The first six pages
Maya and the Dinosaur Who Lost His Roar is a 14-page soft watercolor picture book. Here is how it opens.
The cover. Maya and the Dinosaur Who Lost His Roar, starring Maya, 5, her golden retriever Sunny and a baby dinosaur called Rumble.
Page 3. Early sunbeams tickled Maya awake. She pulled on her yellow shirt and red sneakers, ready for an adventure. Sunny wagged his tail by the garden gate, eager to explore. The leaves smelled like summer, and the hills behind the garden glowed soft and gold in the morning light.
Page 4. Behind the biggest tomato plant, something green rustled. Maya peeked closer and gasped — a tiny dinosaur blinked back at her! Sunny sniffed gently, and the little dinosaur peeked out, shaking just a little. 'Hello, friend,' Maya said softly. 'Are you lost?'
Page 5. Rumble sniffled. 'I lost my roar,' he whispered. 'My family needs a big roar to find me, but mine is all gone.' Maya patted his soft belly gently. 'Don't worry,' she said. 'Sunny and I will help you find it.'
Page 6. They searched under crunchy leaves by the garden fence. Maya lifted each one carefully, and Sunny sniffed every pile. No roar there — just ladybugs and a sleepy snail. Rumble sighed, but Maya squeezed his little claw. 'We won't give up,' she said.
Page 7. Near the old oak tree, a puddle sparkled. Maya leaned close and called 'Hello!' The echo bounced back, making Rumble giggle. 'Maybe my roar is hiding in there!' he said, peering into the water. Sunny barked softly, and ripples danced across the shiny puddle.
