Barefoot Books Dinosaur Rap Novels & Stories

“You like dinosaurs, Eli?” “Yes! I know all the names. T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops. Mom reads books with me every night.” Damien smiled a little. “That sounds nice. I liked dinosaurs when I was your age too.” “Really?” Eli asked with his mouth full. “Did you have a favorite?” “The big ones. Like you.” Eli laughed. It made my chest hurt. They looked so much alike. Same eyes, same way they tilted their heads when they smiled. How did I think I could hide this forever?

“Alright babies, let’s do Humpty Dumpty together then I’ll tell you a story… one, two, Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men, couldn’t put Humpty together again.” The children clapped their hands. “Good, very good, again! … Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men, couldn’t put Humpty together again.” Kaeden thought for a moment, and just as he was about to begin, Charlese walked over with her friend Danielle. Kaeden looked up at them and frowned. “Children, greet Miss Charlese and Miss Danielle.”

I did not know who it was, but someone stretched out a leg and pressed it hard against my back. Then a malicious voice rang out. "An animal should act like an animal. Crawl." I froze. Looking at Anna's expressionless face, I gritted my teeth and was about to crawl out as the grief and anger filled me. Anna suddenly roared, "Enough!"

Rafael called back before I could kill the conversation. Gabby stopped chasing the butterfly so suddenly that Al nearly ran into her from behind. “Mountain?” Gabby shouted. “Yes.” “Snow?” “Maybe higher up.” “Princess mountain?” “No,” Al said immediately. “Dinosaur mountain.” Gabby turned to him. “Princess.” “Dinosaur.” “PRINCESS.” “DINOSAUR.” I raised my voice. “If you two start wrestling again, we’re going to a parking lot.” They both went quiet.

The rain had passed, the flagstones still slick and grey, reflecting the pale overcast morning sky; a sycamore leaf clung to one lion’s paw, rustling shush in the breeze. Jenny stepped down the stone steps, her heel tapping a crisp tap on the wet slab. She slipped her hand back into her suit pocket, the rubber dinosaur pressed snug against her ribs, rising and falling with every breath, its rubber tail curling faintly under her fingertip with a soft squeak.

Comic Relief Just as the house settled into uneasy quiet , Aubrey’s middle child ran into the living room in pajamas, holding a plastic dinosaur. “Look!” the boy shouted. “My dinosaur is eating homework!” He shoved the toy into Sandra’s notes, growling loudly. Sandra groaned. “Hey! That’s Gray’s Anatomy, not Jurassic Park.” Even Abby laughed this time, shaking his head. “At least the kid has the right idea—dinosaurs over cadavers.” The laughter was brief but real, and for that night, it softened the weight pressing on them all.

“But today there might be an emergency.” I turned slowly. “A dinosaur emergency?” Aiden nodded with absolute seriousness. “If another kid doesn’t know the difference between a velociraptor and a pterodactyl.” Elma looked at me. “Honestly, valid.” “Do not encourage this tiny lawyer.” Aiden smiled.

“Mom, guess what? I made a new friend at school yesterday. His name is Theo and he likes dinosaurs too! We’re going to bring our toys on Friday for show-and-tell.” “That sounds wonderful,” Sarah said warmly, sliding two pancakes onto his plate and adding a few strawberries. “What kind of dinosaurs does Theo like best?” “The big ones! Like T-Rex. But I told him Stegosaurus has spikes so he’s cooler.” Oliver took a big bite, syrup dripping down his chin. “Can we have pancakes every day?” Sarah laughed softly. “Only on special mornings. Eat up, sweetheart. The bus will be here soon.” They chatted easily—about school, about the new slide in the playground, about whether dinosaurs could fly if th

Before I could respond, Jackson came barreling toward us, his little legs pumping as fast as they could. “Mommy, look! A dino!” he exclaimed, holding up the plush dinosaur Lily had given him. Cecilia’s face lit up as she crouched down to his level. “Oh my goodness, that’s the cutest dinosaur I’ve ever seen! What’s its name?” Jackson tilted his head, thinking hard. “Hmm… Dino-Squish!” “Dino-Squish?” Cecilia repeated, laughing. “That’s a perfect name, Jackson!”

She would have been okay if Dad hadn't made her help Aunty Mia. I set my wolf down carefully on the blanket and pulled out the other toys Mama had bought me. Little dinosaurs that she'd given me for my fourth birthday. We'd played with them together, making up stories about a T-Rex who was friends with a Triceratops even though T-Rexes were supposed to eat Triceratops. "The T-Rex doesn't have to eat his friend," Mama had said, making the T-Rex dance. "Sometimes friends are more important than following the rules."