How to Catch a Babysaurus

How to Catch a

by Alice Walstead, Andy Elkerton (illustrator)

The newest adventure in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling How to Catch series—do YOU have what it takes to catch the most unique creature yet?

The How to Catch Kids are at it again! When one of them is about to gain a new sibling, the team tries to trap the Babysaurus—a curious little creature who loves adventure and learning new things! But will the Babysaurus be a nuisance or your new best friend? The perfect gift for new siblings ages 4-10, this fun dinosaur picture book is filled with silly rhymes and illustrations sure to delight young readers and parents alike. With STEAM concepts and classic hilarity and chaos, How to Catch is a phenomenal Christmas or holiday gift!

There are rumors of a stinky beast, quite small, but loud, it's true!

This could just be our new best friend, and to catch him we need YOU!

Also in the How to Catch

How to Catch a MamasaurusHow to Catch a DaddysaurusHow to Catch a UnicornHow to Catch a LoveosaurusHow to Catch a LeprechaunHow to Catch a Mermaidand more!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Catch a Babysaurus, written by Alice Walstead, is the newest book in the How to Catch... series. We have read several of them and always enjoyed them. In this story, the boy's family has a new baby, to him, it is a babysaurus. His BFF tells him about his experiences with a babysaurus, so he gets his traps ready to catch it. It smells, makes noise, touches stuff and eats, so he used those things to make his traps work. But he realizes that there are things he likes about the baby.

We enjoyed this story and ended up talking about how babies are like dinosaurs. My middle grandchild told the younger one that he was stinky, and cried loud when he was little. She also said he took all mommy's time to feed him. We laughed about that. I always get the kids to talk about the traps that are set and how they worked or didn't work. The illustrations in this series are always excellent and this book is no exception. A fun read for little ones.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Catch a Babysaurus, written by Alice Walstead, is the newest book in the How to Catch... series. In this sweet and hilarious book, a young boy knows that someone's on the way to live at their house with him, but he doesn't exactly know what to expect. His best friend has had a similar experience, and tells him that a Babysaurus is coming. Through a fantastic story and illustrations, our protagonist comes up with ways to shield himself and his things, but of course we have to have a happy ending!

I loved this book, and the sweet story line. I can definitely picture this being a great book to share with young readers, especially those interested in STEM or those who are a little hesitant about a little sibling. Thank you to NetGalley and to the author and publisher of this book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can see all my reviews here: Books Are The New Black

We are huge "How to catch a…" book fans in this home!! I know there are a lot, and we own several of them. I have said this in another book review of the same series. My kid was so excited to read these!

How to Catch a Babysaurus is as cute and fun as it sounds. This book is about having a new little one coming. This book is perfect for families that have a new addition. I wish we would have had this two years ago! Even if you don't have a little new one, it's good for any type of change. I will be adding this one to our library. The illustrations are amazing and one of my favorite things about this series. I can't wait to see what they do next.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Wonderland and Netgalley for an e-ARC. All thoughts an opinions are my own.

[Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The newest installment in the How to Catch series is as cute, clever, and fun as its predecessors. This time, we follow a family preparing for a new arrival. The only child is understandably confused about what this change means. Through a series of adorable, action-packed illustrations, we get to watch the journey of adjusting to life with a new sibling and the blossoming bond between them.

The illustrations are vibrant, dynamic, and engaging; perfect for capturing young readers’ attention. As always, the rhymes are quirky and fun, right in line with what fans of the series have come to love.

I’d absolutely recommend this book to children ages 3–10, especially to families navigating the uncertainty and excitement of welcoming a new sibling.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

First - thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Kids for sending along an ARC of the latest book in the “How To Catch A…” series.

This book would be the perfect present for any child about to welcome a new baby into their home (meaning my 4.5 year old couldn’t relate, as she is and always will be an only child). She still really enjoyed this, and thought the pictures were cute and the rhyming scheme was easy to follow and flowed well.

As soon as we finished reading, she ran to the bookshelf in her bedroom and pulled out one of the physical copies from this series that we have, and wanted to read that one as well. She was so excited that the children in the illustrations were the same within each book - continuity is important!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 stars – A Delightfully Dino-mite Adventure!

How to Catch a Babysaurus is an absolute hit! Alice Walstead has created yet another imaginative and playful story with rhyming text that flows effortlessly, making it a joy to read aloud, and the vibrant illustrations are fun and engaging.

The clever traps and inventive ideas the main character came up with to catch the adorable Babysaurus kept me guessing what would happen next. It's a perfect blend of humor, adventure, and creativity. This book is a great addition to the How to Catch series!

Highly recommend for bedtime, classroom reading, or just a fun afternoon story time! A great option for children who are about to welcome a baby sibling into their family!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our family already owns How to Catch a Daddysaurus and How to Catch a Mamasaurus along with a few other titles from Alica Walstead. How to Catch a Babysaurus is a cute addition to the series, particularly for families expecting a new sibling. The playful comparison between a human baby and a babysaurus adds a fun and imaginative twist that will captivate young readers. The book’s emphasis on action words enhances the excitement, and the illustrations are as engaging as ever, beautifully bringing the story to life.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Regency_Fan_ Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a heartwarming and engaging children’s story that offers a refreshing twist on introducing new babies to the family, making it an excellent resource for families welcoming a new addition and seeking a fun way to discuss this significant change. Highly recommended for its creative approach and captivating storytelling! I received a complimentary e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Source Kids and NetGalley.

[Casey Densmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful addition to the "How to Catch a...." series! It gives some humor to a hard situation for most kids - a new addition to the family. I think this would be a great story to read to a growing family! The illustrations are bold, colorful, and full of detail. Any child would love having this book in their library!

Thank you Alice Walstead and SOURCEBOOKS Kids for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Catch a Babysaurus is part of the wonderful “How to Catch” collection. It’s perfect for families with a new little one on the way. It goes through new changes that they can expect but in a fun and engaging way. The illustrations continue to be a standout feature in this series making the story clear and easy to understand. I highly recommend these books.

Advanced copy courtesy of Sourcebooks Kids

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebook Kids for an advanced read copy of one of the latest "How to Catch a..." book!
How to Catch a Babysaurus by Alice Walstead is yet another adorable rhyming book to add to this series.  This book would make a cute gift for siblings in a family expecting a baby as it tells the story of a young boy expecting a new family member except the baby is a dinosaur!  The illustrations are engaging and my seven year old just loves this fun series! 

[Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and cute book! I love how the author decided to take a familiar topic (for a lot of kids) and add a special spin on it. Combining a relatable event with *dinosaurs* is so clever, and worked really well! Additionally, it was amazing how much personality the author gave to the Babysaurus, even though readers barely see and never "hear from" the character. Lastly, I definitely give lots of credit to the illustrator for the beautiful coloring and vivid detail on each page. Bravo!!

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Sourcebooks Kids for the advance copy!

This is a cute children's book that is perfect for families that are welcoming new babies. It includes all sorts of experiences that the new older siblings will experience, and introduces them in a fun and engaging way. The illustrations are so adorable, and the text was easy to understand for young children.

[Liz Benbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great new addition to the How to Catch book series! My students will love this one. It would also be an excellent gift for a child that’s expecting a new baby sibling in their home. The introduction of the baby as a “babysaurus” will help kids relate a new family member to something most kids already love (dinosaurs!).

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Kids through NetGalley.
Readers may identify with the concerns raised about a babysaurus entering their lives. We see how he sets traps that fail and finally comes to appreciate how important the babysaurus is. The illustrations capture the humor and fun along with the real concerns older siblings may feel.

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a cute silly book with great illustrations. The colors are very vibrant and the artwork is engaging enough to tell its own story alongside the word. I can imagine this being a crowd favorite for many families. my toddler for sure loved pretending to help catch the dinosaur.

This was another netgalley arc I got to read with my daughter. She loved this one.

[Jessie (Saffity) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book that shows the chaos a new baby in the house can cause. My kids (5 and 2) found this book quite entertaining, especially all of the traps set up to catch the babysaurus. The illustrations were very cute, and rhyming style was fun. Just a fun book about what having a sibling can be like with little funny bits along the way. We read this book through NetGalley.

[Jennifer Brumley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book for any older brother or sister with a new baby or baby on the way! Loved the rhyming and vocabulary provided in this book. The illustrations are perfect- so colorful and greatly depict the story. Thank you for allowing me an ARC on this cute story!!

[Kearstensbookadventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute story. My daughter and I loved this one so much. It was such a cute book about a sibling. My daughter was laughing at some parts. She really liked how the baby was compared to a dinosaur and that she agreed with several of the comparisons.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute and colorful illustrations. this one, like the others in the series, tells a cute story. Will the babysaurus be scary? Smelly? Loud? A fun book to read with someone who is about to become a big brother or sister.

[Jenn Georges]

Super cute story. This will make the kiddos laugh. This is a beloved series in my library and can’t wait to get a copy in the library for them! We are slowly building our collection. Prefect for K-2 students. Its a fast and easy read aloud.

[Cynthia Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, Alice Walstead, and Sourcebooks Kids for the eARC. It was an absolutely adorable story that my daughter couldn’t get enough of! The colorful illustrations and funny and sweet storyline made it a delightful read from start to finish.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This boy character is sure to get ready for a new baby by plotting to catch and keep his things safe from a new Babysaurus. It has a loud cry, and a smell, and builds traps to catch this creature. Learns to like the smiles and laughs and funny things it does. Some imagination this boy has.

[Amethyst Maxey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC. My son loves dinosaurs so this books illustrations caught his attention. This was a fun read for us and I look forward to publication so we can own a copy.

[Stella Marchione · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cute story about accepting a new family member. A great moral and beautiful illustrations.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun read as the series continues.

[PottWab Regional Library]

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