“Family Story Time” at the City of Camarillo Library was Huge Success! Special Thanks to the Library Team for All Their Help with this Event! The Flyers and a Wonderful Poster Featuring Alejandro & I ensured a Great Turnout. Proving the Materials for the Parents & Kids to Draw – clipboards, paper, pencils and dinosaur erasers – was Appreciated by All for the “How to Draw Dinosaur” Activity.
This was the first time Alejandro the T-Rex joined me with the presentation in the Pirate Ship. The Library’s Story Time Reading area is designed like the Deck of a Pirate Ship. It has a Large Mast with a Sail, the Carpet has Extra Padding for Sitting on the Floor and the Back Wall has Two Levels of Seating that look like Stacked Crates – some marked “Explosives”! I setup tested my remote for the camera and this time I wrote myself several notes to remind me to “Take Pictures” during the presentation! A number of early arrivers were able to have some one on one time with Alejandro. Everyone loved Alejandro. The Kids were giving him hugs and lots of gentle touches. Then Dona Hagemeyer, Library Associate who arranged for my presentation made the introductions and we were on our way to Prehistoric Times!
We started with “Is a Metal Dinosaur the Right Pet for You?”, which is a fun story I wrote to explain what we do at the Park. “Dinosaurs” by Steve Brusatte is always great for Dinosaur Facts. We covered many Dinosaurs especially Tyrannosaurus Rex. A brief discussion of movie vs. real Dinosaurs as we continued through Steve Brusatte’s Giant Dinosaur Book. A special pop-up book “Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs” by Robert Sabuda & Matthew Reinhart was a creative way to see Dinosaurs. I particularly like the “Dining in a Dinosaur” part.
This gave me the opportunity to recommend “The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins” by Barbara Kerley with paintings by Brian Selznick. It’s a wonderful true story about the First Life Size Prehistoric Sculptures in the World! The sculptures were completed in 1854 and are still on what is called Dinosaur Island in Great Britain over 160 years later. In addition, the story covers the attempt to recreate this vision in the United States and how that ended. On New years Eve 1853 Mr. Hawkins gave a dinner party inside one of his unfinished sculptures! It may be a book for kids but parents will learn from this fascinating story too!
We covered Alejandro’s ears when we reached the part about the mass extinction from the Asteroid hitting the Earth. Then it was time for the Dinosaur Tales. “The Shy Triceratop” by Me and two of my favorites by Moe Willems – “Edwina the Dinosaur that didn’t know she was Extinct” and “Goldi Locks and the Three Dinosaurs”.
Followed by the “How to Draw a Dinosaur” activity! This was my 3rd time presenting this activity but the first time at the Camarillo Library. The Parents had as much fun as their Kids drawing Dinosaurs. After working through 3 different Dinosaurs everyone posed with their drawings. We did a few Dinosaur Roars during our photo posing, which was too loud for one little girl (seen below covering her ears). After wrapping up a little girl with a T-Rex T-Shirt gave me a personal Thank You. A Dad gets a few last pictures of his son checking out the “Dinosaurs” book which is almost as big as his son. And a little girl continues to practice drawing Dinosaurs. It was another Fun Adventure at the Library!
Note to Self: check lighting in room when positioning camera for group pictures. The glare off my white board and the artists white paper prevents you from seeing the wonderful artwork in my photos. Two of the Children gave me one of their drawings as a thank you. It was Greatly Appreciated and Very Kind of Them. It also provided me the ability to take photos of them. So, you can see how Great They Are!
If You have pictures from the Event You would like to Share, send them to me at paul@paulsprehistoricpark.com
and I will post them! Thank You!
Keep Practicing! Below are some Books and References for Drawing Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs! A Drawing Book by Michael Emberley (1980)
1-2-3 Draw Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Animals A step by step guide by Freddie Levin (2001)
Draw 50 Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Animals by Lee J. Ames (1977)
PaulsPrehistoricPark.com post May 4, 2018 “How to Draw Dinosaurs & other Prehistoric Beasts”
Check with Your Librarian for other books that can help You continue having Fun Drawing!
Stay tuned for more on the Green T-Rexes new Perch!
Join Angie the Augustynolophus & Me for Complementary Dinosaur Painting
at Natural History Museum’s 3rd Annual Everything Dinosaur “Dino Fest” Weekend
September 29th & 30th
Angie is looking forward to some New Splashes of Color
Plus learn what we know about the Color of Dinosaurs at Our Tent in the Garden!
Check the Museums site for ticket prices and other important information www.nhm.org
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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