{"product_id":"dinky-the-tinysaur","title":"Dinky the Tinysaur","description":"\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaggie Edkins Willis grew up in Missouri and Maine. She now writes and illustrates books for children from her home studio in the Hudson Valley, where she lives with her husband and two children. Her debut picture book, \n\u003ci\u003eLittle Ghost Makes a Friend\u003c\/i\u003e, is a bestseller. She is also the creator of the picture books \n\u003ci\u003eLittle Ghost's Summerween\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eDinky the Tinysaur\u003c\/i\u003e, and \n\u003ci\u003eThunderland\u003c\/i\u003e, and the middle grade graphic novel \n\u003ci\u003eSmaller Sister\u003c\/i\u003e. You can visit her online at MaggieMadeThis.com.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen the young, pale-skinned protagonists of this digitally illustrated comedy by Edkins Willis (\n\u003ci\u003eLittle Ghost Makes a Friend\u003c\/i\u003e) lobby their parents for \"an itty-bitty, travel-sized, cute-as-a-button \n\u003ci\u003eTINYSAUR\u003c\/i\u003e,\" the ask seems nigh impossible. But readers soon discover that the family lives in a community where pet dinosaurs are the norm, and an adopt-a-saurus event yields the perfect petite prehistoric pet--a green T-rex-like dino, whom they name Dinky and who is small enough to balance on a fingertip. Together, they form a tight trio, watching TV and playing dress-up (the dino looks fetching in a head bow and feather boa). But Dinky is also growing at an alarming rate, defying the kids' vision of a \"tinysaur forever\" companion. When Dinky accidentally sits on the kids' birthday cake, reality sets in hard. \"I don't think you're ACTUALLY a Tinysaur after all,\" one child pouts accusingly, and Dinky responds by stomping away with wounded feelings (and birthday cake on her bottom). The breach is repaired when the children realize their preconceived notions about who Dinky should be don't match who she actually is, clearly messaging that what truly matters is loving someone for exactly who they are. One of the protagonists uses a wheelchair; background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4-8. \n\u003ci\u003eAgent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary. (Oct.)\u003c\/i\u003e--Publishers Weekly \"6\/30\/2025\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A quirky balm for life's minor letdowns.\" --\n\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLofty expectations lead to dinosauric disappointment. \n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe siblings at the heart of this tale aren't like other kids. Other children, the pair scoff, dream pedestrian dreams, fantasizing about pet unicorns and personal dragons; we, they boast, yearn for a Tinysaur, a precious, pint-size creature that's almost certainly outside the bounds of paleontological reality. But miraculously, when the Dino Adoption Fair rolls through town, they're in luck! One such critter peers timidly from her enclosure, a cardboard box with the totally reassuring, not-suspicious-at-all label \"100% Definitely a Tinysaur.\" Cue the delightful montage that captures life with Dinky: trips to the beach, bike rides, and games of dress-up. Everything is enhanced by the Tinysaur's presence until one day, Dinky transforms, no longer a teeny Tinysaur, but a behemoth. Disappointed by this surprising development but loving Dinky all the same, the kids grapple with what it really takes to cultivate unconditional friendship. Edkins Willis' first-person account offers sweet, light insight into what it feels like to set expectations--and see them upended. Her narrative underscores the value of adaptability and acceptance in the face of change, and her art lends an accessible, authentically childlike aesthetic to the effort. Extensive details in the artwork, including endpapers evocative of a kid-assembled collage, lend a whimsical touch. The protagonists have light-tan skin, and one sibling uses a wheelchair; secondary characters are relatively diverse. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA quirky balm for life's minor letdowns. --\n\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAn oversized dinosaur named Dinky helps two siblings discover that a person's heart matters more than their appearance in this delightful picture book perfect for fans of \u003ci\u003eClifford the Big Red Dog\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eDragons Love Tacos.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTwin siblings have their heart set on adopting a dinosaur. But not just any dinosaur--they want a pocket-sized \n\u003ci\u003etinysaur\u003c\/i\u003e! They find the perfect one and name her Dinky. Life with Dinky is lots of fun...until one day when the twins start to notice that Dinky is \n\u003ci\u003egrowing\u003c\/i\u003e. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen Dinky's new size causes trouble at their birthday party, the twins get angry and Dinky runs away. But it isn't long until the twins miss their beloved pet. Can they find Dinky and bring her back home?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/span\u003e 06\/30\/2025 (EAN 9781665957960, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 08\/01\/2025 (EAN 9781665957960, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContributor Bio:\u003c\/strong\u003eEdkins Willis, Maggie\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaggie Edkins Willis grew up in Missouri and Maine. She now writes and illustrates books for children from her home studio in the Hudson Valley, where she lives with her husband and two children. Her debut picture book, \n\u003ci\u003eLittle Ghost Makes a Friend\u003c\/i\u003e, is a bestseller. She is also the creator of the picture books \n\u003ci\u003eLittle Ghost's Summerween\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eDinky the Tinysaur\u003c\/i\u003e, and \n\u003ci\u003eThunderland\u003c\/i\u003e, and the middle grade graphic novel \n\u003ci\u003eSmaller Sister\u003c\/i\u003e. You can visit her online at MaggieMadeThis.com.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Edkins Willis, Maggie\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Beach Lane Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePub Date:\u003c\/b\u003e 2025-10-07\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC:\u003c\/b\u003e Juvenile Fiction \/ Animals \/ Dinosaurs \u0026amp; Prehistoric Creatures|Juvenile Fiction \/ Social Themes \/ Friendship|Juvenile Fiction \/ Humorous Stories\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubjects:\u003c\/b\u003e Dinosaurs|Siblings|Size|Picture books|Conduct of life|Body size|Twins\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.95 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781665957960\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eASIN:\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSKU:\u003c\/b\u003e SP-9781665957960\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Beach Lane Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52982611902745,"sku":"SP-9781665957960","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0913\/0380\/5209\/files\/9781665957960_spiral.png?v=1786591140","url":"https:\/\/westbindery.com\/products\/dinky-the-tinysaur","provider":"West Bindery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}