Book Review of We’re Going to the Dinosaur Forest
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The Children’s Book Review
We’re Going to the Dinosaur Forest
Written by Marie Nichols
Illustrated by Penny Weber
Ages: 4-6 | 44 Pages
Publisher: Marnicpress (2024) | ISBN: 979-8218486945
What to Expect: Dinosaurs, bravery, companionship, adventure, imagination.
Companionship, play, and imagination take center stage in this dinosaur-themed picture book.
Bracken loves to go on adventures—and his favorite person to go on adventures with is his Gram. He proposes they go for a walk in the Dinosaur Forest, and Gram is a little bit nervous, but she does her best to be brave—with Bracken there to hold her hand, of course. All goes well until they see a Stegasaurus and then a Triceratops! Gram is too frightened to run, but Bracken holds her hand, and they escape the rampaging dinos. When a T Rex appears, even Gram doesn’t hesitate to run, and the two adventurers make it safely out of the Dinosaur Forest and home—in time to plan their next adventure!
Bracken has a wild imagination and an indomitable sense of adventure, and readers will enjoy relating to the role of authority and leadership he holds in the story. Parents will equally enjoy Gram’s quiet supporting role as his side-kick. Simple, easy-to-read lines of text make the story perfect for young readers just starting to read or sound out words, with the added thrill of long, complicated dinosaur names (explained in a glossary at the end of the story) to add interest. The vibrant illustrations leave it open to interpretation whether the dinosaurs are real or not.
For any reader who loves dinosaurs, adventure, and their own Gram, We’re Going to the Dinosaur Forest is a fun and engaging story for shared reading again and again.
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About the Author
Marie Nichols is a native New Englander, born and raised in Maine. She grew up in Lewiston with her four sisters and a brother (no sympathy for him, please—he was spoiled). They attended local schools and were members of a local church. Every Sunday, the family piled into the car to visit grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her grandmothers were strong, independent women who raised their children to always take care of one another—a lesson passed down through the generations. Thanks to the love, comfort, support, and attention from Mom and Dad, she and her siblings grew into happy, strong, independent adults.
After graduating from Lewiston High School in 1963, she continued her education, earning degrees from Husson College and later Westbrook College. Life took her to Florida, Alabama, New York, South Carolina, and Illinois. In 2016, she moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut, where she works remotely as a project manager for SDI Presence, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Her wonderful son, his amazing wife, and her two exceptional grandchildren live in Virginia. When she isn’t busy working or writing, she travels to Virginia to indulge in spoiling her grandchildren (when allowed). They take her on wonderful adventures, teach important lessons, and provide endless entertainment. She especially looks forward to their walks together—walks that often spark the beginning of their next marvelous adventure.
As a grandparent, she is passionate about highlighting the important role grandparents play in a child’s life. “Parents nurture with care, siblings are taught to share, but grandparents embrace the dares.” Embracing those dares and letting a child run with their imagination gives them the opportunity to act on or write down their ideas, share their feelings, and ask questions—encouraging development in countless ways.
For more information, visit marnicpress.com.
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