If your kid loves dinosaurs and reading about them as much as mine, you’re sure to want to pick up a few of these books! While we love picture and story books, especially when they were younger, we also appreciate non-fiction dinosaur books. It’s important to us as parents that our children love reading both fiction and non-fiction, and reading about dinosaurs is a great place to start!
The Best Non-Fiction Dinosaur Books for Kids
To say my 7 year old is dino-obsessed would be a serious understatement. I genuinely could not begin to guess how many dinosaurs are currently in his playroom, but it’s safe to say that number is over 100. That said, who can blame him – dinosaurs are awesome! I also credit his passion of dinosaurs in playing a big role in his ability to read at an early age. You foster a love of reading by providing your child books on things they’re passionate about. It’s also important to give them books that are non-fiction so they learn early on to enjoy reading on multiple levels.
Non-Fiction Books to Teach About Dinosaurs
Everything You Need to Know about Dinosaurs – the title says it all! This book is perfect for kids aged 7-10, but honestly I think it’s great for all ages. It’s chock full of images, timelines, and anything a dinosaur-obsessed child might want to know. It does a great job combining realistic looking photos with colorful, almost comic book-like elements. This is a fan favorite for sure!
The Big Book of Dinosaurs is one of the very first books I picked out for my son. The cover alone is absolutely eye-catching and intriguing. It is literally jam-packed with detailed artwork and photographs of realistic models. It’s a book that will keep children entertained for hours and one that they’ll keep coming back to, year after year. If you’re only going to pick one book from this entire list, I would very much recommend it be this one!
National Geographic Kids Ultimate Dinopedia is similar to The Big Book of Dinosaurs in that it’s one your kids will keep coming back to for years. It’s an updated edition, because believe it or not – new dinosaur discoveries are still happening today! It’s a great book to invest in for younger kids as it’ll keep them captivated while also allowing for additional information they’ll grow into. This is also a fun one to read at night, as it’s broken into small bite-sized sections.
World of Dinosaurs is a hardcover book that’s perfect for kids around the ages of about 4-8. It teaches a lot of the basics of not only dinosaurs, but nature and science in general. It’s beautifully illustrated and overall very educational, but still very fun.
I Am a Dinosaur is another one that is great for that Preschool/Kindergarten to 2nd grade age range. The colorful pictures keep the younger ones entertained while the easy-to-understand facts teach older kids (and even some adults!) things they may not yet know about dinosaurs. It has a wide range of dinosaurs included throughout the book, so there may even be a few that the most dinosaur-obsessed haven’t yet heard of. I also love that it’s a longer book, so you definitely feel like you get your money’s worth and then some!
Books for Little Dinosaur Lovers
T.REX from Head to Tail (Smithsonian Kids First Discovery Books) by Patrica J. Murphy is a great book for the younger dino lovers! What I love about this one for toddlers and preschoolers are the visuals to keep kids engaged. It’s short and to the point without skimping on being educational.
Touch and Feel: Dinosaur – DK Board Book isn’t necessarily a typical touch book. I feel like a lot of touch-and-feel books all have very similar, soft textures so it’s nice that this one is a bit different! Your child can touch the sticky tongue of a T-Rex, the smooth horns of the triceratops, or the rough, textured scales of a Giganotosaurus. It’s a short book, so it’s perfect for repetitive learning and easier object recognition.
Crash! Stomp! Roar! Let’s Listen To Dinosaurs! – Sound books have always been a favorite of mine. They’re perfect for keeping kids engaged in the entire book. This one has super fun sounds while also sharing fun facts throughout. It’s a wonderfully vibrant book and I very much recommend it, even as baby’s first dinosaur book!
My Big Dinosaur Book (My Big Board Books) is a great introductory book for little kids. It’s got a large format and is ideal for babies and toddlers. It’s well made so you know it’ll last, even for kids who tend to be a bit rougher with their books. I love the bright colors and that the images are more realistic looking, not cartoon-like.
Books on Paleontology for Kids
Jurassic World Dinosaur Field Guide by Dr. Thomas R. Holtz Jr. and Dr. Michael Brett-Surman is great for those looking to learn from actual paleontologists. Even if you’ve not seen the movies (whaaaat?!) your kids are sure to love this one. It includes all sorts of information on time periods, how bones are found, and information on all kinds of different dinos. It also comes with a beautiful poster as a bonus!
Fossils for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Dinosaur Bones, Ancient Animals, and Prehistoric Life on Earth by Ashley Hall is fantastic. This book is filled with gorgeous photos and well-written facts. It teaches budding paleontologists things like how fossils form, where they’re found, and how to identify them. If you have a child who is filled with questions about dinosaurs, this is THE book to buy.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Paleontologists by Karen Bush Gibson. While my 6 year old daughter isn’t quite as into dinosaurs as her 7 year old brother, she’s still a fan! She also couldn’t stand the thought of her brother outsmarting her on a topic. That aside, this isn’t a book just for girls and in fact I’d encourage all genders to check it out! It introduces us to five brilliant female paleontologists who have all made incredible dino discoveries. I especially love that this book includes STEM projects to take learning beyond just the words on a page!
What’s Your Favorite Dino Book?
If your child (or you!) has a favorite dinosaur book, could you please comment below and let me know. We’re always on the lookout for new books to check out, especially in the world of dinosaurs.
