20 Dinosaur Books for Kids – Fiction and Nonfiction

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman is a fictional story about a little tyrannosaurus who just wants to hug a friend. Of course, his tiny arms seem like a problem until he learns a lesson about perseverance and kindness.

Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs is a National Geographic book by Catherine D. Hughes. This book is filled with kid-friendly facts and illustrations for kids ages 4 to 8. Each dino includes a handy guide to pronounce its name.

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist is written by Linda Skeers. This biography and picture book will introduce kids to the discovery of the dinosaurs and the importance of female scientists.

How to Grow a Dinosaur by Jill Esbaum is a cute illustrated story. A young dinosaur learns that their mom is hatching a baby, but they have to wait and learn how to be a good older sibling.

You Can Be a Paleontologist! is by Paleontologist Dr. Scott Sampson, host of Dinosaur Train on PBS Kids. He answers all the questions kids have about finding and studying fossils.

My Book of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life: Animals and Plants to Amaze, Surprise, and Astonish! is from DK. It introduces not only dinosaurs but plants, fungi, mammals, and other prehistoric life.

Old MacDino Had a Farm by Becky Davies is a fun variation on the classic kids' song. This farm is full of dinosaurs that make all kinds of silly sounds.

The Girl and the Dinosaur by Hollie Hughes is a cute storytime read. A little girl finds a dinosaur fossil and wishes it would come to life and it does.

If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur by Linda Bailey is a silly picture book that imagines all the things you could do with a dinosaur if you just happen to have one lying around.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? is part of a series by Jane Yolen. In this fun illustrated book, dinosaurs try all the classic bedtime stalling tactics and it is the perfect bedtime story.

Dinosaur Yoga by Mariam Gates introduces yoga with simple illustrations. It tells a story about dinosaurs using yoga when they feel upset and describes poses that kids can do.

Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs is a pop-up book for kids ages 5 to 9 by Robert Sabuda. It includes fun facts and six full-page pop-up dinosaurs, along with several smaller ones.

Dad and the Dinosaur by Gennifer Choldenko is about a little boy who's afraid of many things. His toy dinosaur helps him feel brave, but then it goes missing and he learns that everyone gets scared sometimes.

Prehistoric Mammals by Kathleen Zoehfeld is part of the National Geographic Kids family. It introduces independent readers to woolly mammoths and other prehistoric creatures.

Fossils for Kids: A Junior Scientist's Guide to Dinosaur Bones, Ancient Animals, and Prehistoric Life on Earth is by Ashley Hall. This book introduces young scientists to the history of paleontology and how we find and study fossils.

Dinotopia is a childhood classic story by James Gurney. This fantasy story takes place on a secret island where humans and dinosaurs live side-by-side. There are now several books in this series.

What Was the Age of the Dinosaurs? by Megan Stine is in the Who HQ nonfiction series. It introduces early paleontology and how what we know about dinosaurs has changed in a chapter book format.

National Geographic Kids Ultimate Dinopedia by Don Lessem is in the National Geographic Kids series. It includes facts and illustrations of more than 600 dinosaurs aimed at kids in the 7 to 10 age range.

The Dinosaur Book from DK and Smithsonian is a visual encyclopedia for kids ages 9 to 12. It's filled with fascinating facts and detailed images that bring dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures to life.

Weird But True! Dinosaurs: 300 Dino-Mite Facts to Sink Your Teeth Into is from National Geographic Kids. If your child loves dinosaurs, they'll enjoy this book full of strange facts they've never heard before.