Not A Raptor Was Stirring

By Julian Michael Carver

Brrr! It's cold!

Christmas is approaching in Highland Falls. Andy and Anna decide to write letters to Santa Claus. Amid the holiday cheer, both siblings decide it's time to find out if Santa Claus really exists! Late on Christmas Eve, a plan is hatched to stay up all night and catch Santa delivering presents. At firs

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pteranodon Press
• Release date: May 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781733996273

Book preview

THE BACKPACK DINOSAUR

NOT A RAPTOR WAS STIRRING

JULIAN MICHAEL CARVER

HAVE YOU GRABBED THE OTHER BOOKS IN

THE BACKPACK DINOSAUR SERIES?

A RAPTOR ATE MY HOMEWORK!

CAMP RAPTOR

WILL YOU BE MY RAPTOR?

Copyright © 2021 by Julian Michael Carver

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be replicated or used in any manner

without the written consent of Pteranodon Press except for the use of short quotations in book reviews.

First printing, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-7339962-7-3

Text formatting and layout by Joey Kelly

Ebook Formatting by Fiverr’s Bookwrangler

Cover illustration by Pantelis Politakos

Developed and distributed through IngramSpark

All characters names, places and events in this book are fictitious.

Any similarity to real persons either living or dead is purely

coincidental and not intended by the writer.

Pteranodon Press

Message From The Author

Dear reader,

After you read this book, please feel free to leave an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads. Honest reviews help books get noticed and, in turn, help authors reach more readers. The Backpack Dinosaur is an independent book series. As such, reviews are what will help this series get the exposure it deserves.

Sincerely,

Julian Michael Carver

To Glen Wight,

Thank you for believing in my series and helping me bring it to the world. What you did for my series was awesome! You gave me a chance when no one else would. For that, I am very thankful.

Your friend,

-J.M.C.

Contents

Message from the Author

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

About the Author

1

Hey Jayce, nice writing! Maddie teased, scribbling in a Christmas tree drawing with a crayon on her paper.

I’m trying, okay! Jayce yelled back, trying to make his words more clear on his paper.

It was the day before Christmas Eve at Highland Falls Elementary school. All of the fourth grade class had gathered in the library for a milk and cookies party. The bookshelves were decorated in festive snowflake and Christmas present artwork, while Christmas lights dotted some of the shelves. Mrs. Klebb, the school librarian, had an old Christmas movie playing on the television. Although most of the students were very interested in the film, Andy, Anna, Jayce, and Maddie were in the back of the room, writing letters to Santa.

Jayce, you really need to work on your penmanship, Anna teased with a smile, pointing to Jayce’s writing. I’ll be honest, I can barely read it! It looks like scribbles to me.

"Shhh! Mrs. Klebb warned from the front of the classroom. If you four want to write those letters, that’s fine. Just keep your voices down so everyone else can watch the movie. Chloe, watch over the class for me so I can head to the office real quick."

Yes, Mrs. Klebb, Chloe Martin said as the librarian shuffled out of the room, shutting the library door behind her.

I think Jayce’s writing is fine, Andy said, coming to his friend’s defense. I can totally read it. Good job, Jayce!

Well it doesn’t matter anyway, Jayce said. I’m starting to think there is no Santa Claus. Think about it. Has anyone ever seen the guy actually on a roof with reindeer? The only place you ever see him is on TV.

Jayce! Maddie exclaimed, trying to keep her voice down. "Santa is totally real! Just because you haven’t seen him on Christmas day doesn’t mean he isn’t real. He’s always at the mall this time of year. That’s proof enough for me!"

Yeah, Andy agreed. I think it’s all part of the magic. Like when he’s out in his sleigh, he spreads some kind of magic fairy dust that makes everyone in the world fall asleep. Then he delivers all the gifts while everyone’s sleeping! That’s why no one has ever seen him! What do you think, Tennyson?

A gentle croak came out of Andy’s backpack that had been wedged beneath the table. Andy saw the tip of an orange snout pop out before it vanished back into the pouch. The backpack rocked gently as the dinosaur scurried around inside the pouch before laying down again between Andy’s textbooks.

He totally agrees with me, Andy