INSTAGRAM REVIEWS

As the release date gets closer, it’s exciting to start reading the reviews of bloggers and writers who had received advanced reader copies of Santiago’s Dinosaurios. In this post I’ll be collecting the reviews the book gets in Instagram as they come.

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Last week, on September 9th, the book was reviewed in the Instagram page of Milou Reads Books and I just loved what she had to say about Santiago’s story.

You can access the complete post here. I’m very grateful for her kind words and really glad that someone who was an international elementary teacher, has such a positive opinion about this story and the reality that it portrays.

“This story reminds me so much of my days as an international primary teacher. So often children would be new to the school as well as the country, and they would not really know what to say to their classmates at first. However, by the time lunch time came around, they would have crossed language barriers and made a new friend.

This is definitely one of the most realistic stories I have read on the topic. I love how it shows the interactions with different children and adults, some of them awkward and some of them a great success. The bilingualism is also well executed. How the kids connect over their paintings, just using simple words, and laughing just because they understand each other and want to be friends. Plus, the ending is the right size of feel good, his problem is not extinct yet, Santiago knows that one day it will be.

Finally, I also want to give a little shoutout to Aniya, because she makes Santiago feel included with her dinosaur references and games. I am really glad she and her disability are also at the forefront of this story, literally, as she, her smile and her crutches are also included on the cover. ”

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On September 12th, Santiago’s Dinosaurios got another positive review by @bookoholicmom along another lovely picture book “Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome” written by Kat Zhang and illustrated by Charlene Chua.

Again, I’m grateful that the book is getting love and good recommendations. Thank you so much! You can access the complete review here.

“Two fantastic new books about going to school when you don’t speak the language…one from the student’s perspective (SANTIAGO’S DINOSAURIOS) and one from the classmates (AMY WU AND THE WARM WELCOME).

In SANTIAGO’S DINOSAURIOS Santiago compares how big his problems are with the size of dinosaurs. On his first day of school his problems feel huge like a Tyrannosaurus Rex because he doesn’t speak English. As the day goes on and he and his classmates find commonality and ways to communicate his problems shrink. 

AMY WU AND THE WARM WELCOME is the third book featuring one Amy Wu. In this one she has a new classmate from China and is confused when he doesn’t seem to be responding to her efforts to include him. When she sees him talking animatedly to his family in Chinese after school she gets an idea to make him feel welcome.

Santiago’s Dinosaurios was sent to me by @albertwhitman It will be released on October 27th but you can pre-order it now. I checked Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome out from the library”.

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On September 15th, Santiago’s Dinosaurios was reviewed along other soon to be released Albert Whitman’s amazing books by Charlotte Offsay in her Instagram page Picture Book Recommendations.

I’ve very grateful for her kind words about Santiago’s story and I appreciated learning more about other great books that will be debuting in the coming weeks. Definitely worth checking them out. You can access the complete review here.

“Windows. I love that picture books are windows, windows to see and embrace ourselves, and windows to learn about others. I highly recommend checking out these fabulous new books from @albertwhitmanwhich offer windows into other cultures and open conversations around empathy, acceptance, connection, and kindness. ⁠
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Santago’s Dinosaurios – Santiago is new to the U.S and has trouble communicating with his new classmates. He soon comes to find that shared interests though offer their own form of communication. A sweet story of embracing differences, culture, and connection.”
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Cover photo by Markus Winkler.