Every great adventure starts with a little imagination, a pinch of chaos, and—if you’re parenting—an unreasonable amount of snacks. For us, the idea for Brave Little Dinos began on one particularly long road trip home. You know the kind of trip I’m talking about—the one where every 10 minutes someone asks, “Are we there yet?” and you’re 300 miles from “there.”
Determined to make the drive more tolerable (and to keep Finn, 4, and Owen, 3, from staging a backseat rebellion and waking their sleeping sister), Trevor and I decided to entertain the troops with a story. Not just any story, though—oh no. This was a full-blown fantasy epic starring us as heroes on a quest to escort a princess (little sister Eloise, 1) across treacherous lands.
The Road Trip Quest
It started with Trevor narrating:
“Once upon a time, in a magical land, two brave knights were tasked with protecting a princess as they crossed through the Forbidden Forest.”
Of course, Finn immediately interrupted. “Do they have swords?!”
“Yes, Finn,” I replied. “Very shiny swords. And shields too!”
“Do they have snacks?” Owen chimed in, because what’s the point of adventuring if you’re not properly fueled?
“Of course,” Trevor answered
And just like that, we were off. The miles seemed to fly by as the story unfolded, each of us adding our own twists. The knights had to outsmart goblins guarding a bridge (Finn’s idea), and the villain turned out to be a grumpy troll who only wanted a nap (definitely inspired by our parental exhaustion) but was satisfied by the offering of snacks (Owen’s contribution).
Snacks, Giggles, and Inspiration
By the time we got home, we realized something special had happened. The boys couldn’t stop talking about “our quest,” asking what would happen next. They even insisted we continue the story at bedtime. Each night, the tale grew more elaborate as new foes appeared and new lands were explored.
And that’s when the lightbulb went off.
“What if we wrote this down?” Trevor said one evening as we brainstormed our latest chapter while folding the never-ending pile of laundry. “What we turned this into a book?” I suggested.
At first, it felt like a wild idea. Writing a children’s book sounded a bit like slaying a dragon—exciting but daunting. But as we talked about it, the pieces started falling into place. We didn’t just want a story about knights and princesses; we wanted something whimsical, something with a childhood twist.
Enter dinosaurs.
Why Dinosaurs?
Because dinosaurs make everything better.
Seriously, though, we realized dinosaurs are basically the ultimate heroes for kids. They’re big, they’re loud, and they’re incredibly relatable (have you ever seen a toddler stomp around roaring?). Plus, dinosaurs and fantasy just seemed like a perfect fit—who wouldn’t want to see a T-Rex in shining armor or a Triceratops casting magical spells?
The boys loved the idea, too. They immediately started assigning roles: “Finn can be the T-Rex knight!” “Owen can be the Raptor sneaky guy!” (Translation: rogue.) It became a family affair, and soon the characters of Brave Little Dinos began to take shape.
From Road Trip Fun to a Real Book
Turning the story into an actual book was a journey all on its own. Writing rhymes that flowed smoothly took practice (and a lot of late-night brainstorming sessions). Deciding on the magical world of Dinera was another exciting challenge—what kind of land would these brave little dinos call home?
We wanted Dinera to feel like the perfect mix of whimsy and wonder. There are glowing caverns, enchanted forests, and volcanoes that rumble with both danger and adventure. It’s a place where anything can happen, and it’s all designed to spark kids’ imaginations.
Of course, we didn’t forget the most important detail: the snacks. Each dino carries their own stash. Because even heroes need fuel for their quests.
Writing Through the Chaos
If you’re imagining us sitting down in a serene writing nook, calmly crafting rhymes while sipping tea… well, let me burst that bubble right now. Most of Brave Little Dinos was written in between diaper changes, snack requests, and after bedtime.
But honestly, that chaos made the process even more fun. Watching the boys light up as they heard new parts of the story, seeing them act out their favorite scenes with their knight costumes and foam swords—it reminded us why we started this journey in the first place.
Bringing the Dinos to Life
Now, as we prepare to launch Brave Little Dinos: Quest for the Hidden Treasure, it feels surreal to see our road trip story transformed into a real book. The boys are already asking when the next adventure will be, and we’re thrilled to create even more tales of courage, teamwork, and, yes, snacks.
Why This Story Matters
At its core, Brave Little Dinos isn’t just about epic quests or magical lands—it’s about family, imagination, and the simple joy of storytelling. We hope it inspires kids to dream big, work together, and embrace their own inner bravery.
And for parents? We hope it gives you a few moments of peace during bedtime or that next long car ride. Just don’t forget the snacks.
Final Thoughts
If you’re as excited as we are about Brave Little Dinos, be sure to follow along for more behind-the-scenes fun. We’ll be sharing sneak peeks, downloadable coloring pages, and even a map of Dinera for your little adventurers to explore.
Until then, may your adventures be epic, your snacks plentiful, and your kids’ imaginations as wild as a roaring dino.
Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come!
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