Wow! This picture book is so fun! I love all the sounds and movement. This would be a super fun read-a-loud. The illustrations are beautiful. The end had great facts for littles. I highly recommend it for all littles and anyone else who likes dinosaurs and ice age mammals. For a fun, icy walk through the past, pick up this book!

Tiny Tooth, written and illustrated by Max Amato and Brendan McAuliffe, is an engaging and imaginative picture book designed for children ages 3–8. Set for release on October 7, 2025, this is the second installment in the Dinos, Rhinos, and More collection—and it’s a standout addition.

There is much to admire in this Ice Age-themed adventure, from the playful rhyming text and rich sound-based descriptions to the atmospheric illustrations that perfectly suit the prehistoric setting. Simon, the titular "tiny tooth," is an endearing young saber-toothed cat whose bravery, cleverness, and loyalty make him a compelling character for children to root for.

One of the highlights of the book is the “Frosty Facts” section at the end, which introduces readers to real Ice Age creatures featured in the story. The authors also explore pack dynamics in a child-friendly way, offering insight into how different species interact and work together in groups. These educational elements are seamlessly woven into the book, adding depth without overwhelming younger readers.

The story is well-suited to a broad age range: younger readers will enjoy the rhythm and adventure, while older children will appreciate the factual content and learn something new about prehistoric life.

I rated Tiny Tooth four out of five stars and recommend this title for families, educators, and young explorers who enjoy a blend of storytelling and science.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think the success of this book will depend on how you read it. You need to do all the animal sounds to make it fun. The illustrations are very two dimensional and not very engaging. The story is cute and appropriate for younger kids. The “frosty facts” at the end of the book are aimed more at older kids.
I received this galley from NetGalley.

A picture book for animal lovers featuring animals that have gone extinct. Additional information follows at the end. Would be good for introducing the Ice Age in a fun way. May encourage students to learn more about these animals on their own. For grades K -2

Unique character choice in a little saber tooth and the use of onomatopoeia combine with a great lesson about depending on a support system. A lot of opportunities to tie into curriculum.

I had so much fun with this one!
In the story we meet Simon the Saber Tooth. Together we learn about the world around him and about his life. Simon learns that he may be a bit too small to do some things, but he's a part of a bigger community that would support him.
The art is unique and engaging, with clever use of colors and typography. The added pronunciation was a really nice touch that I appreciated.

While the younger ones would love the story and the message, older kids could really enjoy the facts and information at the end of the story.
The information is presented both by text and graphic methods, which is really nice and can be teachable for adults as well. It was really cool to see the comparison of the different species' sizes to an average human!

I would note that some of the images might disturb some kids: while I loved the usage of colors and the combination with the text, I can see how some kids might be frightened by certain scenes.

It's a great gift for younger kids who try to do it all by themselves, but also for kids who enjoy facts about animals, history, and nature. Great for fans of the Ice Age movies!

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Kids for allowing me to read this book as an ARC!

Tiny Tooth by Max Amaro was an interesting read. I liked the lesson that your pack/family is always by your side. I find this to be relatable and something I hope our children learn from us, but I know my husband found it not relatable.

The choice to illustrate the noises was interesting, On one hand I like it especially for young readers, but I also found it very distracting at times. I liked the pronunciations for harder words were included right under the name so children and their parents learn the proper pronunciation. My husband liked that the words were illustrated as he had a fun time narrating them.

The facts at the end are a nice addition to the book.

I received an eARC from Sourcebooks Kids through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

This was an engaging read in my family. We enjoyed learning how Simon found his place amongst his pack as well as the power of illusion when you’re surrounded by friends. It was also interesting to see some of the other prehistoric creatures that lived at the time of the sabertooth tigers. We especially loved reading the different facts about the animals included at the end of the story. The illustrations perfectly showed what was happening in the story making it easy to follow along. Overall, I’d recommend checking out this one.