to look the Dinosaur names up on the computer to learn even more about them. Very interesting indeed! The story is fun and information and a lot of imagination in the author’s writings. The illustrations are very funny, unique and creative and depicts the author’s story to a T. Tyrannosaurus that is.” ―It’s About Time MaMaw

“Not only is there a funny story between Dave and Dad, but there is good information about each dinosaur in the book, along with a pronunciation key…Adding more character, each dinosaur is fleshed out with imaginative features, rather than the usual skeletal presentation…When asked, ‘Read it again?’ parents will not mind obliging repeatedly.” ―Kid Lit Reviews

“The book has predictable text that allows the listeners chime in, making this a good pick for dinosaur storytime.” ―Letters, Numbers and Books, oh My!

“A strikingly illustrated, fun learning adventure fit for all ages…one might even coin it edutainment, with a twist (which comes at the end…a BIG surprise!). Little ones will get a kick out of the adventure without things getting too scary, while older readers enjoy the small details (and new facts!) picked up along the way.” ―Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

“This is one of those terrific books that relies upon dramatic irony via the illustrations, because Julie Middleton’s text doesn’t let on to what’s happening. Young readers, however, can certainly see for themselves that toes, tails, and terrible jaws are moving! Artist Russell Ayto’s whimsical images are half the fun, showing us giant-headed monsters balanced on impossibly tiny legs.” ―Teach With Picture Books

“In this deliciously witty story, Middleton brings a fresh twist to a familiar day out that will leave readers laughing out loud. Ayto’s quirky illustrations add surprising details to this fast-paced museum adventure…All of the illustrations throughout the book have Ayto’s characteristic thin arms, long legs, emotion-filled faces and vibrant coloring. Couple this with a fun story about a boy who questions everything and you’ve got a fantastic picture book children and parents will enjoy reading.” ―There’s a Book

“The story is simple, but full of dinosaur facts that kids love. The illustrations really steal the show for me, however. Our dinosaurs are quirky, artsy even, with fun patterns and hilarious features…A fun, colorful book that’d make a quick read-aloud, but also help inspire further exploration. And maybe prompt a few museum trips.” ―A Word’s Worth