Most kids love dinosaurs, and if your kids are on that bandwagon, these dinosaur books for kids will be right up their alley! Unfortunately, it seems as kids get older, there are fewer options for books centered around dinosaurs unless they’re non-fiction, National Geographic-type books. Still, we’ve done our best to round up the best dinosaur books for kids of all ages — even the teens! These books are silly, educational, funny, touching, and all other good stuff. Happy reading.
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The Best Dinosaur Books for Kids of All Ages
Here are the best dinosaur books for kids:
Never Touch a Dinosaur
Published: February 12, 2017
You must never touch a dinosaur . . .except in this book! This dinosaur-themed touch-and-feel book is perfect for young children! Children will love reading the funny rhyme that warns of the dangers of touching a dinosaur and then ignoring the advice! Innovative silicone touches feature throughout the book, with a different texture for children to explore on every spread. This tactile book offers plenty for young children to enjoy, helping to promote an early love of reading
Dinosaur Dance!
Published: August 30, 2016
Whether they do the Shimmy Shimmy Shake, the Quivery Quake, or just decide to Cha Cha Cha, young readers are sure to giggle and groove along with these delightful, dancing dinosaurs that are ready for a ROARING good time!
ZANG! BOP!
KIDDLY POW!
The DINOSAUR DANCE
is starting NOW!
Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine
Published: December 29, 2020
Valentine’s Day is coming, which means showing the ones you love how much they mean to you, so Tiny has decided to make the perfect Valentine for his best friend Pointy. But as Tiny discovers, making a Valentine isn’t easy. It might take a few tries—until Tiny realizes the best Valentine might have been there all along.
Tiny may be a small dino in a big world, but that won’t stop him from making friends, conquering his fears, and stomping his way into your heart. Author Jonathan Stutzman and illustrator Jay Fleck have created an adorable and heartwarming story that shows young readers that love and kindness are the best gift of all.
Rosa Loves Dinosaurs
Published: October 1, 2018
Let’s find out which toys Rosa and her friends are playing with today! An important series that celebrates inclusivity, promotes gender equality and embraces the uniqueness of every child.
Hello, Mr Dinosaur
Published: February 21, 2019
Little ones will love saying ‘hello’ to a whole host of friendly dinosaurs in this delightful lift-the-flap book. Sam Boughton’s vibrant illustrations bring facts to life with deft humour and memorable comparisons. With big flaps to lift and a fantastic double gatefold on the final spread, this book is sure to go down a storm with young readers.
Tiny T.Rex and The Impossible Hug
Published: March 5, 2019
Tiny T. Rex has a HUGE problem. His friend Pointy needs cheering up and only a hug will do. But with his short stature and teeny T. Rex arms, is a hug impossible? Not if Tiny has anything to say about it!
The Worrysaurus
Published: October 6, 2020
It’s a beautiful day and Worrysaurus has planned a special picnic. But it isn’t long before a small butterfly of worry starts fluttering in his tummy…
What if he hasn’t brought enough to eat?
What if he gets lost in the jungle?
What if it rains?!
With a little help from his mom, Worrysaurus finds a way to soothe the anxious butterflies, chase his fears away, and find peace and happiness in the moment at hand.
How to Grow Dinosaur
Published: January 23, 2018
Good news: Your mom’s hatching a baby! Bad news: Babies take their sweet time. And when they finally do hatch? They’re too little to play! They don’t even know how to be a dinosaur. That’s where you come in. You can teach your baby everything—from peek-a-boo to roaring to table manners to bedtime. Growing a dinosaur is a big job, but you’re perfect for it. Because one thing the baby wants more than anything? It’s to be just like you.
The Girl and the Dinosaur
Published: January 14, 2020
Anything is possible and nothing’s as it seems . . .
In a town by the seaside, Marianne is often seen digging for buried treasure on the beach. One day, she finds the most wonderful treasure of all–a dinosaur skeleton!
That night, Marianne makes a wish upon a star that her dinosaur will come to life. She wishes it with all her heart–and it comes true. Together, Marianne’s adventures with her new friend are limited only by their imagination.
A Dinosaur Named Ruth
Published: November 2, 2021
There’s an extraordinary secret hidden just beneath Ruth Mason’s feet. The year is 1905, and Ruth is a prairie girl living in South Dakota. She has no way of knowing that millions of years ago, her family farm was once home to scores of dinosaurs. Until one day, when Ruth starts finding clues to the past: strange rocks and rubble scattered all across her land. They’re dinosaur fossils—but she doesn’t know that yet, either. It will take many years of collecting these clues, and many, many questions, but Ruth’s curiosity will one day help uncover thousands of fossils all across her land.
Tea Rex
Published: April 9, 2013
Some tea parties are for grown-ups.
Some are for girls.
But this tea party is for a very special guest.
And it is important to follow some rules . . .
like providing comfortable chairs,
and good conversation,
and yummy food.
But sometimes that is not enough for special guests,
especially when their manners are more Cretaceous than gracious . . .
Brontorina
Published: August 10, 2010
Brontorina has a dream. She wants to dance. But Brontorina is rather large — too large to fit in Madame Lucille’s dance studio. Brontorina does not have the right shoes, and everyone knows you can’t dance without the proper footwear. Still, Brontorina knows, deep in her heart, that she is meant to be a ballerina. James Howe introduces a lovable dinosaur whose size is outmatched only by her determination, and whose talent is outmatched only by her charm. Accompanied by Randy Cecil’s beguiling illustrations, here is an irresistible story that proves that no problem is too big when the heart and imagination know no bounds.
Barnum’s Bones
Published: May 22, 2012
Barnum Brown’s (1873-1963) parents named him after the circus icon P.T. Barnum, hoping that he would do something extraordinary–and he did! As a paleontologist for the American Museum of Natural History, he discovered the first documented skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, as well as most of the other dinosaurs on display there today.
Dinosaur Kisses
Published: August 6, 2013
For newly hatched dinosaur Dinah, the world is an exciting place. There is so much to see and do. She tries this — STOMP! And she tries that — CHOMP! Then she sees a kiss and knows just what she wants to try next. Who can she kiss? And after a few disastrous attempts, can she figure out how to give someone a kiss without whomping, chomping, or stomping them first? Young children will chuckle and cheer when Dinah finds just the right creature for her dinosaur kisses in this funny picture book from David Ezra Stein.
Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur
Published: May 29, 2018
Crunch is a lovely and quiet brontosaurus who has hidden himself in some shubbery and is rather shy. He would like to play, but it will require some gentle coaxing from you! If you are patient and encouraging, you will find yourself with a new friend!
Dinosaur vs. the Library
Published: September 27, 2011
Dinosaur is going to one of his favorite places: the library! On the way, he invites his friends—a lonesome turtle, a sad owl and more—to ROAR along with him. But how will his roaring go over at the library? Has Dinosaur finally met his match in Storytime? By combining everyone’s favorite feisty red dinosaur with a variety of animals and a celebration of reading, author-illustrator-designer Bob Shea has created another irresistible romp for toddlers and parents to enjoy together.
Tyrannosaurus Drip
Published: May 27, 2008
The duckbill dinosaurs live across the river from the T-Rex’s. The duckbills are peaceful plant-eaters. The T’s are scary meat-eaters. When a duckbill egg hatches in the T’s nest, both the new baby and the T-Rex family must try very hard to get along. But the little dinosaur, nicknamed Drip by his new family, soon proves he’s not such a drip after all―in fact, he’s a real hero!
Dinosaur Lady
Published: July 7, 2020
Mary Anning loved scouring the beach near her home in England for shells and fossils. She fearlessly climbed over crumbling cliffs and rocky peaks, searching for new specimens. One day, something caught Mary’s eye.
Bones. Dinosaur Bones.
Mary’s discoveries rocked the world of science and helped create a brand-new field of study: paleontology. But many people believed women couldn’t be scientists, so Mary wasn’t given the credit she deserved. Nevertheless, Mary kept looking and learning more, making discoveries that reshaped scientific beliefs about the natural world.
When Sue Found Sue
Published: May 14, 2019
From a very young age, Sue Hendrickson was meant to find things: lost coins, perfume bottles, even hidden treasure. Her endless curiosity eventually led to her career in diving and paleontology, where she would continue to find things big and small. In 1990, at a dig in South Dakota, Sue made her biggest discovery to date: Sue the T. rex, the largest and most complete T. rex skeleton ever unearthed. Named in Sue’s honor, Sue the T. rex would be placed on permanent exhibition at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. When Sue Found Sue inspires readers to take a closer look at the world around them and to never lose their brave, adventurous spirits.
Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads
Published: October 7, 2014
Then hope rides into town. Sheriff Ryan might only be seven years old, and he might not know much about shooting and roping. But he knows a lot about dinosaurs. Yes, dinosaurs. And it turns out that knowing a thing or two about paleontology can come in handy when it comes to hoodwinking and rounding up a few no-good bandits. From Bob Shea and Lane Smith comes this hilarious picture book, Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads.
If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
Published: May 13, 2014
If you happen to have a dinosaur, lying around your living room, and you don’t know what to do with it … why don’t you use it as a can opener? It will make a terrific nutcracker too! There are oodles of uses for a dinosaur — from a fine umbrella to an excellent kite and a dandy pillow, not to mention a reliable burglar alarm and the perfect excuse to forget your homework. This delightfully absurd exploration of the domestic uses of dinosaurs — and the things dinos just aren’t good for at all — is guaranteed to tickle funny bones and spark imaginations. If you read carefully, you’ll learn how to make your dinosaur last a very long time.
We Love Dinosaurs
Published: June 26, 2018
Whether they’re big, small, fast, slow, striped, spotted, or anything in between, dinosaurs are just so lovable! With rhyming text and bright watercolor illustrations, this joyful read is perfect for little ones who love dinosaurs.
Mamasaurus
Published: March 8, 2016
This colorful and reassuring picture book follows Babysaurus on an adventure as he enlists his prehistoric friends to seek his Mamasaurus. Is his Mamasaurus the fastest in the jungle? No. Is she the loudest? No. Is she the best flyer? No! Of course, Mamasaurus has been right there all along. And when Babysaurus needs a little help, she is ready with a big hug and a sweet, leafy snack. For Babysaurus, his Mamasaurus is the best mamasaurus in the world! Stephan Lomp has illustrated several books in his native Germany, and in this debut as both author and artist, he has created a fresh twist on a perennial theme that will win the hearts of little ones and their mamas as they snuggle up to read a new favorite.
If I Had a Dinosaur
Published: February 28, 2017
A little girl dreams of having her very own pet. But what kind of animal would make the best companion? A mouse is too small, a cat is too ordinary, and a fish is too . . . wet! As she plays with her toy dinosaur, inspiration strikes. What about a real, live dinosaur? She could ride it to school. It would need lots of food to eat, a swimming pool to drink from, and a dino flap so it could come and go!
At the end of a day spent busily imagining, the girl trudges up to bed with her little plastic dinosaur. As she falls asleep, the dinosaur from her daydreams stands in the garden with its head poking through the bedroom window, making her dreams come true.
Tyrannosaurus Wrecks!
Published: April 1, 2014
In this read-along picture book, a classroom full of young dinosaurs plays with toys, does art projects, and reads books. But each activity is another opportunity for the over-enthusiastic Tyrannosaurus Rex to wreak havoc. Parents and young children will love the call-and-response nature of the book, and young dinosaur fans will appreciate the listing (and pronunciation guide) for a dozen different dino species. The format is extra vertical in order to accommodate T. Rex’s biggest messes.
Bolivar
Published: November 28, 2017
What would you do if your neighbor was a dinosaur?
Sybil knows that there is something off about her next door neighbor, but she can’t seem to get anyone to believe her. Everyone is so busy going about their days in the busy streets of New York City that they don’t notice Bolivar. They don’t notice his odd height, his tiny arms, or his long tail. No one but Sybil sees that Bolivar is a dinosaur.
When an unlikely parking ticket pulls Bolivar into an adventure from City Hall to New York’s Natural History Museum, he must finally make a choice: Bolivar can continue to live unnoticed, or he can let the city see who he really is. (Junior Library Guild Selection).
Dinosaur Chapter Books for Kids
Here are some dinosaur books for the older crowd:
Knights vs. Dinosaurs
Published: October 23, 2018
Let me tell you a secret about the Knights of the Round Table: they don’t have much to do. The realm is at peace and dragons are few and far between. So Merlin decides to send the knights out on a real adventure to a world filled with the most terrible lizards of all: DINOSAURS!
Don’t Disturb the Dinosaurs
Published: April 5, 2016
Thanks to Dr. Bunsen’s latest wacky invention, the DATA Set are blasted back to the prehistoric era. Gabe is in heaven, but Laura warns that they shouldn’t touch anything. She’s afraid they could contaminate the past and permanently change the future! But it’s hard not to interfere with the locals as the crew quickly finds themselves dashing from flying pterosaurs, stomping stegosaurus stampedes, and a sharp-toothed T-rex! Will they be able to survive in the past…or have their futures been lost for good?
The Itchy Book
Published: May 15, 2018
Triceratops has an itch. . . so does Pterodactyl. . . and Brontosaurus. . . and T-Rex! But DINOSAURS DO NOT SCRATCH. There is a rule written in stone. What is an itchy dinosaur to do?!
Dinosaur Empire
Published: August 1, 2017
Ronnie is just a normal fifth-grader trying to pass her science class’s impossible quiz on the history of dinosaurs . . . until she runs into her neighbor—Ms. Lernin, a retired paleontologist. Ronnie and Ms. Lernin travel back through time to experience the age of the dinosaurs firsthand. They visit three important time periods of the Mesozoic Era: the Triassic, the Jurassic, and the Cretaceous. Along the way, Ronnie finds herself face-to-face with real-life dinosaurs and reptiles, like Stegosauruses, Velociraptors, and Thalattosaurs. She learns the differences between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores, as well as between dinosaurs, insects, and reptiles. This hilarious and fact-filled graphic novel brings the age of the dinosaurs to life and shows the important effects this era had on our world today.
Dinosaurs Before Dark
Published: June 15, 2021
Where did the tree house come from?
Before Jack and Annie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them to the prehistoric past. Now they have to figure out how to get home. Can they do it before dark…or will they become a dinosaur’s dinner?
For the first time in graphic novel–live the adventure again in the very first Magic Tree House book, with new art from comic artists Kelly and Nichole Matthews!
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
Published: December 27, 2017
Journey to the Living Planet! It’s Lunella Lafayette’s biggest adventure yet as a voice from the cosmos beckons her and Devil Dinosaur on a truly fantastic voyage — an Ego trip, if you will! Are you ready for Moon Girl to meet…Girl-Moon? Lunella isn’t just smart, she’s the smartest person on Earth — but what good is that when the problems she faces are intergalactic? And if our incredible adventurers make it back to Earth, they might find things a little different than they remember. What happened to Yancy Street? And who are Devil Girl and Moon Dinosaur?! And when the duo is thrown through time, the era they arrive in could give Devil the hardest choice of all — and leave Moon Girl scouring the Marvel Universe for a new partner!
Ocean Renegades
Published: August 14, 2018
When Ronnie’s parents go on a business trip and leave her with Miss Lernin for the week, Ronnie is sure she’s in for a big, dinosaur-size adventure. After all, her last trip with Miss Lernin involved real-life dinosaurs! So, when they end up at the aquarium’s jellyfish exhibit, Ronnie is confused. Surely jellyfish aren’t as cool as dinosaurs, right? Wrong! Determined to show Ronnie just how interesting prehistoric life was before the age of the dinosaurs, Miss Lernin takes her back in time to the six parts of the Paleozoic era to study the earliest lifeforms on Earth, and how many left the ocean for life on land.
Microsaurus: Tiny-Raptor Pack Attack
Published: July 18, 2017
Danny and Lin are expert secret keepers. They’re brave, smart, and maybe a little bit crazy. Which, as it turns out, is exactly what you need to be to take care of a rare collection of hungry, curious, extra-tiny dinosaurs.
But when their friend Professor Penrod sends them a mysterious package filled with toothy, scratchy microsaurs hungry enough to chew through walls, along with a very large microsaur egg, even the bravest adventurers might find themselves outnumbered and in over their head.
Do-You-Think-He-Saurus?!
Published: August 28, 2018
“I wish I’d had these books as a kid. Hilarious!” — Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants and Dog ManThey may look like Bad Guys, but these wannabe heroes are doing good deeds…whether you like it or not! This New York Times bestselling illustrated series is perfect for fans of Dog Man and Captain Underpants.The Bad Guys have flown through outer space, made it back to Earth, and managed to land in exactly the right place… but exactly the wrong TIME. Who knew alien escape pods were capable of time travel?!? And now that they’re 65 million years in the past, they must avoid being eaten by dinosaurs and fix their broken time machine if they ever want to get back home before an evil alien destroys the whole world!This super special edition also includes a hilarious original short story following evil Dr. Marmalade’s quest for superstardom, quizzes, games, and more!
What The Dinosaurs Did Last Night
Published: October 20, 2015
You might have noticed weird things happening in your house. Unexplainable messes. Food all over the kitchen floor. Who could the culprits be? Dinosaurs! Boasting bright and hilarious photographs, along with a story written from the point of view of an older, wiser sibling, Refe and Susan Tuma’s picture book documents a very messy adventure that shows just what the dinosaurs did last night.
The Age of Dinosaurs
Published: March 2, 2021
Even though the dinosaurs roamed the earth millions of years ago, we’re still piecing together new information about these ancient animals.
Did you know that, on average, a new species of dinosaur is discovered every single week? Or that many dinosaurs had feathers? Or that there are even modern-day dinosaurs walking around right now?
Little Kids First Book of Dinosaurs
Published: October 11, 2011
The third title in National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series, this book is for kids 4- to 8-years-old who LOVE dinos! The prehistoric world comes alive with dinosaurs small, big, giant, and gigantic, with stunning illustrations by Franco Tempesta―who illustrated National Geographic Kids The Ultimate Dinopedia. Bursting with fun facts and age appropriate information, each spread features a different dinosaur, along with simple text in big type that is perfect for little kids. Young dino fans will love the interactivity included in every chapter, and parents will appreciate tips to help carry readers’ experience beyond the page.
Steg-O-Normous
Published: September 13, 2016
Now that Oona’s dino-baby has hatched from its egg, things have gotten even wackier! Stacy the enormous stegosaurus, can’t wait to explore her new world. And Oona can’t wait to show her off. But not everyone’s ready for this big bundle of joy whose having the time of her life romping and chomping through West Woggle. With Bonk, Bruce Brute, Erma, and even the mean witch, Old Brouhaha, on the case, this loveable babe finds her right place in the hearts of these Stone-Age folks who come to depend on this Stacy Steg to save them from some prehistoric perils.
Tyrannossaurus Wreck
Published: March 24, 2020
Teddy was all set for a campout at his friend Sage’s family ranch—but then Sage gets terrible news: The skull of a rare dinosaur that was being excavated on his property has mysteriously vanished overnight in the middle of a rainstorm, even though it weighed 500 pounds. Not a single footprint has been left behind. Since the dinosaur was top secret, the police don’t believe anyone outside the dig could have stolen it.
A T-rex skull can sell for millions of dollars, and everyone is a suspect—including J.J. McCracken, the owner of FunJungle.
Meanwhile, Teddy’s old foes, the Barksdale twins, have gotten into trouble with an illegally purchased anaconda, and Teddy’s girlfriend Summer wants to find out who’s behind the local trade in black market reptiles. The two cases will drag Teddy into more danger and chaos than ever before, in this mystery that’s stranger than fiction.
Maisie Lockwood Adventures
Published: June 14, 2022
Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World Dominion releases in theaters on June 10, 2022, bringing with it all the wonder, adventure, and thrills of one of the most popular and successful franchises in cinema history. This all-new motion picture event sees the return of favorite characters such as Owen Grady, Claire Dearing, Maisie Lockwood, Dr. Ellie Sattler, and Dr. Ian Malcolm as well as all the dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures that fans love, including Blue; Tyrannosaurus rex; and the Mosasaurus! This original hardcover novel tells the all-new adventures of Maisie Lockwood as she navigates a world filled with dinosaurs both ferocious and friendly.
Dinotopia: Journey to Chandra
Published: July 24, 2017
Professor Denison, the intrepid 19th-century explorer, is back! Some time ago, the professor discovered a lost island where humans and dinosaurs dwell in harmony. Now the professor and Bix, his dinosaur companion, have been summoned to the forbidden empire of Chandara. But when they lose their invitation from the emperor, the adventurers must cross the border penniless and in disguise. A vivid narrative, accompanied by enchanting illustrations, traces their journey and its spectacular sights: a village composed of three ships propped up on end, a 50-foot-tall Brachiosaurus outfitted for firefighting, an Allosaurus tending its hatchlings, and other memorable scenes.
Dinosaur Sanctuary
Published: September 27, 2022
Dinosaurs are alive! In 1946, a remote island was discovered where dinosaurs never went extinct. Through breeding and genetic manipulation, dinosaur populations increased and dino-mania reached a fever pitch worldwide…until a certain terrible incident occurred. Afterward, dinosaur reserves like Enoshima Dinoland fell on hard times. Enter Suma Suzume, a kindhearted rookie dino-keeper! Can she be the one to save Dinoland from extinction?
There they are: 45 of the best dinosaur books for kids! Which of these books have you read and loved? What did I miss?
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