Looking for some books to go along with a preschool dinosaur theme? Here are are favorite funny tales!
These books may not teach dinosaur facts, but they’re sure to bring some laughs and spark some fun conversations. Add a few of these to your preschool dinosaur theme!
Judy Sierra
I love this adorable book that teaches manners in an original way. A little girl meets a friendly dinosaur in the grocery store, and their interaction provides many opportunities to practice manners. Here’s an example: “You find her glasses on the floor and hand them to the dinosaur. She smiles and says, ‘Why thank you, dear.’ What words does she expect to hear?” Your kids can chime in with the right words. The rhymes are great!
Bob Shea
Normally I am not a fan of bathroom books (I really can’t stand that favorite “Everybody Poops”), but this book made me laugh because after potty training three kids, I totally get it. Dinosaur makes lemonade, runs through the sprinkler, drinks three juice boxes, and more… “You’d think he’d need to use the potty, but he doesn’t!” If you’ve got a preschooler who claims he really doesn’t need to go after downing a giant bottle of water – you might laugh too. I got a kick out of some one-star reviews on Amazon – the reviewers said this book was no good as a potty training book. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the point. 🙂
Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
Yolen and Teague make an awesome team in this fabulous series of books (over 20 titles). Each rhyming book teaches proper behavior in an adorable way — with giant dinosaurs doing all the wrong things on the first pages — pouting, throwing tantrums, and tossing stuffed animals. Is this what dinosaurs do? “No. Dinosaurs don’t.” The book concludes with all the correct things that dinosaurs – and children – should do at bedtime. A fabulous series! Great gift books.
Mo Willems
This was confusing for my Two (“What’s a stink?”) and exasperating for my Four (“How can she be extinct? She’s right there!”), but I thought it was great. Edwina is a sweet dinosaur who is a friend to everyone. But Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie is determined to prove that she is, in fact, extinct. In the end, even Reginald learns to love her.
Judith Viorst
I’m adding this book to my mental list of chapter books to read to preschoolers. Unfortunately my kids won’t let me read it to them because my Six has been reading it to my Four. But I’m saving it for my Three! Kids love stories about naughty kids, so they’ll love the story of spoiled Lulu who goes on a hunt for a pet brontosaurus. When she finally finds one, the dinosaur declares that Lulu is his pet. Through the difficult experience Lulu learns to think of others first. A quick-moving, hilarious read!
Elise Broach
Out of all these funny dinosaur books, this is my personal favorite. The narrator is bummed that he has to go along with his mom for her “boring errands…” until he learned that today is the day that dinosaurs come with everything! Buy a dozen donuts, get a dinosaur. No sticker at the doctor’s – get a dinosaur instead! His exasperated mother heads home – and the dinosaurs follow. But soon his mother discovers that dinosaurs can be useful – and goes back to the bakery for a few more boxes of donuts!
Jeanne Willis
Crowds of people who run to the beach in hopes of seeing a dinosaur. “They came with dogs and divers and binoculars and bait, and searched the sea for dinosaurs from morning until late.” Nothing spectacular in my opinion, but my kids liked it.
Bernard Most
This classic (1978) is a charming fantasy about how wonderful it would be if the dinosaurs came back. We wouldn’t have to mow our lawns, they could carry people to work… This book really gets the imagination going. A favorite!
Lois Grambling
An imaginative little boy is sure that life would be perfect if his mom would let him have a stegosaurus for a pet. A stegosaurus would squash scary monsters, eat yucky vegetables, and take the class to the museum for their field trip. I would recommend this book for older listeners, as it wasn’t my kids’ favorite – but it’s a definite winner. Also check out “Can I Have a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Dad? Can I? Please!?” by the same author.
Martin Waddell
Kids will enjoy this little fantasy about a boy named Hal who must calm the Super Hungry Dinosaur before he eats Hal’s parents and pet. Hal the hero ties up the dinosaur and demands that he apologize and fix everything he destroyed. Then his mom feeds the dino a Super Hungry Dinosaur dinner. Cute.
Lynn Plourde
A boy keeps buying different dinosaurs from the pet store – but each one doesn’t work out. “I got a dino for a pet, the smallest dino I could get. I put it into my back pocket, but I guess I should have locked it.” This is a favorite of mine because it’s got wonderful pictures, creative rhymes, and just a small amount of text. Perfect for the youngest dinosaur fan. Also check out Dino Pets Go to School.
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Kate
Here’s one my toddler loves: Trouble at the Dinosaur Cafe by Brian Moses. We enjoy reading it, too. It’s a fantastic read-aloud with its rhyme and rhythm.
Anna Geiger
That’s a new one to me, Kate — I’ll have to request it at the library!
Amanda
Such a fun post… so many resources!
annageig
Thanks for visiting, Amanda!
PragmaticMom
What a fun list of dinosaur books!
annageig
Thank you so much for the visit! I love your book lists!
Carla
Wow! What a great list of dinosaur books! After just finishing potty training my son (and often hearing, “No, I don’t need to go,”) I think I would love Dinosaur v. The Potty! Thanks for linking up at Teach Me Tuesday at Preschool Powol Packets!
annageig
Oh, potty training… so not my favorite part of parenting! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Carla!
Carrie
What a great round-up of dinosaur books!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
Karyn
Great book list! There are a few on there that we’ll have to find at our library!
annageig
Hope you find some new favorites, Karyn!
Melanie
What a great list of dinosaur books!! We have read some of those, but not all. It’s always fun to find some new ones to check out.
annageig
Yes, we love to find new books too – you might want to check the comments sections for some great dino books I missed!
Shaunna @ Fantastic Fun and Learning
I love this list of books…some favorites and some new ones to check out! We really like Dinosaur Pet, too. Thanks for linking to our collection of dinosaur sensory bins.
annageig
I’d not heard of that one – thanks for the recommendation!
Sugar Aunts
We will need to check some of these out at the library! We LOVE the “How do dinosaurs..” series. Thanks for joining us at Share It Saturday!
Colleen at Sugar Aunts
annageig
Thanks for stopping by, Colleen!
Vanderbilt Wife
We’ve read a LOT of dinosaur books, and When Dinosaurs Came with Everything is definitely a funny favorite! We’re also obsessed with Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. It’s by Mo Willems so you know it’s nuts. My ballet-loving 4yo really liked Brontorina by James Howe, too.
annageig
I am SO bummed that I forgot Goldilocks and the 3 Dinosaurs! We love that one too. I also forgot “Dinorella,” which is a fun twist on the familiar fairy tale. I guess even with Pinterest I can’t keep all my ideas straight 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!