Dinosaur books are great tools to encourage children to learn. It’s the opportunity to inspire kids to learn about a subject they probably know very little about. Fortunately, there are lots of dinosaur books to choose from.
Lucy Volpin’s We Love Dinosaurs (pre-K–1)
This is a perfect book for young children. It offers rhyming text to make it easier to understand and retain the attention of the kids too. The book explores dinosaurs of all sizes and shapes with different habits and habitats. It’s quite descriptive and encourages children to expand their vocabulary.
Adam Wallace’s How to Catch a Dinosaur (pre-K-1)
Part of a series, this book is quite enthralling. It combines fact with fiction and is great for any child that wants to learn about dinosaurs.
Hollie Hughes’s The Girl and the Dinosaur (pre-K–1)
The book follows the discovery of a dinosaur skeleton. That skeleton comes to life, and a family adopts it as their own. It’s a magical story that’s heartwarming and ideal for younger children.
Jane Yolen’s How Do Dinosaurs…Series (pre-K–1)
How Do Dinosaurs… is a classic series that continues to inspire children. This book is a masterclass for visualization and retains the attention of the children too. It covers lots of themes too.
Penny Dale’s Dinosaurs on the Go Series (pre-K–1)
The great thing about this book is that it covers a variety of topics, from dinosaurs to space exploration, treasure adventures, and much more. It’s a great series for kids who love dinosaurs. There are lots of pictures for children to look at too.
Dino Sports series by Lisa Wheeler (pre-K–2)
Dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes go head-to-head in sports. This book has rhyming titles and lots of sports terminology and covers many dinosaurs too. It’s a great book to read aloud and encourages children to learn.
Cirocco Dunlap’s Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur (pre-K–2)
The story follows Crunch, a brontosaurus. He wants to find a friend, even though he’s a grumpy dinosaur. This is a fantastic story and a great story that can inspire class discussions and even book reports.
Brontorina by James Howe (pre-K–2)
Brontorina is a dinosaur and loves to dance, but her size makes her doubt her abilities. Through kindness and perseverance, Brontorina gets her dream come true.
Wade Bradford’s There’s a Dinosaur on the 13th Floor (pre-K-2)
Mr. Snore is in search of a quiet room and finds a surprise waiting in one of the rooms. This is an excellent story that is funny and appealing. It doesn’t fail to deliver.
Refe and Susan Tuma’s What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night: A Very Messy Adventure (pre-K–2)
This story focuses on dinosaurs coming to life at night. It’s a cute story that’s fun and charming. This is a story perfect for young children.
Jonathan Stutzman’s Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug (pre-K–2)
The story follows Tiny T. Rex and his unhappy friend. Tiny wants to hug his friend but has short arms. It’s a story of friendship, persistence, and acceptance. It’s a great book to start a class discussion too.
Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld’s Dinosaurs (National Geographic Kids Reader) (K–2)
The conversational tone guides readers as they explore jokes and questions about dinosaurs. It is a great informational book for kids interested in dinosaurs.
Dino Holidays series by Lisa Wheeler (pre-K–2)
This is a great book that is perfect for children of all ages. It has lots of great stories set about holiday themes.
Dinosaurs Can’t Roar! by Layla Beason (pre-K-3)
A modern-day paleontologist meets a T. Rex. It’s a lovely book with a touching story. This is sure to be a winner for children who want to sort facts from fiction.
Gennifer Choldenko’s Dad and the Dinosaur (pre-K-3)
A young boy, Nicholas, loves dinosaurs. He uses them to be strong and fearless. This is a moving story that explores what it means to be brave.
The Dinosaur Expert by Margaret McNamara (K–3)
This is a wonderful story that reflects modern themes with dinosaurs. It’s a great story that is heartwarming and may even provoke a class discussion.
Matthew McElligott’s Mad Scientist Academy: The Dinosaur Disaster (2–4)
This book combines science with dinosaurs, and it’s a fantastic story. Kids will love the characters and how many topics are covered.
Abby Howard’s Dinosaur Empire (The Earth Before Us #1): Journey Through the Mesozoic Era
It is a graphic novel that shows Ronnie traveling back in time with her neighbor Ms. Lernin. It’s a nice story that is easy to follow and enjoyable.
Dinosaur Boy by Cory Putman Oakes (3-6)
Sawyer begins to turn into a dinosaur in fifth grade and is subjected to bullying. This is a great story because it covers lots of sensitive themes, such as identity crisis, bullying, and integrity. There are lots of dinosaur facts to enjoy too.
Roger Priddy’s Dinosaur A to Z (pre-K–1)
This book has over 26 pages of dinosaur facts and information and covers things such as size and more.
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs by Catherine D. Hughes (pre-K–2)
There is a lot of information about dinosaurs to spark conversations. It’s a great introductory book on the subject.
Dinosaur Feathers by Dennis Nolan (pre-K-3)
One idea brought forward in this book is that birds and dinosaurs are related. It’s a nice thought-provoking book for children to read. The rhyming sections are ideal too. It’s informative and will help children with pronunciation.
Tedd Arnolds’ Fly Guy Presents: Dinosaurs (K–3)
It is a fun, light-hearted, and incredibly versatile spinoff series. Kids can enjoy the characters and learn all about dinosaurs. It’ll also help clear up some myths surrounding dinosaurs too.
Prehistoric Actual Size by Steve Jenkins (K–4)
The book is perfect for kids. It covers many areas and topics relating to dinosaurs and shows how prehistoric creatures were far more extensive than first thought. It’s a nice book with lots of illustrations to keep children entertained.
In the Past by David Elliott (1–5)
Author David Elliott brings together a collection of poems about all species of dinosaurs. There are illustrations to enjoy, and it allows kids to learn about dinosaurs from a new angle. It’s interesting, to say the least.
Dinosaurs: Fossils and Feathers
One of the book’s best features is that it’s graphical and pulls the reader in more. It covers topics in an educational but entertaining manner. Children will love this book, especially since it’s well written.
Dinosaurs: A Visual Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition by DK (3 and up)
Despite what you might think, it isn’t a boring encyclopedia. This book covers many facts about dinosaurs, early vertebrates, mammals, and more. It’s very educational and useful for children who love dinosaurs.
The Age of Dinosaurs: The Rise and Fall of the World’s Most Remarkable Animals
This book is a great resource for those who love dinosaurs and want to know more. It offers a great insight into the animals and talks about the latest discoveries too.
