That's Not My Dinosaur...
That'S Not My... Series
on Goodreads (1,968)
What’s inside...
This is a touch-and-feel board book for very young children, part of the 'That's Not My...' series. Each page features a different texture designed to encourage sensory awareness and interactive play. The book includes simple, repetitive text and bright, colorful illustrations with tactile elements, making it popular among toddlers. A new edition of one of the very first books in the series features textured patches on dinosaurs, designed to help sensory and language awareness. The series is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a major marketing campaign and has sold over 5 million copies in the UK alone.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
1-3
Length
10 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What makes the dinosaur in the book different from the other dinosaurs we know about?
How do you think the dinosaur feels when it's not recognized as a dinosaur?
Can you think of a time when you felt different, like the dinosaur in the book?
Why is it important to celebrate everyone's unique qualities, even dinosaurs'?
What would you name your dinosaur if you had one, and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the book by asking open-ended questions that provoke more than a yes or no response. Validate their feelings and thoughts to make them feel heard and understood. Use the dinosaur's experiences as a way to discuss the importance of acceptance and individuality. Relate the dinosaur’s story to personal experiences in your child’s life to make the conversation more relatable. Finally, keep the discussion light and enjoyable to maintain your child’s interest in the book and its themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Sensory Exploration
Explanation: The book encourages children to touch and feel different textures, helping them explore their senses.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to be more observant and descriptive of their surroundings, enhancing their sensory awareness in everyday experiences.
Example Lesson: Language Development
Explanation: The repetitive phrases and simple vocabulary help children in acquiring and using new words.
Real-World Application: This can aid in better communication skills, allowing young children to express themselves more effectively at home and in social settings.
Example Lesson: Cognitive Development
Explanation: Identifying the dinosaur that's not theirs requires children to focus, remember, and distinguish between textures and features.
Real-World Application: Enhances cognitive abilities such as comparison and contrast which are useful in problem-solving tasks in real-life scenarios.
Example Lesson: Patience and Persistence
Explanation: As children go through each page looking for their dinosaur, they learn the values of patience and persistent effort until they achieve the goal.
Real-World Application: These skills are vital in school settings or when mastering new activities, fostering a tenacious spirit.