The Best Dinosaur Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Are your kids dinosaur crazy? Do they know their stegosaurs from their T-rex? Can they correct your pronunciation of Parasaurolophus no problems! Then these fantastic dinosaur books for toddlers and preschoolers are exactly what you need to excite their imagination further and get them hooked on reading from an early age. So here you go our best books about dinosaurs for toddlers and preschoolers for them and you to read together.

Why Read Dinosaur Books?

So they are already dinosaur crazy, why do you want to read about it as well. It’s simple, following your child’s interests is the best way to encourage them early to pick up the books and develop a love of reading that will hopefully continue for life.

Whether they just love to roar and stomp around or a budding paleontologist reading books that ignite that interest will provide an excellent grounding for the future.

Check out our other recommendations in our guide to the best books for toddlers to find more ideas inspired by the things that they are interested in.

Dinosaurs were always a favourite theme of my kids so we had (still have) a large selection of fiction and non-fiction books about dinosaurs many of which I have kept as it’s surprising the amount of detail and information contained in these dinosaur books for toddlers and preschoolers.

If you have older kids or just want something longer to read aloud then check out our dino books for school kids which have some fantastic books from beginner readers through to chapter books and classic tales included.

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Dinosaur Books for Kids

We’re kicking off our list with non-fiction books. Many of these we still have and the kids have used for research when we studied fossils and more with them.

Full of fantastic facts as well as amazing pictures Dinosaurs! A Kids Book of Amazing Pictures and Fun Facts About Dinosaurs is a fantastic choice from an independent author for your bookshelf.

One of our favourite series of non-fiction books are the National Geographic book and their National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs is great for even the youngest members of the family but no fear for those that want more information (I know my son did) then National Geographic Kids Ultimate Dinopedia: The Most Complete Dinosaur Reference Ever has everything that they may want to know!

I love A to Z books, they really helped my kids to learn their alphabet from our very first sensory A – Z book through to ones like this Dinosaur A-Z: For Kids Who Really Love Dinosaurs! and my kids favourite Alphasaurus and other Prehistoric Types.

Books that have you doing something are great with toddlers and preschoolers and which little dinosaur enthusiast wouldn’t love to scare their parents playing the sound of a T-Rex first thing in the morning in which case this book Discovery Kids Dinosaurs Rumble Sound Book is just perfect for them!

The Big Book of Big Dinosaurs is a great book with large fold out pages full of many different sorts of dinosaurs and some that were new to me (hard to find after 7 and a half years with a dinosaur mad son!). With a mix of illustrations and facts this is a great book for preschoolers upwards.

Featuring 12 of your favourite dinosaurs and ones that you can likely pronounce as well as facts about these great lizards and the dinosaur extinction Dinosaurs: Amazing Pictures & Fun Facts on Animals in Nature has great pictures and illustrations as well as simple text that will engage your none readers and allow emergent readers to have a go at reading their text as well.

With beautiful illustrations Dinosaurs Discovery Kids is full of interesting facts and information – aimed at preschoolers or older this would be a good addition to your home library to continue the dinosaur theme further with your kids.

After exploring the Natural History Museum in London my kids discovered that there was a lot more to the prehistoric world than just dinosaurs and in The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures not only are dinosaurs covered but also some of the other creatures that roamed the world before man.

There are just so many non-fiction books for kids all about Dinosaurs and The Big Book of Dinosaurs is one that I enjoy flicking through, with tons of facts and information it’s a great read for families and can be found on our bookshelf as a resource for the kids.

Dinosaur Stories

Part of the fun of reading is being able to escape into the imagination and fun of the authors and there are so many fun dinosaur themed fiction books for toddlers and preschoolers that teach concepts, make you laugh and more. Here are a few of our favourites that my kids loved growing up.

One of my favourite Dinosaur Fiction series for kids is the How do Dinosaurs… series by Jane Yolen. There look at different areas where kids or you may be struggling with eating dinner, or this one How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? which is great for reading with kids especially when they are arguing with siblings or friends.

Another worry for toddlers and preschoolers and stressful time for parents can be bedtime so why not read How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? and laugh at all of the silly antics that I am sure you have experienced time and time again as your children put off going to sleep for whatever reason!

With more than a little fact mixed with the story, this classic storybook was a circle time hit in my classroom The Dinosaur Who Lived in My Backyard Picture Puffin Books.

The Berenstain Bear’s is another classic series for kids and in The Berenstain Bears Dinosaur Dig they visit the museum and a dinosaur dig is taking place I wonder what kind of dinosaur they will discover!

I spent many a wet afternoon cuddling up on the sofa reading and watching dinosaur train. I loved the way that they mixed in facts and fictions and it was one of the few programmes that I could happily watch over and over again in Dinosaur Train: Triceratops for Lunch Little Golden Book you watch as they prepare for the triceratops twins arrival and work out what to feed them as well as learning about Herbivores and Carnivores.

Not a non-fiction book and not a fiction book Dinosaurs Galore! is full of funny rhymes and poems about some of your favourite dinosaurs.

If you haven’t read any books by the author Claire Freedman and illustrated by Ben Corts then we really recommend that you do in Dinosaurs Love Underpants one of the popular “Love Underpants” series of books there is a great time with the bunch of dinosaurs that just love wearing underpants even when they are quite itchy!

Another favourite with many children is Thomas the tank engine and it was the same with my kids, in fact the train set with dinosaur fossils was one of their favourite to play with when they were little so finding the accompanying book was a hit with them and in Thomas and the Dinosaur you can read the story and then react it with your toy dinosaurs and train set.

If your children like Curious George then Curious George’s Dinosaur Discovery is a great one to read together. Featuring this loveable monkey what mischief will he get up to this time.

Dinosaur Books for Babies and Young Toddlers

Looking for something simpler, or more sturdy for younger toddlers and little hands to explore then these dinosaur books for young toddlers and older babies are great. With sensory features and sturdy pages they and you will love sitting, snuggling and reading these books together.

Any sensory books are great for all ages but specifically for babies and very young toddlers – it gives them something to do whilst you read and you will be surprised at how much they can learn as you read with them from engaging different senses as well. This Touch and Feel: Dinosaur has scales and horns and other body parts that they can touch and you can go over the sensory language at the same time.

In this board book with simple sentences and lovely bright illustrations you and your child can say good morning, hello and Good Night Dinosaur Good Night Our World as you read along.

Dinosaurs can do all sorts of silly things in books and in this book ideal for babies and you to read together you can find them dancing away in Dinosaur Dance!

In another book by the same author Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs! you and your baby or toddler can learn some opposites whilst having fun with the dinosaurs.

Even the youngest toddler can learn some facts about dinosaurs – and you can bet that by the time they turn 3 they will be giving you a run for your money! I’m a T. Rex! Little Golden Book is perfect for them with cute pictures and lovely little facts told in simple sentences.

Books that have sounds may drive us crazy – believe me they do me, but they are great for babies and young toddlers and for those that are interested in Dinosaurs Noisy Dinosaurs My First Touch and Feel Sound Book would make a great gift or addition to your home library.

Dinosaur Activities to Do Alongside Reading these Books

What I love most about reading these books with our toddlers and preschoolers is being able to use them to springboard to doing some fun activities and crafts together. You can find all of our favourite easy, simple and fun dinosaur activities and crafts here!