When I Grow Up, I Want to Be a Dinosaur
When I Grow Up Collection Series
What’s inside...
The perfect book for young dino lovers! Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptor! Brachiosaurus, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus, too! There are so many cool dinosaurs, which will you be when you grow up? Wait…You can’t be a dinosaur? What will you be instead? A young girl wants to be a dinosaur when she grows up. Unfortunately, she is told she can’t be a dinosaur. Faced with this news, she has to change her goals and instead decides she wants to be a paleontologist. Encourage your young dinosaur aficionado to embrace their love of prehistoric creatures and inspire them to consider a career in paleontology. Although they can’t be a dinosaur when they grow up, they can follow along with this fun and educational book to learn about what paleontologists do. Visit www.mikaylaruvalcaba.com/WIGUDino for fun dinosaur crafts and activities.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-8
Length
27 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What kind of dinosaur would you like to be and why?
How do you think dinosaurs helped each other out in the wild?
If you were a dinosaur for a day, what would you do?
Why do you think dinosaurs are so fascinating?
What qualities do dinosaurs have that you admire?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive gestures and voice modulations to make the discussion lively and engaging.
Relate the dinosaurs' characteristics to real-life situations or family values to make the themes more relatable.
Encourage your child to draw their favorite dinosaur from the book and describe its features and habits.
Pause at key moments in the story to ask predictive questions and develop critical thinking.
After reading, visit a museum or explore online resources about dinosaurs to extend learning.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Exploring aspirations
Explanation: The story inspires children to think about their future ambitions by showcasing a protagonist who dreams of becoming something as magnificent and awe-inspiring as a dinosaur.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to discuss their own unique interests and potential career paths, fostering early goal-setting behaviors.
Example Lesson: Importance of imagination
Explanation: The book highlights the power of imagination through playful scenarios where the protagonist envisions various types of dinosaurs.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to engage more deeply in creative play, enhancing cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills.
Example Lesson: Understanding diversity
Explanation: By introducing different types of dinosaurs, the story teaches children about diversity and the importance of acceptance regardless of differences.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be extended to teach children to appreciate diversity in their own lives, promoting inclusivity among peers.
Example Lesson: Learning about prehistoric creatures
Explanation: Through engaging storytelling, children learn factual information about different dinosaur species and their characteristics.
Real-World Application: This factual knowledge can spark curiosity in natural history and science, encouraging educational exploration beyond the book.
Example Lesson: Perseverance and resilience
Explanation: As the protagonist faces challenges in achieving a seemingly impossible dream, the story conveys the message of never giving up.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to apply persistence and resilience in overcoming their own challenges, be they academic or personal.