I usually start out my lit list with some classic suggestions for incorporating nursery rhymes, fables, fairy tales, and the like, but I can’t think of any old standards involving dinosaurs. If I’m overlooking something, please let me know. I can’t think of a single one!
Here are some great books I like to use in a dinosaur unit, or to share with a dinosaur aficionado and watch his eyes brighten with delight! It is in no way an exhaustive list, so please comment with your favorites as well! As always, each picture in this list is linked to Amazon if you’re interested in purchasing information, or just more views of the books.
Can I Have a Stegosaurus, Mom? Can I? Please? By Lois G. Grambling
Such a fun, imaginative story about a child who finds a dinosaur egg and decides to hatch it, dreaming of all the fun the two could have together!
Dino-Pets By Lynn Plourde
This book does a great job of making it a fun story, while seamlessly giving lots of information about dinosaurs along the way. I have used it with the Lumpy Bumpy Dinosaur Scales activity.
Dinosaurumpus! By Tony Mitton
This book, as is expected for Tony Mitton’s books, has fantastic elements of rhythm and rhyme, which not only makes it fun to read, but promotes prereading skills. Follow it up with a percussion band syllable activity to reinforce those skills as well as the musical theme of the book.
Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp By Carol Diggory Shields
Another great story with great rhythm and rhyme. You could use the same syllable activity I mentioned above, or make dinosaur tracks like the ones you see on the inside covers of this book!
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?By Jane Yolen
This book has reached classic status. If you haven’t read this to a child yet, apologize to all of them immediately! Just a great read! It is also a fantastic opener for discussing social skills and appropriate behavior as well.
Trouble at the Dinosaur Café By Brian Moses
This one is a favorite for one of my own little guys. The T Rex bullies some of the plant eaters until they work together to teach him a lesson. Great elements of rhyme and rhythm as well.
Sammy and the Dinosaurs By Ian Whybrow
(Apparently this is also published under the title, Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs.) A tender read about a boy’s favorite toys, which seem to come to life for him, and what happens when they get lost.
Of course, you’ll need lots of non-fiction in your library too. There are plenty of great ones out there, but you can never really go wrong with a DK publishing book like this one, the First Dinosaur Encyclopedia.
Now chime in, don’t be shy. What’s your favorite dinosaur book? There are tons out there! Let us in on which ones are missing from this list!
For more dinosaur activities, click here!
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