10+ Of Our Favorite Books About Dinosaurs

It is no surprise to me that generation after generation dinosaurs seem to be one of the most popular points of interest for young children. Dinosaurs are just awesome! They are huge, mysterious, extinct and powerful. Plus, they make fantastic protagonists in stories both fictional and factual. Below is a list of our very favorite dinosaur books split into two helpful categories: fiction and nonfiction. Because, when it comes to dinosaurs, it is a very important distinction. 😉

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Nonfiction

Day of the Dinosaurs: Step into a Spectacular Prehistoric World by Steve Brusatte and Daniel Chester- This stunning book with its neon illustrations is packed with anything and everything that you ever wanted to know about dinosaurs.  A feast for the eyes as well as curiosity!

Atlas of Dinosaur Adventures: Step into a Prehistoric World by Emily Hawkins and Lucy Letherland- Not only is this book huge, it is hugely fascinating! With page after page packed with dinosaur facts and tidbits you can easily find yourself getting lost in the Jurassic Era. (And the other Dinosaur eras as well ?). It pairs so beautifully with its predecessor “Atlas of Animal Adventures” .

“The Colorful World of Dinosuars” by Matt Sewell- This book is beautifully designed and the colors are wonderful.  Each page has a large, water color illustration of a dinosaur species with a write-up opposite of it about that dinosaur.  It is hefty and features so many different species that I had never even heard of.  

“A Brief History of Life on Earth” by Clemence Dupont- This book is amazing! It has a fold out format that shows the different eras of life on earth and although it shows the whole spectrum, and not just dinosaurs, the dinosaurs a prominent part and are definitely an important feature.

Illumisaurus: Explore the world of dinosaurs with your magic three color lens (See 3 images in 1) by Lucy Brownridge, Carnovsky and Prof Micheal J Benton- This oversized beauty is a visual delight! You use a lens with a three different colors to reveal different aspects of each page spread. Red reveals dinosaurs, blue reveals other prehistoric animals and green reveals location that includes nine ancient land masses. So cool!

Nonfiction Board Books

Dino (Peek-a-flap Board Books) by Jaye Garnett and Richard Merritt- We love these chunky flap board books. The illustrations are adorable, the flaps are sturdy and the tidbits of nonfiction information are great.

Prehistoric Deep Sea (Smithsonian Kids Deluxe Activity Book) by Thea Feldman and Bonnie Pang- This is a nonfiction board book that I think would be great for babies up to early elementary aged children. It has fun interactive features and is pretty packed with information for a board book.

Fiction

“If I Had a Dinosaur” by Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow- This is about a little girl who wishes that she had a dinosaur for a pet and shares what their life would be like together if she did.  It is darling and we really love it over here.

“Bolivar” by Sean Rubin- I adore this book! Technically it is a graphic novel, however it can be read as a “thick/large picture book” as well. It is highly entertaining and the dinosaur is so loveable. I definitely recommend it!

“Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs” by Mo Willems-  In this story Goldilocks wanters into the home of three dinosaurs who have actually laid it as a trap.  Their plan?  To entice her in, fill her up with their bowls of chocolate pudding conveniently laid out, then eat her up!  

“Tiny T Rex and The Impossible Hug” by Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck This one is about a tiny T-rex with a big problem: he feels that his arms are too short to hug. However, he is optimistic and determined to find a solution. The ending is super sweet and the illustrations and wit superior.

“Dino Moon”  By Morgane De Cadier and Etienne Gerin-  What if there were dinosaurs on the moon?  Would they slide off its tip when it’s a crescent?  Would they play hide-and-seek in the craters?  Of course!  All that and more!  This book is silly fun that imagines what a fun loving group of dinosaurs might do if they lived on the moon.

“We are the Dinosaurs” by Laurie Berkner and Ben Clanton- The text in this book is Laurie Berkner’s popular kid song “We are the Dinosaurs” and the illustrations that accompany them are wonderful! Definitely one you could sing-along too!

“Rex Wrecks It!” by Ben Clanton- Rex loves to wreck things, however his friends don’t appreciate it when he wrecks their block creations at playtime. Can they find a solution to their conflicting interests? A sweet story about teamwork that is sure to please.

“Papasaurus” and “Mamasuarus” by by Stephan Lomp- These dino books are adorable! One features a dad playing with his baby and the other features a baby searching for his mom. Each is equally darling.

The Girl and the Dinosaur by Hollie Hughes and Sarah Massini – It is the story of a little girl who flys off with a dinosaur one night and has an incredible adventure where they even meet up with other children and their dinosaur friends for an amazing party before heading back to bed.

Adopting a Dinosaur (Somos8) by Jose Carlos Andres and Ana Sanfilippo- This book is darling! It’s the story of a little girl named Ali and how she adopts a dinosaur and how wonderful it is.

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