10 Dinosaur Books for Young Children

Skills to Practice

• Comparing and Contrasting
• Dinosaur Identification
• Vocabulary
• Characteristics of Living Things
• Extinct Reptiles
• Time Periods

As you read through these books your child can practice a wide range of skills. From comparing and contrasting different dinosaurs to learning about extinct reptiles.

As you read you can even compare the dinosaurs to different species that are still alive today. There are so many wonderful conversations that can all start by reading together with your child!

Informational Texts

Better than textbooks, each informational text is packed full of facts and information for young kids. Plus each one is filled with big, bright, and colorful illustrations that kids will love!

Using the 6 books below, you can deep dive into one specific type of dinosaur or time period instead of reading the book from start to finish. Informational texts are great for unit studies and deep dives into a specific topic!

1. T.Rex from Head to Tail

If you are looking for a board book for your toddler or preschool aged child, T.Rex from Head to Tail by Smithsonian Kids is a great book! Each page has a short amount of text along with images.

Young children can learn all about the Tyrannosaurus by looking at the images of fossils, photographs, and illustrations. A fun way to get your child excited to learn about these extinct animals.

2. Ultimate Dino-Pedia

The Ultimate Dino-Pedia by National Geographic Kids is a large text that is filled with colorful illustrations. I love how the large images capture your attention as you flip through the book.

Divided into sections including: different dinosaurs, the geographic time scale, and the scientists that study dinos. There is even a dino dictionary at the end and an index.

3. Dinosaur & Other Prehistoric Creatures Atlas

Smithsonian's informational text, Dinosaur & Other Prehistoric Creatures Atlas is a beautiful book filled with images and information.

Great for young learners who learn through images, the pictures in this book are computer generated. Children can learn about each dinosaur along with where it lived, what it ate, and how scientists think they looked.

A must read text for kids who are interested in learning more about these large reptiles and different time periods.

4. Eyewitness Dinosaur

I love using Eyewitness books as part of our unit studies. Eyewitness Dinosaur by DK Publishing is a fun informational text for kids. Broken into different parts based on characteristics of dinosaurs.

Kids can learn about large and small dinosaurs, ones with horns and crests, along with plant eaters vs carnivores.

Unlike the other two texts recommended above, this book does not have sections for each dinosaur, instead the book is divided by dinosaur characteristics. There is also a glossary and additional resources at the back.

5. The Dinosaur Book

Explore 80 different dinosaurs with the Dinosaur Book by Lonely Planet Kids. Broken up by continents, there are so many different dinos for your young child to learn about.

Each page has very large computer generated images that fill the page. Text is divided into small paragraphs and are spread out across the page. I like how even kids who are not yet reading can learn from the large illustrations!

6. Dinosaurs: Fact and Fable

Seymour Simon's book Dinosaurs: Fact and Fable explores truths, myths, and new dinosaur discoveries. I liked how this book explains how scientists learn about dinosaurs.

Because this book is shorter, you could read aloud some of the parts as part of a read aloud. You can learn about the more well known dinosaurs through text and images.

At the end of the book, you can explore how scientists continue to learn about dinosaurs today. Along with different theories about how they became extinct.

Dinosaur Story Books

Below are educational story books for young children about prehistoric animals. I picked quality books that follow a storyline, but also have facts about dinosaurs.

1. Dinosaur Lady

Have you heard of Mary Anning, who is known as the first Paleontologist? Explore her life and discoveries in the picture book Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist.

This beautifully illustrated picture book is great for read alouds with kids of all ages. The end of the story includes facts about fossils along with a detailed timeline of Mary Anning's life.

2. Dinosaurs!

If you have read my other booklists, then you know I am a fan of Gail Gibbon's books. Dinosaurs! by Gail Gibbons is great for young children.

You can learn about the Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous time periods along with basic information about the dinosaurs. You will like that this book is basic enough for young learners.

3. Peek-a-Flap Dino

A cute board book for toddlers is Peek-a-Flap Dino by Jaye Garnett. I really enjoy reading these lift the flap style books with very little children. Not only are they engaging because they have flaps that can move, but they are bright and colorful.

This book is perfect for young children and is sure to get them excited about learning about dinosaurs and fossils. Each flap is thick and durable making these books great for independent reading.

4. In the Time of the Dinosaurs

A fun children's book about dinosaurs is The Magic School Bus: In the Time of the Dinosaurs. Kids love the adventures of Ms. Frizzle and her class. Great as a read aloud or as an independent reading book.

Elementary aged kids love reading all of the different conversation bubbles placed through out the book. Overall, a fun story about dinosaurs for young kids.

Collection of Reading Resources

Looking for more reading activities? Make sure to check out the entire collection of bookslists, printables, and activities!

Reading Resources →