Kid Konnection: Dear Santasaurus & Giveaway

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a very fun book that's especially timely since the holidays are upon us!

Summary: Ernest desperately wants to stay on Santa's Nice List. But Ernest is also full of energy, ideas, mischief. Naughty comes easily to Ernest. Nice is harder.

But maybe if Ernest writes to Santasaurus about all the ways he's tried to be helpful and well-behaved, he can get that Jurassic Turbo Scooter X9 with the working headlight, racing fin, and secret compartment he has his eye on... -- Boyds Mill Press

DEAR SANTASAURUS by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by Jef Kaminsky is an adorable picture book that many kids and parents will relate to. Ernest is a little dinosaur who wants a Jurassic Turbo Scooter. He decides to take up a letter campaign to Santasaurus outlining all of the ways that he is trying to be a good dino. Each month, there is a letter (or two) reminding Santasaurus that he wants the scooter while also chronicling some of his actions -- both the good and the bad. The reader will discover that Ernest likes to get into mischief but also that he can be nice. But can he be nice enough that Santasaurus will deliver his Jurassic Turbo Scooter X9?

DEAR SANTASAURUS is a very fun book and perfect for this time of the year when kids are preparing their Santa letters. Ernest and his letters are hilarious; and I think kids will find his antics, as well as his explanations, to be pretty darn funny. In addition, the illustrations are cute and colorful and the perfect complement to the story.

Highly recommended!

I am very excited to be part of The DEAR SANTASAURUS Blog tour which talks about books and cookies -- two of my favorite things. Ms. McAnulty has prepared a cute guest post listing the "Best of" dinosaur books. She also has a recipe for Red Velvet Crackle Cookies that looks terrific!

Awesome Dinosaur Books 

by Stacy McAnulty

I love award shows. The red carpet. The opening song. The anticipation. Yelling at the TV when the judges get it wrong. Unfortunately, there’s not a widely televised awards show for books. I guess there are just too many great choices and so many genres. I could host an award show for dinosaur picture books alone. I think my six-year-old son would make a great judge.

So let’s do it.

Best Dino Christmas Book: DEAR SANTASAURUS by Stacy McAnulty, Art by Jef Kaminisky (Yes, I wrote this one. The judge may be biased. He also thinks I’m the prettiest woman on earth.)
Best ABC Dinos Book: ALPHASAURUS by Megan E. Bryant, Art by Luciana Navarro Powell
Best Title So Nice They Named It Twice Book: DINOSAUR DINOSAUR by Kevin Lewis, Art by Daniel Kirk
Best Dino Book That Doesn’t Really Have a Dinosaur: DINOSAUR WOODS by George McClements
Best Dino Halloween Book: T.REX TRICK OR TREAT by Lois G. Grambling, Art by Jack E. Davis
Best Dino Mother’s Day Book: T.REX AND THE MOTHER’S DAY HUG by Lois G. Grambling, Art by Jack E. Davis
Best Dino Book Inspired by a 60’s Song: DINOSAUR PET by Marc Sedaka, Art by Tim Bowers
Best Dinos on Construction Site Book: BANG! BOOM! ROAR! By Nate Evans and Stephanie Gwyn Brown, Art by Christopher Santoro
Best Dino Vehicle Hybrid Book: DINOTRUX by Chris Gall
Best in a Dino Series: HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY I LOVE YOU? By Jane Yolen, Art by Mark Teague
Best Nonfiction Book About Baby Dinos: BORN TO BE GIANTS by Lita Judge
Best Mo Willems Book With Dinosaurs: GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS
Bestest of the Best Dino Book: WHEN DINOSAURS CAME WITH EVERYTHING by Elise Broach, Art by Davis Small Roar!

And now time for the daily cookie… Red Velvet Crackle Cookies
(visit http://stacymcanulty.blogspot.com/ for the recipe)



*****

Stacy lives in North Carolina with her three children, two dogs, and one husband. (She has zero dinosaurs.) DEAR SANTASAURUS (Boyd Mills Press, 2013) is her first picture book.

Thanks to the author for providing a review copy of this book.

Giveaway alert: The author is pleased to offer a giveaway copy of DEAR SANTASAURUS to one winner (U.S. addresses). To enter, please fill out the form below before December 10th at 11:59 p.m. ET. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. Good luck!


If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!