All was quiet on Earth 65 million years ago—on a day very much like many before it—as a group of dinosaurs peacefully ate in a lush green field. A big moon cast a gentle glow from above as they lazily chewed on fern fronds, twigs, and leaves.

But in the deepest, darkest depths of outer space—way beyond the dinosaurs—things were not so calm. A giant space rock was hovering millions of miles above Earth, moving more quickly than the others in the asteroid belt. It nudged a larger rock, sending an even bigger rock on its path. The asteroid began descending toward Earth. It burned as it entered the atmosphere, gaining momentum, on track to smack right into the blue planet. It raced faster and faster, getting closer and closer and closer, until…

Whooooosh!

The raging fireball darted right past Earth—just missing it.

Down below, the dinosaurs stopped chewing for a brief moment as they watched the bright silver streak of light shoot across the night sky.

Then they went back to chomping on their leafy greens.

Millions of years later, the world had changed. Earth and the dinosaurs that roamed it had become very different. Two Apatosauruses were busy cultivating a farm alongside a river at the base of a three-point mountain range called Clawtooth Mountain. Henry and Ida worked hard tending their fields and produced enough food to get themselves through every winter. Their farm was flourishing, and soon, they’d have a family.

Early one morning, Henry was outside doing his chores, using his mouth and long neck to spray streams of water across the cornfields, when he heard Ida’s voice ring out: “Henry! It’s time!”

Ida and Henry gazed at the eggs cozily sitting together in their large nest. All three were smooth and white, but one of them was quite a bit larger than the other two. Naturally, they assumed that would be their biggest and strongest. Ida and Henry had been dreaming about the little dinosaurs growing inside those beautiful eggs for so long. It was hard to believe the waiting was about to be over. They watched with hopeful eyes as one of the smaller ones wobbled just a bit. Then it wobbled a bit more. And finally…a tiny crooked opening formed.

Crackle. Crackle. Crack!

The shell split open and, like a little ray of sunshine, a female dinosaur poked her head out of the shell. The top of the egg fell to the ground, and with some effort, the baby dinosaur reached for it. Unfortunately, she was a bit off-balance and tipped right over. Momma and Poppa chuckled at their darling daughter.

Poppa reached down to lift the shell up, but the little dinosaur was nowhere to be found! He was worried at first, but then he heard the sweetest little laugh.

From out of nowhere, she appeared on Momma’s back and let out a squeaky roar as she rode down her momma’s long neck. Momma grabbed her baby by the tail before she hit the ground.

“You little sneak,” Momma said lovingly.

The baby dinosaur laughed.

“Hello, Libby,” Momma said.

Just then, the other small egg began to wobble.

Crack!

A crack appeared at the top of its shell. It wobbled a bit more until…Pop! A foot pushed against the shell and came out!

Pop!

Pop!

Pop!

One by one, three more feet pierced through, sticking straight out. The egg rolled over and its four thick legs stomped around until it bashed into a log post. The shell crumbled away and a tough little male dinosaur—built like a tank—stood and looked at Momma and Poppa. His head was big for a baby Apatosaurus and looked as if it were balancing on top of his long neck.

“Hello, Buck,” Poppa said proudly. The little dinosaur picked up a stick and started beating his father’s leg with it. “He’s got your eyes,” he told Momma.

Momma and Poppa looked at the biggest of the eggs. They waited and waited, expecting their final child to emerge, but nothing happened.

All of a sudden, Buck appeared and started smacking the giant egg with a huge stick.

Poppa immediately intervened. “Get out of there, you little prickle bush,” he said.

A crack slowly formed around the top of the egg.

Momma and Poppa leaned in. “All right, this is gonna be a big one!” Poppa said excitedly.

Crack!

The egg opened and the top popped off. Both parents gasped in anticipation, but nothing more happened. No little dinosaur emerged. They leaned forward, peering in, and curled up inside the bottom of the egg was the tiniest dinosaur either of them had ever seen!

Poppa pulled off the top half of the shell, and the tiny dinosaur timidly peeked out at them.

“Hello, Arlo,” Poppa said, trying to coax the little Apatosaurus out of the egg. But Arlo didn’t move. His arms and legs were splayed, gripping the inside of the shell tightly. He was not interested in leaving.

“Come on out,” Poppa encouraged.

Arlo nervously inched forward, quivering with fear.

“Look at you,” said Poppa, smiling adoringly.

Then Arlo tipped over and fell flat on his face with his backside sticking straight up in the air. Seeing a golden opportunity, Buck lumbered over and smacked Arlo on the butt with his stick.

“Buck!” scolded Poppa.

Buck scurried off, bouncing and romping about with Libby. Arlo watched them for a moment and then decided to join the fun. He was nervous at first, but as he picked up speed, he began to enjoy running around with his brother and sister.

Eventually, the three little dinosaurs ran all the way to the door, where the view stopped them in their tracks. Their eyes opened wide as they gazed out at the big, bright world outside. There was a large mountain range and fields that seemed to go on for miles.

“That’s Clawtooth Mountain. And this is our farm,” said Poppa contentedly. “We’re all gonna take care of it together.”

Libby and Buck already seemed excited by the farm and the possibilities that lay ahead of them. But Arlo was overwhelmed and unsettled by all of its newness and unfamiliarity. The tiny dinosaur trembled a little as he looked at the wide world that loomed in front of him.