Their sad red faces looked on, disbelievingly. Some even shook their heads defiantly as I told them that not only was Tyrannosaurus rex probably feathered and possibly even brightly coloured but that they almost certainly didn’t roar. I saw dreams shattered in the audience before me. Don’t worry, the kids were absolutely fine, I’m talking about the parents here. After writing my book series ‘So You Think You Know About Dinosaurs?’ I was lucky enough to be invited to speak at Hay this year and it was great fun. I mean, who doesn’t love a lumbering Diplodocusor and a rampaging Triceratops?
It never ceases to amaze me just how much these young science enthusiasts know about dinosaurs and the audience certainly didn’t disappoint. Pitting adults against kids (in a game of ‘Is it a dinosaur?’) led to a shocking yet predictable defeat and some very smug-looking 5-10 year olds. It was great to reach out to young readers with a passion for science and I hope that Hay (and of course my books) continue to engage, enthral and inspire many more young readers. Hay is a fantastic place where readers of any age can fall in love not only with books but the incredible world they introduce them to.
Dr Ben Garrod is an Evolutionary Biologist, Teaching Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University and broadcaster. His newly released book series ‘So You Think You Know About Dinosaurs?’ is published with Zephyr (an imprint of Head of Zeus) and is available in all good bookshops.
@HoZ_Books @Ben_garrod