Op-Op, the Triceratops

Op-Op the Triceratops: A Cretaceous Christmas Tale tells the story of a young dinosaur who, like all young boys, dreams of getting just what he wants for Christmas. When he gets something else, Op-Op starts on a journey that will teach him what is really important in this world. Op-Op the Triceratops is both a dinosaur story, a Christmas message, and a lesson about brotherhood. Op-Op is designed for children ages 4 to 8. It is illustrated in a quirky, emotionally resonant style by Beth Tomashek, a young talent and former English student of Martin’s.

Op-Op the Triceratops: A Cretaceous Christmas Tale tells the story of a young dinosaur who, like all young boys, dreams of getting just what he wants for Christmas. When he gets something else, Op-Op starts on a journey that will teach him what is really important in this world: family. Op-Op the Triceratops is both a dinosaur story, a Christmas message, and a lesson about brotherhood. The idea for the book came to author Mitch Martin one day as he watched his two sons wrestling and shrieking “It’s mine” among the Christmas wrappers. It struck Martin, as he held one wriggling arm in each hand, there must be a way to help his boys learn to love Christmas and each other. Op-Op is designed for children ages 4 to 8. It is illustrated in a quirky, emotionally resonant style by Beth Tomashek, a young talent and former student of Martin’s.

Mitch Martin is an author and educator. He lives in suburban Chicago with his wife, Susan, and two boys, Soren and Alec. Mitch grew up steeped in Danish-American culture, and his mother read the tales of Hans Christian Andersen to him from an early age, even the scary ones. His favorite dinosaur was and always will be Triceratops, whose lack of existence, in Mitch’s considered opinion, has been grossly exaggerated.