Day 85: How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

If your house is anything like ours, bedtime sometimes manages to be the most hectic time of the day.   I don't know where my son gets his energy bursts right before bed, but I would pay a lot of money to be able to harness even a fraction of that energy into myself at the end of a long day.  Perhaps in some households, children go calmly from bath, into pajamas and then bed to read stories.  But not here!  Baths are usually followed by raucous silliness, jumping on the bed, twirling around the room, and finally settling down with a few good bedtime books.  One of our favorites is How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by the fabulous Jane Yolen.  If you haven't seen this book yet (or any others in the How Do Dinosaurs series), I highly recommend it!  Mark Teague's pictures are sure to delight both you and your child, and the story is bedtime reading perfection.  It's funny, cute, and conveniently on the shorter side -- excellent for when your little one is requesting just one more story before you turn out the light.  Your child will certainly be able to relate to the dinosaurs' desire to stay up and play a little longer, and you'll love the expressions of parents as they try to cajole their beloved creatures into bed.  The names and pictures of the different dinosaur species appear on the inside covers of the book, and each creatively appears somewhere in the illustrations, as well.  I also love that it features some less well-known species, such as the Corythosaurus, Trachodon, and Apatosaurus.  Of course, there is also the wonderful message of how to get ready for bed without a fuss.  After all, if dinosaurs can do it, so can our rowdy little monsters, right?  So how does a dinosaur say goodnight?  Does he "slam his tail and pout?  Does he throw his teddy bear all about?... No, dinosaurs don't.   They don't even try. They give a big kiss.  They turn out the light.  They tuck in their tails.  They whisper, 'Good night!'"  In my opinion, this book is a must for any preschooler.  But be warned: it might result in lots of giggles, hugs, and bedtime kisses from your own little dinosaur!