What the Dinosaurs Did at School

Refe and Susan Tuma are parents of four from the Kansas City area. Inspired by the imagined lives of their children's' toy dinosaurs, they began a series of children's books documenting the antics of dinosaurs in various situations, producing titles such as "What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night" and "What the Dinosaurs Did at School" for which this photograph was taken. The Tumas' stage intricate scenes using the dinosaurs and photograph them in meticulous detail to generate imagery for the books. The scenes are produced on a scale that creates an illusion of reality but the use of the toys themselves maintains an element of hilarity to each. While the viewer is aware of the plastic dinosaurs' static form, the scene suggests movement that encourages the viewer's imagination to envision them in motion; a practice beneficial for both the children and parents reading these books. This scene, in particular, was staged and photographed at the Central Branch of the Kansas City Public Library. The original scene took place in a local elementary school but was requested for reshoot by the book's publisher. The school was in session by that time causing the Tumas' stage a reshoot in the Children's Section at the Central Branch. The dinosaurs appear in the middle of an ambush as paper arrows and books fall around them. As a testament to their dedication, they were reported to have spent several hours positioning the scene for the right photograph.
Inventory
Collection Number
17383
Building
Current Location
Children's Area
Floor
2nd
Description
Details
This is a photograph produced for a children's book titled "What the Dinosaurs Did at School" by Refe and Susan Tuma.
Artist Nationality
American
Framed
Yes
 - Glass
Width
1 1/2 inches
Height
17 inches
Length
21 inches
Object Type
Permissions
Reproduce the Work in Library publications/publicity, including film or videotape
Yes
Reproduce
Library has Photography Rights
Yes
Photograph
Permit the general public to photograph the work
Yes
Slides/Video