10 books for kids that love dinosaurs

by Ladybird team

min read

Image: Alicia Fernandes/Penguin

If you know a little person who is passionate about all things prehistoric, treat them to these roarsome books filled with fun facts and dino tales.

Ten Minutes to Bed: Little Dinosaur by Rhiannon Fielding & Chris Chatterton (2020)

There’s a Rumble in this prehistoric jungle – and this time it’s a little dinosaur who just can’t seem to fall asleep! And who can blame Rumble? There’re erupting volcanos, a wild jungle to be explored and all other kinds of creatures to be seen. But after a while, all that adventuring does become quite tiring… This gentle tale has been written specially to calm little ones down before bedtime.

Recommended reading age: 2-6 years old

Peppa Pig: George and the Dinosaur (2019)

Peppa Pig’s younger brother George is obsessed with dinosaurs! And his friends Richard Rabbit and Edmond Elephant share his love. The trio are always hunting for fossils and bones – although a sandpit is not the ideal place to hunt for prehistoric beasts… But then George and his friends are taken on a fossil-hunting trip to the beach, and lo and behold George unearths an entire dinosaur!

Recommended reading age: 2-6 years old

Is That You, Little Dino? by Rob Hodgson (2022)

For really young readers who are already showing an interest in prehistoric creatures, Is That You, Little Dino? is the perfect story. Papa Dino needs help finding Little Dino. She’s very good at hiding so it’s up to little hands to pull and slide the different flaps to locate her. As well as Little Dino, there are also some other animals hiding behind the flaps – can your little one guess who it is? Don’t forget to look out for the little ladybird on each page too!

Recommended reading age: 0-3 years old

The Dinos on the Bus by Peter Millett & Tony Neal (2021)

This new spin on school classic ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ will have everyone stomping, roaring, and clapping. In The Dinos on the Bus, a class of young dinosaurs are on a school trip. They’re going up and down, round and round, all through the land. On each page alongside Tony Neal’s charming illustrations, is a fun action for young readers to join in with and sing along. This fun-filled, dinosaur reinvention is perfect for reading together.

Recommended reading age: 2-6 years old

The Ladybird Big Book of Dead Things by Ned Hartley & Binny Talib (2019)

For kids who love learning about all things dead and gone this fun guide is perfect. And for fans of all things prehistoric, Doctor Eddie Dawdle will be your guy at the Museum of Dead Things. Budding palaeontologists will be taken through the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods and learn all kinds of different things. Did you know a Velociraptor could run at about 40mph? And the Mosasaurus, a giant underwater lizard, had two sets of teeth so it could grip its prey!

Recommended reading age: 6-10 years old

Ladybird Audio Adventures: Dinosaur Times (2019)

Immerse mini dinosaur fans right into prehistoric times with this tale from the Ladybird Audio Adventures series. Fearless explorers Otto and Missy (the smartest bird you’ll ever meet) are exploring the ancient world where the Diplodocus used to roam the earth, Pterosaurs ruled the sky, and the T-Rex struck fear into all creatures! This audiobook is ideal for listening on long journeys or to wind down at bedtime.

Recommended reading age: 4-7 years old

An Adventurer's Guide to Dinosaurs by Isabel Thomas, Chris Packham & Yas Imamura (2021)

Fans of all things from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods will love this fact-filled guide. Adventurer Mia is off on a journey back in time to discover what it was really like in the prehistoric ages. From gigantic titanosaurs who were as big as blue whales to the winged dinosaurs that shared the skies with birds, along with Mia readers will meet a whole host of creatures that lived millions of years ago. There are also some fun interactive activities throughout that future palaeontologists will love.

Recommended reading age: 4-10 years old

Mad About Dinosaurs (2008)

Know a tot who is simply mad about dinosaurs? From food and fossils to herds and horns, this book is packed with fascinating facts and key information for all young dinosaur enthusiasts. Get all the answers to those dino-sized questions in this bumper book of dinosaurs.

Recommended reading age: 5-7 years old

Peppa Pig: Dinosaurs! Sticker Book (2019)

As we already know, George loves dinosaurs. And so, he and his sister Peppa are off to explore the dino world, including the museum and Dinosaur Park! With over 250 stickers, this book is perfect for keeping mini dino fans busy on long journeys or rainy days when they can’t do their own fossil hunting.

Recommended reading age: 3-6 years old

Dinosaur Train: I Am a T. Rex (2012)

In the first book in the Dinosaur Train series based on the popular TV show, Buddy realises he’s different to his adopted family, and they all jump on board the dinosaur train to find out exactly what type of dino he could be. Informative and fun, this series is ideal for your small dinosaur devotees.

Recommended reading age: 3-6 years old

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