Monday, November 28, 2022

24 Best Children's Books About Dinosaurs, From Fact To Fiction


Just about every kid I've ever known has gone through a dinosaur phase. The mystique of prehistoric creatures is just one of those things that kids latch onto and want to know everything about. Luckily, there is a wide berth of information, and these dinosaur books for kids offer a variety of ways for your little one to get their fill of both fun facts and fantasy stories all about these magnificent beings.

There is almost nothing like watching your child flip through the pages of a book filled with something that they just can't get enough of. Sure, they can also watch movies or shows about dinosaurs, but a good book can open up a world of possibilities for kids. Supplying kids with a plethora of dinosaur children’s books that offer both imaginative takes and historical data about different types of dinosaurs can help enrich their exploration of the subject.

Whether your kid is the type who will eat nothing but dino-shaped chicken nuggets and wear their two-sizes-too-small T-Rex tee while carrying their dinosaur backpack, or they want to learn every single statistic about the Jurassic period, there's a picture book on this list that will help further fuel their love for dinosaurs. Whether or not they grow up to be a bonafide paleontologist or not may still be up for debate, but in the meantime, they can at least enjoy getting lost in these 23 dinosaur children’s books.

A dinosaur book for kids that’s also a guessing game

"Who's That Dinosaur? An Animal Guessing Game" written by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sam Brewster
Amazon

For little kids who love dinosaurs and enjoy guessing games, Who’s That Dinosaur? will give them the best of both worlds. This imaginative board book is full of informative facts about fossils and dinosaur anatomy presented as a fun lift-the-flap guessing game. Using the clues on each page, kids can guess which dinosaur the fossils in the book belong to. When they life the flap, a full-color illustration of that dino and even more interesting facts are revealed. Intended for toddlers through preschool-aged children, this is one dinosaur book for kids that they’ll want to read over and over again.

A dinosaur children’s book based on a movie

‘Jurassic World: The Very Hungry Dinosaur’ written and illustrated by Monica Garofalo
Insight Editions

My own kids are usually more open and willing to read a book if it’s based on a character, movie, or TV show that they’re already familiar with. Though this isn’t always the case with children’s books about dinosaurs, if you’re looking for a new title to put on your dino-loving child’s bookshelf, Jurassic World: The Very Hungry Dinosaur follows the adventures of the prehistoric stars of the Jurassic World movie series. The book details the story of a hungry herbivore who joins up with other dinosaurs in the park to escape their enclosures and eat their way around the entire island.

A personalized dinosaur children’s book

'On A Journey Among Dinosaurs' by Playstories
Playstories

This personalized children’s book about dinosaurs from Playstories is completely customizable. A Journey Among Dinosaurs is a 32-page fictional tale that let’s your child take center stage as an explorer who travels to a land where dinosaurs roam freely. On a mission to save a dinosaur egg, they discover different ways dinosaurs lived. The story will include your child’s name as well as an avatar version of them that you can design with their eye color, hair color, skin tone, and various clothing options. Prior to placing your order for this custom storybook, you can view a preview of the entire book online.

A dinosaur children’s book about record-breaking dinosaurs

'Book of Dinosaurs: 10 Record-Breaking Prehistoric Animals' by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sam Brewster
Phaidon

In Book of Dinosaurs: 10 Record-Breaking Prehistoric Animals, young readers are introduced to ten amazing dinosaurs through an interactive guessing game. For each record-breaking dino, readers are given clues and hints alongside an illustration of the creature’s skeleton so that they can try to guess the answer before turning the page to reveal the dinosaur and a handful of special facts about each one. From the team responsible for the bestselling Book of Bones, author Gabrielle Balkan and illustrator Sam Brewster have filled 48 pages with touch-and-feel skeletons alongside a plethora of interesting and educational facts. This dinosaur children’s book is currently available for preorder, with an anticipated shipping date of June 15, 2022.

A lift-flap dinosaur book for kids

'Peek Inside Dinosaurs' by Anna Milbourne, illustrated by Simona Dimitri
Usborne

This particular book actually sparked a love of dinos for my youngest son. From Usborne books, Peek Inside Dinosaurs offers fun illustrations of different dinosaurs alongside flaps that kids can lift to learn more about each one. The pages of this board book are hard and sturdy, so the flaps actually hold up over time, even with heavy use. The book’s easy-to-digest facts are simple enough for emerging readers to understand, but still interesting enough for adults to enjoy right alongside them. Best suited for kids ages 4 to 8, this colorful children’s dinosaur book is the perfect starting point for young kids who want to learn more about dinosaurs.

A dinosaur children’s book from Dr. Seuss

'Oh Say Can You Say Di-No-Saur? All About Dinosaurs' by Bonnie Worth, illustrated by Steve Hayfele
Bookshop

An oldie, but a goodie, Oh Say Can You Say Di-No-Saur? All About Dinosaurs is a Cat in the Hat Learning Library book that is great for introducing young readers to facts about their favorite Jurassic species. Though the story is written by Bonnie Worth and not Dr. Seuss himself, it’s rhythmic construction is familiar to all who know and love Dr. Seuss’ classic works. (The book was published in 1999, eight years after his death.) Beloved characters from The Cat in the Hat introduce concepts like how fossils are formed over time and why some dinos were able to fly.

A dinosaur children’s book about a tiny T-Rex

'Tiny T. Red and the Impossible Hug' by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Jay Fleck
City of Asylum Books

If you thought all dinosaurs were huge, think again. How incredibly adorable is that little dino guy on the cover of Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug? Not only is he a ferociously cute character, but your kids will just adore the story of how he tries to cheer up his friend despite not having arms long enough to hug him. The sweet and silly story by Jonathan Stutzman comes to life thanks to the colorful illustrations from Jay Fleck. With simple text and an easy-to-follow storyline, this dinosaur children’s book is best suited for preschool and kindergarten-aged kids.

A dinosaur children’s book fairy tale

'Goldilocks And The Three Dinosaurs' written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Burgundy Books

My kids can't get enough of Mo Willems' genius storytelling and illustration style. His creativity is as evident as ever in Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, a tale that offers a twist on the classic story of Goldilocks, but replaces the three bears in the original with a hilarious trio of dinosaurs. Kirkus Reviews calls the book “A hilariously fractured fairy tale” and “top-notch for group storytime.”For kids who love dinosaurs, but also really enjoy reading or hearing fairy tales, this dinosaur children's book combines the best of both worlds. This 40-page book is fully illustrated and best suited for kids from preschool through second grade.

A dinosaur book for kids where a fun story meets real facts

'How To Catch A Dinosaur' by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Andy Elkerton
The Tiny Bookstore

Hilarity ensues when a group of kids tries to catch a dinosaur for their science fair to prove that they still exist in How to Catch a Dinosaur. With a blend of both non-fiction facts and a fun cast of characters in a kid-friendly fiction story, this book is a great pick for little dino lovers. Part of the New York Times bestselling How To Catch series, author Adam Wallace and illustrator Andy Elkerton deliver a children’s dinosaur book that your kids will want to read over and over again. Best suited for kids ranging from 4 to 10 years of age.

A children’s dinosaur encyclopedia book

'The Dinosaur Book' by John Woodward, illustrated by DK Publishing
Bookshop

This Smithsonian book guides kids through an encyclopedia-style exploration of everything there is to know about dinosaurs. From where they lived and what they ate to what creatures preceded and how we learn about them today, The Dinosaur Book teaches kids all about their favorite subject through plenty of informative facts and gorgeous photographs. With information on prehistoric plants, mammals, and reptiles, there’s much more than just dinosaurs covered here. Best suited for kids between the ages of 9 and 12 years old, educational facts presented in a kid-friendly way will keep your child engaged in this dinosaur children’s book.

A touch & feel dinosaur book for kids

'Dinosaurs: Touch and Explore' by Stephanie Babin, illustrated by Ninie
City of Asylum Books

Inside of Dinosaurs: Touch and Explore, little hands can feel what it might have been like to touch a dino's bumpy skin, their rough bones, and more. Each page offers an engaging sensory experience so that little ones can get hands-on with the soft feathers that might have graced a dinosaur's wings or the smooth scales that could have lined an aquatic dinosaur's exterior. For the littlest dinosaur lovers from ages 3 to 5 years old, an introductory book with dino basics is a great choice to read together with parents and a perfect way to help kids learn more about their favorite creatures.

A dinosaur book for kids with kittens

'Kitties On Dinosaurs' written and illustrated by Michael Slack
Bookshop

This silly and sweet read is perfect for kids who love when dinosaurs take center stage in a story. In Kitties on Dinosaurs, a group of kittens who like to climb on things decide to try to scale the dinosaurs who live on an island nearby called Dinosaur Island. The book’s narrator warns the kitties about the dinosaurs’ big teeth and cautions them not to climb up a hungry dinosaur or they might get eaten. So, the kitties hatch one hilarious plan after another as they work up the courage to climb the dinosaurs without winding up as a dino snack.

A children’s book about dancing dinosaurs

'Dinosaur Dance!' written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton
Bookshop

Not only can dinosaurs roar, but they can dance too! Filled with onomatopoeias that describe how the dinosaurs zing, zap, cha-cha, and bop to the music, this board book features dancing dinosaurs doing all sorts of cool moves and making plenty of fun noises that are super exciting for parents and little ones to read aloud together. Intended for children in the toddler and preschool age range, this sweet read is just perfect for the littlest dinosaur fans. If you're looking for a fun way to get dino-loving kids dancing themselves as they read, don't miss out on Dinosaur Dance!

A Magic School Bus dinosaur book for kids

‘The Magic School Bus In The Time of the Dinosaurs’ by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen
City of Asylum Books

Is there any topic that Ms. Frizzle and The Magic School Bus crew can't tackle? In The Magic School Bus: In The Time Of The Dinosaurs, kids can learn all about dinosaurs as they travel back in time millions of years with Ms. Frizzle and her class of adventure-loving kiddos. When the classroom’s magical bus transforms into a time machine, the students in the story are transported to prehistoric times so that they can get up close and personal with real dinosaurs in their natural habitat. From nesting to dietary needs, young readers can get the inside scoop on how dinosaurs lived, all through the lens of an exciting time-traveling field trip.

A sing-along dinosaur book for kids

‘We Are The Dinosaurs’ by Laurie Berkner, illustrated by Ben Clayton
Bookshop

If your kid is super into dinosaurs, it's likely that you have already heard the catchy dino-themed tune by Laurie Berkner, the lyrics of which inspired her book, We Are The Dinosaurs. Kids can sing along as they flip the pages of this fun book all about dinosaurs marching around and doing what dinos do. Each page is filled with vibrant illustrations by Ben Clayton that beautifully depict the actions described by Berkner’s lyrics. A Publishers Weekly review of the book noted that, “Berkner's fans and newcomers alike should find much to enjoy about in these boisterous, independent-minded dinosaurs' adventure."

A dinosaur book for kids that breaks down myths

‘Dinosaurs: Face and Fable’ written by Seymour Simon
City of Asylum Books

There is a lot to learn about how dinosaurs lived, but there is also a lot that science has yet to explain about the era when these massive, magnificent creatures roamed the earth. Aimed at teaching kids in their middle elementary school years how to separate the myths about dinosaurs they may have heard from a young age from reality, scientific, and historical fact, Dinosaurs: Fact And Fableis an informative picture book that explores the topic of paleontology from fossils to extinction and more. Filled with plenty of engaging illustrations and photographs, clear and easy-to-understand text, interesting sidebars, prehistoric timelines, a glossary, and more, this fact-filled book is a great choice for older kids who love dinosaurs.

A dinosaur book for kids about showing affection

'How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?' by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague
Bookshop

This adorable story about all of the ways that dinosaurs can say "I love you" is a sweet way to talk with your kids about expressing emotions under the guise of their love for dinosaurs. With more than 7 million copies sold, How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You is one of the most popular illustrated children’s books about dinosaurs to date. The central theme of the story is that despite being naughty sometimes, little dinosaurs are loved so very much by the big dinosaurs who are raising them. Not only is this dinosaur children’s book perfect for dino-loving kids, but every kid can relate to the different ways of showing affection.

A dinosaur book for kids about a prehistoric party

‘Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp’ by Carol Diggory Shields, illustrated by Scott Nash
Bookshop

Saturday Night At The Dinosaur Stomp is a fiction picture book about a group of dinosaurs who let loose and has a giant prehistoric party. The text of the story is told in a rhyming scheme that helps keep kids engaged as they read all about how dinosaurs wiggled, moved, and grooved to the beat of their favorite music. The 32-page book is filled with fun illustrations by Scott Nash. Intended for children ages 4 to 8 years, this story is a fun way for kids to celebrate a love of dinosaurs by reading about the characters having an absolute blast together dancing and singing.

A dinosaur children’s book for bedtime

‘Good Night Dinosaur’ by Mark Jasper and Adam Gamble, illustrated by Cooper Kelly
City of Asylum Bookstore

Part of the bestselling book collection, the Good Night Our World series, Good Night Dinosaur is a gorgeously illustrated board book that brings the world of the dinosaurs to life. On each page, dino-loving children can say good night to a different type of dinosaur as they too begin to wind down for a night of restful sleep. From the Spinosaurus to the Triceratops, the Ankylosaurus, Deinonychus, Plesiosaurs, Supersaurus, Ornithomimus, and more, each dinosaur is identified by its scientific name, so that your children can not only wish each creature good night, but they can learn at the same time.

A dinosaur book for kids that roars

‘Noisy Dinosaurs’ written by Jonathan Litton, illustrated by Tiger Tales
Bookshop

When my kids were in their toddler and preschool years, they absolutely loved books that made noise, and the Noisy Books series were definitely a favorite in our house — specifically this children's dinosaur book. Noisy Dinosaurs includes sounds meant to mimic prehistoric dinos and give kids a feel for what it might have been like to hear real dinosaurs roar. A sturdy board book that will hold up over time (speaking from my own experience), this read is filled with 12 full-color pages that feature photo-realistic illustrations of different types of dinosaurs accompanied by a button that plays five different dinosaur-style sounds when pressed.

A children’s book about dinosaur facts

'National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs' by Katherine Hughes, illustrated by Franco Tempesta
City of Asylum Books

Filled to the brim with interesting and informative facts about dinosaurs, National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaursis a wonderful first look inside the factual and scientific world of dinosaurs. Intended for kids from ages 4 to 8, this title is part of the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book Series. Each page is filled with simple facts about different types of dinosaurs that are easy for young readers to understand, accompanied by photo-realistic illustrations by Franco Tempesta. If you’re looking for a book that will keep your little dinosaur fan engaged and learning, this is a fantastic starting point.

A dinosaur book for kids about differences

‘Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs’ written and illustrated by Byron Barton
Bookshop

Just like people, dinosaurs come in all kinds of shapes and sizes with different traits and personalities. From big dinosaurs to small ones, scared dinosaurs to fierce and ferocious dinosaurs, meat-eaters, vegetarians, and more, dinosaurs are as diverse as we humans are, and Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton showcases just how beautiful those differences are. With simplistic text that describes each different type of dinosaur and engaging full-color illustrations, this is a great choice for parents of the youngest dinosaur lovers from birth through preschool age. One Amazon reviewer noted, "This book is really wonderful and colorful. It's one of my son's absolute favorites."

A seek & find dinosaur book for kids

'My First Search & Find: Dinosaurs' by Kidsbooks Publishing
Amazon

Even if your kids love to read, sometimes a book that doesn't actually require processing actual words can be just as fun to explore when it features their favorite subject. From Kidsbooks Publishing, My First Search and Find: Dinosaurs, is a seek and find activity book that features page after page filled with dinosaurs for kids to enjoy. Though some reviewers note that the items listed to search for are not all dinosaur related (for example, a bucket or a shovel), there are colorful dinosaurs engaged in different activities on every page, so there are plenty of chances for dino-loving children to enjoy seeing their favorite prehistoric creatures in this board book.

A dinosaur book for kids about wishes

‘The Girl and the Dinosaur’ by Hollie Hughes, illustrated by Sarah Massini
Bookshop

In The Girl and the Dinosaur, a young girl named Marianne finds a dinosaur skeleton while digging in the sand to look for buried treasure on the beach. Marianne makes a wish upon a star for the dinosaur that she found to come to life. According to the book, her wish comes true because she makes the wish with all her heart. Once the dinosaur comes to life, the book follows the pair as they embark on an adventure of a lifetime that will certainly spark your child's dinosaur-loving imagination. This dinosaur children's book is best suited for kids from preschool through first grade.

With so many dinosaur books for kids to choose from, your dino-loving child is sure to having a roaring good time as they read all about their favorite prehistoric beings.


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