Over the past few decades, studies from groups such as Scholastic have shown that children are losing interest in reading. This decline in reading occurs around the late elementary to middle school years. One proposed explanation for this decline is that children feel they do not have books that meet their interests. In fact, some evidence suggests children feel specific interests are sometimes discouraged.

The goal of this project is to provide children with a novel that engages with a topic that is often neglected in literature: dinosaurs. Dinosaurs have long caught the attention of children, yet there are no novels that focus on this topic within the middle grade age range. Many picture books about dinosaurs exist, and a few books for adults take this focus, but young readers who fall between these categories do not have books to satisfy this interest. By creating a novel that focuses on dinosaurs, the project aims to encourage children to explore more complex narratives that promote reading comprehension, while still satisfying the need for a dinosaur-centered story.

The novel is titled The Prehistoric Chronicles: Escape From Tyros. Not only does the book incorporate factual information about dinosaurs in the form of worldbuilding, but it also explores themes of belonging and responsibility. By blending educational and narrative elements, the novel can help children deepen their appreciation for both reading and learning.

The novel centers around Flash, a young triceratops who is raised by tyrannosauruses, the natural predator of Flash’s species. Flash lives happily amongst the carnivores until Tyros, the leader of the tyrannosauruses, attacks him, prompting Flash to flee. The story follows Flash throughout his journey, as he meets new companions while on the run. The following excerpt is the prologue of the novel.

Prologue

Tyros stood watching over his domain. The tyrannosaurus’s one eye roved over the land, searching for any movement, any change upon the barren landscape. A dust cloud rose to the northwest. Another dinosaur was approaching. It was a fellow tyrannosaurus, a female; she was carrying something small in her jaws. She stepped close to Tyros and bent down slowly, placing a round, yellowed egg in front of her ruler.

“I found this little one in the forest.” She looked unflinchingly into Tyros’s eye as she spoke, “The mother had been killed but was uneaten. I believe she had been attacked by a group of creatures. I searched the nest, but this was the only egg that hadn’t been destroyed.”

The female tyrannosaurus saw the troubled look upon Tyros’s face. She knew her brother well, certain he was displeased that such tragedies occurred within his own land. She waited for Tyros to speak. When he did, his words were a question, “What are you going to do with it? You must have a reason for bringing it here.”

“I’m going to keep it.”

Instantly, Tyros’s calm demeanor changed. “Tysha, you can’t be serious!” he exclaimed, voice booming. “Do you even know what kind it is? How would it live amongst us? How would you care for it?”

“It’s a triceratops.” Tysha’s words were quiet, but firm, and her gaze remained steady.

Tyros’s anger deepened. “A triceratops!” he bellowed, rattling the egg as he pounded the earth with his foot. “We have no use for triceratopses beyond providing us with food. We hunt them, we do not raise them. Bringing it into the clan would only bring death to it and shame upon you. No, you may not keep it!”

Tysha felt a wave of anger sweep over her in the face of her brother’s fury. “You say it will die if I raise it, but what will become of it if I leave it to the mercies of the world? Do you expect it to meet a better fate? I cannot leave it to die.” Tysha’s temper cooled, and she glanced away from her brother’s empty eye socket, “Tyros, I must keep it. I will raise it as my own. You don’t have to be involved, but please let me keep it. I have already lost so much, don’t take this away from me.”

Tyros looked to his sister, who had shifted from unquenchable defiance to despondent defeat. Her passion for the little egg was the first sign of life since her mate, Flangar, had died. The egg had given her hope, and Tyros could not bring himself to crush his sister’s heart once more. “Very well,” he sighed, “you may keep it. But if it causes any trouble, it will be sent away and I will have nothing to do with it. Understood?”

“I understand.” Despite himself, Tyros was relieved to see joy shining from his sister’s eyes. Tysha bent and gently picked up the egg in her jaws, carrying it away to the home of the tyrannosaurs.

Chapter 1

The home of the tyrannosaurs was a large crater located in the heart of Tyros’s realm. Sparse vegetation provided cover to the bare earth, though the plants were curled and cracking, blending with the dry soil in which they grew. Large rocks decorated the crater, sometimes tumbling down the depression’s sloped sides. The heat was intense and most lands surrounding the crater were empty, but the tyrannosaurus clan was content to live under Tyros’s rule.

Tyrannosauruses milled about the ravine, speaking about the hunting prospects for the upcoming summer. A pair of females, Silvan and Sintra, discussed what the year might hold for their clan.

“Conditions are dry,” Sintra said, squinting up at the blazing sun, “Will the herbivores even come through our territory?”

“They will,” the older therapod reassured her, “Herbivores get desperate in droughts. Tyros will make sure…”

The conversation was interrupted by a triceratops hurtling between the two carnivores. They reared back in surprise as the three-horned figure called over his shoulder, “Sorry!”

Before the pair could respond, three young tyrannosauruses followed after the triceratops, growling excitedly as they gave chase. Silvan shook her head at the group, but smiled in spite of herself.

The triceratops ducked behind a large boulder and his three pursuers barreled past. The triceratops slipped out from behind the boulder and went back the way he had come, grinning at the sounds of confusion from behind. He was approaching the two older dinosaurs when he felt someone bump against his side.

“Got you.” The triceratops turned to find a female tyrannosaurus of his own age showing her serrated teeth in a friendly smile. “You gave the others the slip, but you’re going to have to try harder to throw me off, Flash.”

Flash laughed at his friend, “Because it’s such an accomplishment beating younger dinosaurs at Predator-Prey. You should feel proud of yourself, Darra. Next time you should see how long they can last in a tussle with you.”

Darra bumped Flash again with her large head, “You know I’m kidding. But really, you might have been a bit too good for them. They think you left the crater and are about to start searching the plains for you.”

Flash bounded up the steep slope of the ravine, pebbles flying from beneath his heavy feet. Standing at the crater edge, he called, “Davren, Grulk, Lanar, I’m over here!” Flash saw three heads pop over the ledge, eyes wide with surprise. The three young tyrannosaurs charged towards him, each eager to be the first to the triceratops’s side.

Davren was first to reach Flash, and he danced from foot to foot, bragging to his friends. “I got here first! You’ll have to be faster to beat me.”

Grulk and Lanar were none too pleased with their boastful companion. “You had a head start!” Lanar shouted, snaping at Davren’s snout.

“I was the closest to finding you, wasn’t I?” Grulk looked at Flash with sincerity. The little therapod clearly believed he was the superior tracker.

Flash was saved from having to pick sides by Darra scolding the young dinosaurs. “You were all right behind Flash, and he still threw you off his trail. How do you expect to help the clan hunt when you can’t keep track of what’s in front of your nose?”

The three dinosaurs began protesting the accusations, but Darra quieted them, “If you want to win the game, then you have to earn it. I think we all know Flash won this round fair and square.”

The tyrannosauruses mumbled their agreement. Flash was relieved Darra had put a stop to their bickering. However, the young predators were not finished with Flash.

“What are we going to do next, Flash?” Lanar asked, giving Flash her best pleading look.

“Next?”

Davren took over from Lanar, “Yes! We could play another game, or we could go exploring, or maybe you could tell a story.”

“Yes, a story!” Grulk and Lanar both bounced giddily, crowding in close to the triceratops.

Flash looked to Darra for assistance, but she only smiled and shook her head. “Alright, I’ll tell you a story.”

The tyrannosauruses cheered and raced back into the crater, plopping themselves in front of the large boulder that often served as the stage for the telling of tales. Flash followed after them, quickly thinking of which story he should tell the young dinosaurs. No matter which story he picked, the trio would have already heard it a thousand times, but they would not mind so long as he told it well.

Settling on his decision, Flash began the tale, “This is the story of Tyros and Thunderblade.”