- Picture Books
- Ages 3–6
- Animals
The Dinosaur Next Door
A warm dinosaur-neighbour story about acceptance, secrecy and letting people live as themselves. It combines a brilliant child-pleasing hook with David Litchfield's usual emotional generosity.
- Best for3–6
- FormatPicture
- Length40 pp
- Read aloud~8 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Warm
- Funny
- Heartwarming
- Whimsical
- Gentle
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Liz is certain there is something unusual about her next-door neighbour, Mr Wilson. He has a very long neck, clumpy feet and a taste for green leaves. In fact, Liz is sure he is a dinosaur. At first this is a wonderful secret, but when other people notice and Mr Wilson is taken away by scientists, Liz realises that curiosity and kindness are not the same as exposing someone who wants to live peacefully. David Litchfield turns a funny dinosaur premise into a story about acceptance, privacy and letting others be themselves. The book has obvious appeal for dinosaur-loving children, but its deeper value is emotional: it asks readers to think about difference, fear and friendship without becoming heavy. With bright, cinematic illustrations and a gentle comic setup, it is highly giftable and easy to recommend.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 3–6
- Read aloud · 3–7
- Independent · 6–8
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Dinosaur lovers
- Accepting difference
- Beautiful illustrations
- Gentle comedy
- Empathy picture book
Avoid if
- Wants fact based dinosaurs
- Wants fast gags
- Prefers realistic only
Particularly good for children who are…
- Making friends
- Low self esteem
- Anxiety and worry
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A warm read-aloud about befriending a misunderstood neighbour — a gentle prompt for talk about kindness and not judging others.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific weight is the scientists arriving — Liz convinced Mr Wilson next door is a dinosaur (long neck, clumpy feet, taste for green leaves), the secret wonderful until other people notice and Mr Wilson gets taken away. The Litchfield picture book on letting someone live as themselves.
- Secret world
- Friendship and belonging
- Animal companions
- Making a difference
Why parents love it
The David Litchfield dinosaur-neighbour picture book — funny premise, real emotional centre about privacy and acceptance and not exposing someone for being different. Bright cinematic illustration. Highly giftable.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Conversation starter
- Shared humour
- Bedtime appropriate
About the author & illustrator
David Litchfield.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
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