Pick a Story: A Dinosaur Unicorn Robot Adventure

A really interesting and unique way to write a book. The beauty of Pick a Story: A Dinosaur Unicorn Robot Adventure is that after you've read it once, you can read it a completely different story each time which is fun for children to see the plot changing when they make a different choice.

What I really like about this book is how it gives the children choice. The children get to decide what happens if they make a different choice and this opens a great dialogue to discuss what happens when we make a different choice. This book is an excellent resource for a Primary school classroom, whether reading for pleasure with a younger class or looking at plot and narratives with an older class.

Pick a Story: A Dinosaur Unicorn Robot Adventure starts off by introducing Gwen. It is Gwen's Birthday, but her cake has gone missing. Has the cake been taken by dinosaurs, robots or unicorns? After reading the introduction to Gwen and the problem, the book then gives the reader three choices and whichever they choose, the book takes them to a different page where the story continues. When you turn the page to the choice you have made, the story continues and you are given another choice to make. The book continues in this way until you have completed the story through the choices you have made.

What is interesting is the choices you make sometimes lead you backward in the book to a page you might have gone past; this makes it really fun and unique for young readers. My daughter (aged seven) found this book so much fun. She has read and re-read it making different choices each time and talking to me about how it changed the story. I really enjoyed reading this book myself and seeing how each decision made a different twist to the story.

The illustrations are bright, colourful, and really detailed, so there are lots to look at on each page. The colours and borders around each page also make it easy to follow as each border is linked to the characters' theme – rainbows and clouds for unicorns, blue and bricks for robots and yellow and twists for dinosaurs; I thought this was a thoughtful design for younger children to follow which narrative they are on. A really interesting and exciting way to read with children.

Picture book / Reviewed by Joanna Hewish

Suggested Reading Age 5+

Look out for delicious characters plus tasty twists and turns in this unique picture book, Pick a Story: A Dinosaur Unicorn Robot Adventure. There are decisions to make on every page which will change the path of the narrative that you read as you help Gwen to find her birthday cake. Has the cake been taken by dinosaurs, robots or unicorns? The reader will decide.

Gwen is an action loving child who takes the reader through the adventure that they create through their choices on each turn of the page. In the classroom this could be used for language development, vocabulary expansion and creative idea. It could be used for discussions about turn taking, choices and compromise.

What are you waiting for? This is one that you definitely want to read.

Picture book / Reviewed by Amanda Shipton, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 3+