One of my favorite books to read at night is How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen. It’s got great 50’s inspired artwork, catchy rhyming lyrics, and it masquerades as a “big” book for those preschoolers seeking to eek out the latest bedtime possible. Yet, it’s a nice brisk read. Lots of pictures, a lot less words. It even came with matching pajamas.
If you’re not familiar, essentially the story rhetorically asks how dinosaurs say goodnight, “Does he mope, does he moan, does he sulk, does he sigh? Does he fall on the top of his covers and cry?” (You guessed it… I was able to transcribe this from memory.) It concludes in the negative, of course. Dinosaurs just give hugs and kisses and say goodnight calmly, like perfect little reptilian angels.
But one of my favorite aspects is that Jakey hasn’t caught on to the fact that the dinosaurs are metaphorical kids. That’s what makes the story just sophisticated enough to keep an adult’s attention… after eight hundred readings.
The sequel, or perhaps the prequel, I’m not sure, is called How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? And every night at bedtime, how does my littlest dinosaur say I love you?
“I la lou, Mama.”
Goodnight, goodnight my little dinosaur.
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