Amazing Dinosaur Books for Children

Are dinosaurs super popular in your house? Do you know anyone who picks up a T-rex figurine and goes “ROAR!”? (I can’t help but think of Ross from Friends describing the sound a dinosaur makes.) There’s something for everyone in this collection of fun dinosaur books for kids.

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We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

Ages 4+

Going to a new place where you don’t know anyone can be scary. Higgins uses humor to show making friends can be easy….as long as you don’t eat your classmates! In the first book of Ryan Higgins’ Penelope Rex series, Penelope is excited to start school but is a little nervous about meeting her classmates and making friends. Will her classmates be friendly? Penelope is in for a big surprise when she discovers that she goes to school with CHILDREN instead of dinosaurs and has to curb her appetite for kids to make new friends. This book could be a discussion opener about how to make friends and show them kindness.

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist. Written by Linda Skeers, Illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns

Ages 5+

Dinosaur Lady is a wonderfully illustrated biography of Mary Anning, the first paleontologist. As a brave young girl in nineteenth-century England, Mary Anning enjoyed exploring the beach and braving cliffs near her home. Upon her journey, she discovered dinosaur fossils! Anning’s ground-breaking findings were talked about worldwide, though because she was female, the scientific establishment did not accept Anning until long after her death. This is an excellent book about a brave woman’s contribution to studying dinosaurs. 

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

Click here to read my review!

I’ve discussed this title in an earlier blog post, 7 Picture Books That Will Make Kids Laugh Out Loud, so rather than review the book again, let me say how much I enjoy this book, which is as much fun for the parents to read as it is for the kids.

Tea Rex by Molly Idle

Ages 2+

What would happen if you invited a dinosaur to a tea party? This charming picture book is super fun because the words and the illustrations tell two different stories! The book informs readers of proper etiquette expected at a tea party, while the pictures show the challenges T-Rex experiences while attending afternoon tea.

Groovy Joe: Ice Cream & Dinosaurs by Eric Litwin, Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

Ages 2+

Joe is a groovy dog who loves his ice cream. While Joe is enjoying it, one day, he encounters hungry dinosaurs. Oh no! What’s the pup to do? Share, of course! This book is a beautiful combination of humor, rhythm, and rhyme. If you love Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes, check out this book (same author)!

Sandra Boynton Books

I love so many of Sandra Boynton’s books! The stories are fun and full of whimsy and fun rhymes (sometimes I even make up my tune and sing it *crying laugh emoji*). These books can be enjoyed by the youngest readers (babies) but will still crack a smile from your kindergartener.  Lucky for dinosaur lovers, Sandra Boynton features many in her work. 

Dinosaur’s Binkit is a relatable story of a missing comfort item (Dinosaur’s Binkit). Can you help Dinosaur find his binkit before bedtime? Toddlers will delight in assisting Dinosaur to prepare for bed in this fun touch-and-feel board book.

Dinosnores is another excellent bedtime read. Follow the Dinosaurs as they go through their nighttime routine and prepare for bed. I bet it is similar to yours, with one exception. They snore like only dinosaurs can snore! Ask your young reader to join in saying the “HONK-SHOOO.”

Want to get your child up and moving? Reading Dinosaur Dance is a fun way to incorporate movement into storytime. Enjoy getting your moves on like a pterodactyl going flap, flap, flap, or going stomp stomp stomp like a T-Rex. This lively read can transform storytime into an interpretive dance party.

Mad Scientist Academy: The Dinosaur Disaster by Matthew McElligott

Ages 5+

Are you looking to go on a thrilling adventure? Join the class of the Mad Scientist Academy as they search for their teacher’s lost pet–a real dinosaur! The class journeys through a robotic dinosaur exhibit that becomes a little too real for some students’ liking. This graphic novel-style picture book is filled with interesting facts about dinosaurs and infused with humor. This book was a big hit with my kindergartener and will appeal to fans of Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen Magic School Bus series.

Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House, No. 1) Written by Mary Pope Osborne

Ages 6+

Jack and Annie enjoy exploring the woods near their house when they come across a treehouse filled with books. Just as Jack wishes to see one of the dinosaurs he sees in the book, one appears! This fantasy adventure is a beautiful choice for emergent readers eager to read a chapter book and enjoy exciting illustrations. The first in a long series of magically extraordinary experiences, Osborne also sprinkles in facts about dinosaurs.

Roar! (AKA Happy Reading!)

Xo, Sheryl