It’s not that time of year yet, but this new children’s book about a little dinosaur’s first Christmas will have you thinking of candy canes and bells.
Christmas may be two long months away, but two New West authors can’t wait to get people into the holiday spirit.
Steven Kothlow and his partner Bryce Raffle have launched their new children’s book, The smallest dinosaur’s first Christmas, in September; and are preparing to take a mini book tour of the Lower Mainland, with a visit to New West’s Kinder Books on November 19.
The book is the fourth in The smallest dinosaurseries that launched amid the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
The smallest dinosaur (“he has no name”) has come a long way from being just an egg in the first book, to befriending a Tyrannosaurus, Ty, and finding a home and a family.
Now, in the fourth and final book, the smaller dinosaur is very excited for Christmas, Kothlow said.
“It’s the first time that the smallest dinosaur has seen snow and discovered Christmas; and he thinks he and (his friend) Ty are both going to get a lot of presents, and all the presents are for themselves.
But how does the little one take the news that Ty’s mother, Mama Tyrannosaur, has planned to donate many of the gifts he thought were for him, to children and families in need?
In the story full of illustrations, the smallest dinosaur understands that there is something more precious than a gift with a bow – “Are you sad that we gave away all these gifts?” mom Tyrannosaurus asks him; and he says, “No, because we have the greatest gift of all, which is family,” Kothlow read in the book.
A book about inclusion and respect
By writing the story of a little dino who befriends a Tyrannosaurus that everyone finds scary; and is adopted into a single parent family, Kothlow and Raffle know they’ve covered big topics like adoption, single parenthood, inclusion and the importance of seeing everyone without judgment.
“Inclusion is a very important thing for both of us, especially these days when so much is happening in the world and not everyone feels like they have a voice. But we we all have a voice,” Kothlow said.
“And we all have the ability to speak up and talk about things that are uncomfortable to talk about. And that’s part of life,” he added.
“And if you put that in books, or even talk about it, in general, then that’s a good way to bond – we may look different, but in reality, we’re all pretty much the same. We’re all humans, and we all have emotions and feel feelings, but in the end, we really are all one.
Both Kothlow and Raffle, who are part of the LGBT+ community, have always wanted to write a children’s book, but what drove them the most was a desire to be “the best role models” for their nieces and nephews.
And it turns out that their eldest niece and nephew were fascinated by dinosaurs, just as Kothlow and Raffle were when they were kids, and still are. “I still find it very fascinating that they walked this land a long time ago,” Kothlow said.
And just like the idea of using the prehistoric animal that the protagonist was planning, they had another nephew born around this time. “So he was also a bit inspired [for starting the book with a dino baby as the star].”
In two years, the author duo have already released four books in the series, including a website complete with downloadable recipes for hummus (Ty’s favorite dish) and Mama Tyrannosaurus’ vegan waffles.
What’s next for the smol dino? Will the little one grow up one day?
“I don’t know. Maybe he grows up or maybe he stays a kid forever.
Meet Raffle and Kothlow at the book signing event at Kinder Books, 810 Quayside Dr., Saturday, Nov. 19, 12-3 p.m.
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