Lucas Klauss

Author, Lucas Klauss, wearing a dark blue button-up shirt.

Surprise Dinosaur!

Out Now!

Surprise Dinosaur loves to surprise people. Heck, “Surprise” is his first name! But he’s also a Tyrannosaurus Rex. So when he sneaks up on humans and roars, they tend to flee in panic. Whoops!

Thankfully, Surprise Dinosaur meets someone with a solution to the whole “terrifying everyone” problem. But will it mean Surprise Dinosaur has to give up his greatest passion? We won’t spoil the surprise for you!

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Books

Surprise Dinosaur!

For Young Readers
Surprise Dinosaur loves to surprise people. Heck, “Surprise” is his first name! But he’s also a Tyrannosaurus Rex. So when he sneaks up on humans and roars, they tend to flee in panic. Whoops!
Thankfully, Surprise Dinosaur meets someone with a solution to the whole “terrifying everyone” problem. But will it mean Surprise Dinosaur has to give up his greatest passion? We won’t spoil the surprise for you!
Words by Lucas Klauss, Pictures by Mike Moran
Buy on Amazon | Buy at Barnes & Noble | Buy on Bookshop
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Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse

For Teen Readers
Phillip’s sophomore year is off to a rough start. One of his best friends ditches him. His track coach singles him out for personalized, torturous training sessions. And his dad decides to clean out all of the emergency supplies from the basement, even though the world could end in disaster at any moment...and even though those supplies are all Phillip has left of his dead mom. Not that he wants to talk about that.
But then Phillip meets Rebekah. She’s cute and smart and might actually like him back. And as Phillip gets closer to Rebekah, he tries harder and harder to turn himself into the kind of person he thinks she wants him to be. But the question is, can he become that person? And does he really want to?
An Amazon Best of the Month selection
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year
“Insightful, humorous, and truthful … Already a skilled polished writer, first-novelist Klauss offers and adult and youth characters that are developed, realistic, and provocative.” – Booklist, starred review
Buy on Amazon | Buy at Barnes & Noble | Buy on Bookshop
Coming Soon!

For Young Readers
Coming Soon!

For Middle Grade Readers

What Readers Are Saying

The best dinosaur book of 2025!

“This the best children's picture book I've read this year! Absolutely adorable and sure to become one of your child's favorites. The illustrations are colorful and the text is engaging. There are lots of Dinosaur books on the shelf and this one stands out!”
Sheila K.
via Amazon
My new go to gift for children

“Surprise Dinosaur is an excellent, well written and illustrated book that immediately engages dinosaur lovers of all ages!! It is humorous with a very satisfying ending. It is my new go to book for gift giving. Highly recommend.”
Nancy C.
via Amazon
Gives you a great opportunity for reflection

“As a reader, I don't require a personal connection to a work of fiction, however, in this case the connection I felt augmented my reading experience. To call this simply a "coming of age story," does not do it justice. It is about growing up but it is also about the tough questions that you have to face in childhood, teenage years, and even into adulthood. The protagonist confronts death, doubt, new experiences, and faith all in a story that many people with a complex childhood (divorce, single parent, strongly religious background, etc.) will find resonance with in his/her life. The author very astutely captures the discomfort in a family that might embarrass you, the search for your own identity, and the attempt to remake yourself into someone else and even for the sake of someone else. The story leaves you with the questions of what you really value and the things that define you. In my mind, these are questions worth exploring at any age and "Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse" might just might give you the prompt to do this.”
Anne S.
via Amazon
Everything you need in young adult for guys

“This is a great book that kept me up late reading because it's funny, nuanced, and extremely well-written. It also really nails what it feels like to be a teenage male trying to deal with girls, school and family. If you like books like "King Dork" by Frank Portman, definitely check this one out.”
Zach M.
via Amazon

Lucas was born and raised in Georgia. After graduating from the University of Georgia, he moved to New York City and received an MFA in Writing for Children from the New School.

Lucas’s grad school thesis project eventually became his young adult novel, Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse (Simon & Schuster). Inspired by his sons, Lucas later began writing picture books, including Surprise Dinosaur! (Sourcebooks). He’s currently working on several new projects, which he hopes to tell you about soon.

A longtime publishing industry professional, Lucas now works as a children’s librarian. He lives in North Carolina with his family.

Author, Librarian, Dad

Author, Lucas Klauss, wearing a navy blue button-up shirt and brown pants is standing outdoors, leaning forward with his hands on a white railing. Behind him is a textured light-colored wall and a few branches of a small, leafless tree.

Author, Lucas Klauss, sitting at a table signing a copy of a children's book titled "Superprise Dinosaur!" with colorful illustrations of a green cartoon dinosaur on the cover. There are yellow sticky notes, a pen, and a stack of book on the table.

I’d love to visit your school, bookstore, library, or festival! I do a high-energy, interactive storytime for Pre-K through 3rd grade, including a silly guessing game and fun surprises. Surprise Dinosaur himself might even stop by for a visit, who knows?

I’m based out of the Charlotte area, but I’m open to virtual visits and other opportunities. Let’s discuss!