WATSONVILLE >> Millions of years ago, dinosaurs roamed the Earth. While they have been gone for an extraordinarily long period of time, they continue to be a source of fascination for paleontologists and young children alike, becoming the subjects of numerous books, movies, TV shows and toys.
There are also countless educational opportunities for kids to learn about these prehistoric behemoths, including how they lived, what they ate and what their environments were like. With November coming up, the Watsonville Public Library will host two such opportunities with “Dinovember.”
On Nov. 7, kids and families will get a hands-on lesson on dinosaurs’ diets. When most think of dinosaurs, they think of the carnivorous Tyrannosaurus rex or its many smaller meat-eating peers, but there were also a variety of other dinosaurs like the stegosaurus, brontosaurus and triceratops that would largely nosh on leaves, ferns and moss. In other words, if they had had access to tacos, they would have skipped the carne asada and gone straight to the plant-based tacos.
So that is what the Watsonville Public Library will be bringing with its herbivore tacos program. Families will make tacos with vegetables, nuts, seeds and a special sauce and then chomp them like dinosaurs. They will learn lessons on what dinosaurs ate, gain some culinary skills and enjoy a free meal. The program is 11 a.m. to noon Nov. 7.
The second program is a “Dino Sensory Play” program Nov. 21. The library will have stations where kids and their families can crack open frozen dinosaur eggs, dig for bones, play with slime, make dinosaur feet to wear over their shoes and more opportunities to stimulate senses. The program is 11 a.m. to noon Nov. 21.
Both programs will take place at the Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St. For more information, call the library at 831-768-3400.