Crunch the Shy Dinosaur

Written by Cirocco Dunlap

Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli

Random House, 2018. Picture book.

Crunch is a dinosaur who is a little bit shy—shy enough that even a loud voice saying hello to him makes him scamper off in fear. Young readers will need to beckon him more than once, and be very careful while doing so. If they speak too loudly, he’ll back off, but if they speak too softly, he might misunderstand them, or not hear them at all. He’s a very particular dinosaur, so getting to know him takes a little bit of work. His colorful illustrations and fun design make it so worth the effort though.

Crunch is a great introduction to the finer points of social interaction. Learning how to speak to him in just the right voice, and letting him go to bed when he’s had enough socialization and is tired, are great ways to remind young readers that when making new friends, it’s best to approach calmly—especially if that new friend is a dinosaur!

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