Winnie's Dinosaur Day

Dinosaur Day is the thirteenth picture book in the ever-popular Winnie the Witch series. Winnie loves the museum and especially the dinosaur room with all those old dinosaur bones. Wilbur the cat, however, remains to be convinced. During a visit to the museum, Winnie spots a competition to draw or make a model of a dinosaur. Desperate to win the shiny medal, Winnie suddenly loses all inspiration. Finally she casts a spell to send herself and Winston to the prehistoric age, where she draws a triceratops from real life.

Winnie got out her drawing book and her coloured pencils. It was much easier drawing a real dinosaur. Her drawing looked exactly like the triceratops. Well, it looked quite like the triceratops. ‘This is an excellent drawing,’ said Winnie. ‘It’s sure to win the prize.’

In fact, the drawing is a very creative take on the triceratops, and serves as a brief reminder to readers about having confidence in one’s own work. Winnie and Winston quickly magic themselves back to the museum in time for the prize-giving, but look who has come too…

There is something totally enchanting about the combination of Valerie Thomas’s straight-as-a-die text and Korky Paul’s riotously zany illustrations. Little wonder the pair is enjoying its 25th year of the Winnie the Witch series.