30 Picture Books About Dinosaurs 🦖
Dinosaurs continue to capture the imagination of kids of all ages. There’s something about these prehistoric beasts that sparks curiosity and wonder. If you have a dino-loving kid at home, feeding their fascination with some fabulous picture books about dinosaurs is a great idea.
In this post, we’ve rounded up 30 of the very best picture books about dinosaurs for a range of ages. From cute board books for toddlers to funny tales for early readers, this diverse collection of picture books covers all the dinosaur basics and encourages a lifelong interest in natural history. With vivid illustrations and engaging stories, these 30 dinosaur picture books will stomp, chomp and roar their way into your heart. Let’s take a look at some of the best options for dinosaur-mad children aged 1 to 12. For more dinosaur fun, check out these dinosaur writing prompts and a free printable pack.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
30 Best Picture Books About Dinosaurs
One of the best ways to indulge a child’s interest in dinosaurs is through picture books. Vivid illustrations and fun, engaging stories bring these prehistoric creatures to life. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the 30 best picture books about dinosaurs for children of all ages. Your dino-mad kid will love poring over these pages filled with all their favorite Jurassic giants. Let’s take a look at the top 30 dinosaur-themed picture books that will stomp their way into your heart!
You might also enjoy this list of the best dinosaur books for kids.
1. How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen
In this bedtime story, mama dinosaur lovingly tucks in her little ones and reminds them how dinosaurs say goodnight – by giving kisses, whispering, and wishing on stars, not by stomping, roaring, or pouting.
2. Dinosaur Roar! by Paul Stickland
With colourful illustrations and lots of noisy words like stomp, crash, and roar, this book introduces young readers to a variety of friendly dinosaurs. Kids will love repeating all the great sound effects.
3. Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea
A playful dinosaur resists bedtime in hilarious ways like eating his teddy bear until his daddy dinosaur finally gets him into his pyjamas and settles down. Very relatable for kids who don’t want to go to sleep!
4. Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow
Harry finds a bucket filled with dinosaur toys that magically come to life, and he has fun playing with them all day until it’s time to clean them up for Nan. A delightful imaginary adventure.
5. Dinosaur Dream by Dennis Nolan
A boy has an amazing dream where he meets a friendly brontosaurus and rides on his back through a lush prehistoric landscape. Beautiful retro illustrations make this book especially charming.
6. Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton
With simple text and bright, basic illustrations, this book introduces preschoolers to famous dinos like triceratops, pterodactyls, and more, along with some key facts about each one.
7. Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman
A cute and humorous book about a tiny T. Rex with short arms who just wants to hug his friend, with an important message about finding creative ways to show affection.
8. How Big Were Dinosaurs? by Lita Judge
Vivid illustrations and comparisons to modern creatures help kids visualize just how enormous dinosaurs were, from the huge Argentinosaurus to the tiny Microraptor.
9. Dinosaur Bones by Bob Barner
Rhyming verses present fascinating facts about dinosaur skeletons and bones, teaching kids about fossils, palaeontology digs, and more. The illustrations perfectly match the fun, informational text.
10. Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea
Dinosaur vs. Santa is a hilarious Christmas picture book about an enthusiastic young dinosaur who wrecks Santa’s visit with his clumsy dino antics. This funny tale with cheerful cartoony art is perfect for dinosaur fans who also believe in Santa.
11. Snappy Little Dinosaurs by Dugald Steer
Pop-up illustrations let kids get face-to-face with cute cartoon dinosaurs in this interactive book perfect for preschoolers to explore and learn about different species.
12. Dinosaurs Galore! by Giles Andreae
With bouncing rhyming text, this story imagines what might happen if colourful, friendly dinosaurs came back to life and decided to spend a day playing and exploring the city.
13. Ten Terrible Dinosaurs by Paul Stickland
Numbers 1 through 10 are illustrated by some not-so-terrible dinosaur characters with names like Hurry and Hairy and reasons why they might seem scary at first but turn out to be friendly.
14. Dinosaur Vs. the Potty by Bob Shea
Poor Dinosaur is scared to use the potty but conquers his fear after some encouragement from his understanding family, plus a few accidents along the way. Very relatable potty training story!
15. Stomp, Dinosaur, Stomp! by Margaret Mayo
The simple, rhythmic text invites kids to stomp and roar along with the dinosaurs in this active story perfect for reading aloud or singing along to the beat.
16. Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
A silly rhyming story about some naughty dinosaurs who develop an underwear-stealing prankster habit after deciding they love wearing underpants, much to the townspeople’s confusion!
17. Tyrannosaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson
A poor tyrannosaurus is shunned for being vegetarian until he finally proves he can be scary too when a real meat eater arrives, teaching a nice message about being yourself.
18. Dinosaur Pet by Neil Sedaka
A boy takes very good care of the dinosaur pet he imagined into existence until the dinosaur grows so big it’s time to return him to the land of make-believe. Sweet, charming story.
19. Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff
Danny makes an unlikely new friend when he meets a dinosaur at the museum who magically comes to life! They have a day of fun together exploring the city. A classic.
20. Dinosaur Days by Joyce Milton
The simple rhyming story takes young readers through a week of adventures exploring the Jurassic period and learning fun dinosaur facts, like which dinos used their tail spikes for defence!
21. Dinosaurumpus! by Tony Mitton
Kids will stomp, chomp, and hop along with this rhyming read-aloud as silly dino characters creatively boogie through the book to a catchy beat. Very interactive experience.
22. Dinosaur Dance! by Sandra Boynton
Silly rhyming story featuring cute, dancing dinosaur characters with names like Brontosaura and Stegasaura. Set to a fun, rhythmic beat that kids can dance along to.
23. Dinotrux by Chris Gall
An imaginative story about a new species of part-dinosaur, part-truck creatures that use their dinosaur powers to build and repair a futuristic world. Features detailed, colorful illustrations.
24. We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
A humorous book about a dinosaur who struggles to fit in at school because of his strong urge to eat the other students! He eventually makes friends after learning to control his dino instincts.
25. The Dinosaur Who Lost His Roar by Russell Punter
Cute story about a timid Apatosaurus who loses his roar, so his dinosaur friends help him find his voice again. Rhyming text and lovely illustrations.
26. The Dinosaur that Pooped a Pirate! By Tom Fletcher
A laugh-out-loud funny tale of a dinosaur who accidentally swallows a pirate and then poops him back out again, complete with pop-up poo surprises! Very silly potty humour.
27. Dear Dinosaur by Chae Strathie
Max writes letters asking his favourite dinosaur questions about what they eat, where they live, and more. The dinosaur writes back with kid-friendly facts. Interactive, educational.
28. Dinosaurs in My School by Timothy Knapman
When dinosaurs mysteriously appear at school one day, students have hilarious hijinks teaching them classroom rules, manners, and how to play nicely at recess!
29. Mad About Dinosaurs! By Giles Andreae
Cool facts about different dinosaurs are presented through fun rhymes. Has an impressive dinosaur size comparison fold-out page at the end.
30. Mr. Men Little Miss Adventure with Dinosaurs by Adam Hargreaves
Charming illustrated story starring the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters having silly adventures with dinosaurs.
Summary
That wraps up our roundup of 30 of the best picture books about dinosaurs for curious young minds. We hope this diverse collection of dino tales helps spark an interest in prehistoric creatures and gets your kids excited to learn more. Picture books are such a great way to combine education and entertainment for little learners. The vivid illustrations and fun stories in these dinosaur books bring ancient beasts to life and fuel the imagination.
Let us know which of these picture books you and your children enjoy most! Are there any other great dinosaur picture books you’d add to this list? Share your recommendations in the comments below so other parents can discover new books to read with their budding palaeontologists. Happy reading and roaring!
Comments loading...