Do you have a young dinosaur lover in your life? There are so many great books about dinosaurs - plenty for every age. Have a roaring good time with these!
Board books for babies and toddlers:
Dinosnores by Sandra Boynton (Workman, 2019). Sandra Boynton is the master of board books with her funny text and iconic illustrations. This bedtime story is a sure crowd pleaser for fans of her work and a great gift for toddler dinosaur enthusiasts.
Hello, World!: Dinosaurs by Jill McDonald (Doubleday, 2019). This winning board book series covers several popular nonfiction subjects for the very young... including dinosaurs! One thing I love about this board book is that it works for a range of ages, so buy it for itty bitties and it'll grow along with them as you can add in the additional facts presented in smaller font as kids' attention span increases.
Jane Foster's Dinosaurs by Jane Foster (little bee books, 2019). Jane Foster's another board book favorite of mine with her heavy lines and bold colors and designs. This one is super simple, each spread just pairing the name of a dinosaur (or other object like a volcano) with a picture.
Picture books for younger readers:
Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein (Candlewick, 2013). Dinah the dinosaur is brand new and trying everything out. But giving a kiss is not as easy as it seems. Dinah's just too rough, can she figure out how to give a kiss without chomping, stomping, or whomping? This is a fun and funny book with lots of fun-sounding words, great for phonological development!
Tiny T-Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman (Chronicle, 2019). Tiny T-Rex understandably has a hard time giving hugs. His arms just aren't suited to it. But it's not going to stop him from trying. This is a super cute book about a dinosaur that just wants to show his love for his friends.
We Are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner, illustrated by Ben Clanton (Simon, 2017). Are you familiar with Laurie Berkner's super catchy and fun music? This picture book uses the lyrics to her song We Are the Dinosaurs with cartoony illustrations by Ben Clanton. Pair it with a CD or digital copy of The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band (or you can also listen to the song on her website).
We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins (Disney-Hyperion, 2018). Especially perfect for kiddos who might be starting school or preschool in the near future, this funny picture book stars Penelope Rex on her first day of school. She is so excited to make new friends, if only she can stop gobbling them up! It's super funny and just as good for kids already in preschool or school.
What Kind of Car Does a T-Rex Drive? by Mark Lee, illustrated by Brian Biggs (Putnam, 2019). Ava and Mickey help their Uncle Otto sell cars to dinosaurs at his car lot, using their knowledge of the prehistoric lizards to make sales. But what kind of car can they sell to a T-Rex? This story is a great blend of dinos and things that go, perfect for fans of either (or both).
Books for older kids:
Dino Records by Jen Agresta (National Geographic Kids, 2017). This graphically appealing nonfiction books holds all the dinosaur record holders, from the biggest and the fastest to the weirdest and most notorious.
Dinosaurs, Dodos and Woolly Mammoths (My Weird School Fast Facts) by Dan Gutman (HarperCollins, 2018). From the author of the My Weird School series comes a series of nonfiction books giving facts about popular subjects. If you have young readers who are fans of Dan Gutman, you can't go wrong with this one.
Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time by James Gurney (Calla Editions, 2011). For readers who are more inclined to fiction, this fantasy series about an isolated island where shipwrecked humans have learned to live alongside a race of intelligent dinosaurs might just fit the bill.
Who Would Win? Tyrannosaurus Rex Vs. Velociraptor by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Rob Bolster (Scholastic, 2016. The Who Would Win? series has been super popular at my library this year. Each book pits an animal against another animal to see who would win in a fight. This dinosaur volume is a sure bet with fans of the popular series.
