Teacher Resources

Favorite Dinosaur Books
for Beginning Readers

All of these titles may be found on the Youth (J) Beginning Reader shelves in the Youth Center.
 

Series information is presented in parentheses.

Alphin, Elaine Marie. Dinosaur Hunter

In Wyoming in the 1880s, a young boy fulfills his dream of finding a dinosaur skeleton on his father's ranch, outwits a man who would cheat him, and sells his find to a team of fossil hunters.

Albee, Sarah. My New Pet is the Greatest

When Sam brings home a baby dinosaur, his new pet's size and boisterous antics create unusual problems for the family.
(Road to Reading, Mile 2)

Berenstain, Stan and Jan. The Berenstain Bears and the Missing Dinosaur Bone

The three Bear Detectives search for a dinosaur bone that is missing from the Bear Museum.

Brimner, Larry Dane. Dinosaurs Dance

Though other animals may twirl and prance, there is nothing like a dinosaur dance.

DePaola, Tomie. T-Rex is Missing!

Morgie accuses his best friend of taking his favorite dinosaur toy without asking, and then he finds that he must apologize.
(All Aboard Reading: Station Stop 1)

Dino-Roars: Poems Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins

A collection of more than twenty humorous poems about dinosaurs by such writers as Jane Yolen, Madeleine Comora, and Philip Yates. (Road to Reading, Mile 3)

Hennessy, B. G. Busy Dinah Dinosaur and Meet Dinah Dinosaur

These two books about Dinah include her adventures exploring the world around her, playing in the mud, saying goodnight, and more.

Herman, Gail. Scooby-Doo!: The Mixed-Up Museum

At the Natural History Museum: dinosaur bones snap, gorillas swing, elephants stomp, something howls. Scooby-Doo will solve this mixed-up mystery.

Hoban, Lillian. Joe and Betsy the Dinosaur

Joe and Betsy the Dinosaur get cold playing in the snow, but Betsy is too big to fit into any of the other animals caves! Where will they go to get warm?

Hoff, Syd. Danny and the Dinosaur

A little boy is surprised and pleased when one of the dinosaurs from the museum agrees to play with him.

Hoff, Syd. Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp

Danny and his friend the dinosaur go to summer camp.

Hoff, Syd. Happy Birthday, Danny and the Dinosaur!

Six-year-old Danny invites his dinosaur friend to come to his birthday party.

Hooks, William H. Mr. Dinosaur

When Eli's fascination with dinosaurs begins to cause him trouble, his older brother finds a clever way to help. (Bank Street Ready-to-Read, Level 3)

Lucas, Sally. Dancing Dinos
Dinosaurs dance out of the book that a boy is reading and head for mischief. (Road to Reading, Mile 1)

McKay, Sindy. About Dinosaurs

This title explores the lives of many species of ancient dinosaurs and explains why they no longer exist. This book is designed for adults and beginning readers to read alternating pages.
(We Both Read, Level 1-2)

McMullan, Kate. Fluffy Meets the Dinosaurs

Fluffy the class guinea pig joins the students on a trip to the museum, where he carefully studies the exhibits and imagines tracing his ancestry back to the dinosaurs. (Hello Reader, Level 3)

Moncure, Jane Belk. Word Bird’s Dinosaur Days

After a trip to the museum, Word Bird and his classmates have a "Dinosaur Day" at school.

Most, Bernard. Catch Me If You Can!

When a little dinosaur plays a game with the biggest dinosaur of them all, she is not scared because he is her grandpa. (Green Light Reader, Level 2)

Parish, Peggy. Dinosaur Time

This is an easy-to-read introduction to eleven different dinosaurs--their size, their diet, the pronunciation of their names, and their distinctive characteristics.

Penner, Lucille Recht. Dinosaur Babies

Describes the characteristics and behavior of baby dinosaurs. (Step Into Reading, Step 1)

Redmond, Shirley Raye. The Dog That Dug For Dinosaurs

Relates the true story of a dog who helped his owner, twelve-year-old Mary Ann Anning, find dinosaur bones in Lyme Regis, England, including an ichthyosaurus, a plesiosaur, and the first pterodactyl. (Ready-to-Read, Level 3)

Reese, Bob. Little Dinosaur: 10 Words

The little dinosaur eats and eats until he becomes a big dinosaur. (Ten Word Book)

Skofield, James. Detective Dinosaur

Detective Dinosaur and Officer Pterodactyl are challenged to solve three cases when a hat is missing, a shoe squeaks, and a loud clanging comes from a dark alley at night.

Thaler, Mike. Little Dinosaur

Little Dinosaur enjoys playing with blocks, wearing new clothes, learning the alphabet, and being kind to ants.

Vail, Rachel. Mama Rex & T: Homework Trouble

Mama Rex has plans for a fun afternoon with T until she learns that he has a diorama about pigs due tomorrow, and so it's off to the library, the museum, and the park to gather information and supplies.

Vail, Rachel. Mama Rex & T: The Horrible Play Date

T Rex and his best friend, Walter, have been looking forward to their play date, but when they get too rambunctious and everything is going wrong, Mama knows how to make things right.

Vail, Rachel. Mama Rex & T: The Reading Champion

T is having trouble learning to read, but when his teacher shows him a special trick, he finds that reading is fun.

Weston, Martha. The Dinosaurs Meet Dr. Clock

Dr. Clock invents a time machine, but his trip back to the era of the dinosaurs does not turn out as he had expected.
(Holiday House Reader, Level 1)