Where's My Dinosaur?; Ashling Kwok, illustrated by Jasmine Berry

Who would want a new sibling when you could have your very own dinosaur instead?

It’s exciting times, mummy is growing something in her tummy and daddy has said that it is a new playmate. The little girl is desperately hoping it will be a dinosaur. But when the surprise finally makes an appearance it is very much not like a dinosaur or any of the other animals that the girl is hoping for. It’s a tiny human!

What on earth is a little girl supposed to do with a thing like that?

With a sweet and funny ending, Where’s My Dinosaur? is a lovely picture book that will be welcomed by many expecting mummy’s and daddy's and soon to be big brothers and sisters. Full of creativity, the joys of childhood imagination and lots of dinosaurs, it gently addresses the anticipation of a new arrival and the feelings and changes that it can have on a close knit family.

As the size of mummy’s tummy changes so do the little girl’s imaginings of the animal that might be inside and of all of the fun things that they can do together. The dinosaur obsessed girl is really hoping for a prehistoric creature but there’s no way something that big is in mummy’s tummy…yet. Starting off small, the girl imagines a chick to chase, a dog to feed juicy bones to, and when ‘Mummy’s tummy is as big as a house’ there can only be one possible thing hiding inside…a dinosaur. This would be perfect and there’s even a cool dinosaur name chosen.

However, disappointment swiftly follows as the new arrival is very much not dinosaur-sized or dinosaur-shaped. A new sibling can bring its own joy though and whilst big sister may not be able to feed the new arrival bones, chase it around the garden or ride it down the street, the tiny sibling doesn’t mind being dressed up like a dinosaur and loves playing with dinosaur toys. Perhaps that will have to do for now. And with mummy growing something else inside her, who knows, maybe a dinosaur isn’t too far away.

Love, humour and heart are in abundance throughout this story as the culturally diverse family enjoy spending time together and go on days out. Vibrant double page illustrations are an absolute delight and the simple text with its accentuating of certain words is perfectly pitched for the voice of the child narrator. I love the little extras; the end papers are gorgeous and eagle-eyed readers will spot plenty of dinosaurs lurking in all of the illustrations - hedges, pictures, toys, in the sea, on the bookcase.

With huge thanks to Yellow Brick Books for this adorable picture book.

Recommended for 2+.