Oddsockosaurus Is a Roaring Good Time!

At first glance, dinosaurs don’t seem to be the kind of creatures that young children would gravitate to. They’re big, scary, loud, and sometimes carnivorous. Their tough skin, spikes, and plates make them less than ideal cuddle buddies, and their no-nonsense lizard eyes don’t exactly say “Let’s play!” Even their multi-syllable scientific names are large and intimidating. Yet somehow, dinosaurs have become one of the most-loved and popular characters in modern children’s literature and entertainment. From Danny’s dinosaur companion to Littlefoot, to Barney and beyond, nearly every kid has at one time or another been drawn to the image and lore of these prehistoric beasts. Most parents and teachers have run into children whose love of dinosaur facts has inspired their enjoyment of reading and research.

The mystery of why the dinosaur has become such an iconic childhood image may lay in basic psychology. Kids are humans with complicated emotions, many of which can be overwhelming at times. Perhaps dinosaurs, with their fierce nature and scary reputation, remind children a little bit of the monsters they themselves feel like from time to time. They also enable them to take on the persona of something big and fearless at times when they may be feeling small and helpless. Even when the dinosaur characters are softened up and anthropomorphized for pre-K consumption, they still retain an ancient brand of toughness and majesty that kids naturally respect and love. Many educators, therapists, and other professionals use animal characters, including dinosaurs, to help kids recognize and manage their emotions.

In the new book Oddsockosaurus, author Zanib Mian and illustrator Bill Bolton capture a child’s many moods and faces through humorous prose and delightful images of dinosaurs. The star of the book is a little boy who imagines his many childhood emotions and experiences as a variety of dinosaur characters with funny names like Whyceratops (the dinosaur that asks a lot of questions), Mudiraptor (the dinosaur that jumps in muddy puddles and makes a mess), and Tellafibasaurus (the dinosaur that tells a few white lies to get out of trouble).

Parents and children alike will recognize many of these moods and behaviors, and will appreciate the charming and well-thought-out pictures that bring the story to life. Every page’s illustration is filled with a captivating level of movement and detail that’s sure to draw the reader into the story and keep them turning the pages. It’s a wonderful book for mom or dad to read to their little one, and once children start reading, they’ll have fun with the challenge of sounding out the fictional lizards’ outlandish names.

Growing up in London, Zanib Mian loved to write poetry. Any emotion, event, or person that was important to her ended up being immortalized in her early attempts at rhyme, which she was proud to share with her family, teachers and friends. Even after growing up and embarking on a career as a molecular cell biologist, Mian held on to her childhood writings, keeping them in a safe where they remain to this day. She also held onto her love of the written word and went on to become the founding director of Sweet Apple publications.

Oddsockosaurus, much like her previous publications, explores childhood emotions and experiences with refreshing insight and creativity. The story reaches across cultures and age groups to resonate with the inner child of the reader, no matter who they are. Artist Bill Bolton’s past job as a greeting card illustrator shows through in the warmth and humor of his children’s book illustrations. He lives in the UK and is dedicated to environmental awareness.

To see all the books by Zanib Mian, please visit www.sweetapplebooks.com