11 of the Best Fiction & Nonfiction Dinosaur Books for 5-Year-Olds
I flipped through my son’s dinosaur books, wondering why they didn’t seem to fit him anymore at 5 years old.
Gone were the days of reading what he wanted, when he wanted. Now he was expected to learn.
At 5 years old, life begins to take a more serious turn. Kids are expected to attend school and learn in a more orderly manner. Sometimes formal learning can overtake the fun of learning in their own way – through play and pursuing interests.
That’s why I’ve put together this list of dinosaur books for 5-year-olds as the perfect way to merge education and play. I’ve included some knowledge-based books, but all are books that will give your child a break from the pressures of learning and allow them to learn in their own way – with dinosaurs.
Nonfiction Dinosaur Books for 5-Year-Olds
These are books that focus more on information. I chose these specifically because they present information in a fun way for 5-year-olds.
1. Hello, World! Kids’ Guides: Exploring Dinosaurs*
This collection of books offers engaging graphics and information about dinosaurs directed at kids. If you’ve read the edition of this book for younger kids, which you can find on my list of dinosaur books for 3-year-olds, this version is similar but provides more information for older kids.
Hello, World! Kids’ Guides: Exploring Dinosaurs includes information about the different periods of time that dinosaurs are believed to have existed. And helps kids learn to orient dinosaurs within their scientific and historical background.
2. Dinosaur A-Z
The tagline of this book says, “For kids who really love dinosaurs!” and I would 100% agree with that statement. Dinosaur A-Z is a comprehensive ABC book about dinosaurs. It includes lots of facts about each dinosaur, along with its size, and the pronunciation of its name. There are a lot of uncommon dinosaurs in here that your child probably doesn’t know about yet.
If your child loves dinosaurs and wants to learn everything about them, this is the book for them. As a bonus, they’ll gain some extra familiarity with the alphabet, without even realizing it.
3. Dino Dana: Dino Field Guide
If your child loves Dino Dana, this is a great age to introduce the Dino Dana: Dino Field Guide. This book is meant to be the field guide that Dana uses in the TV series. It includes each dinosaur, along with facts about it, and the experiments that she does in the episodes.
This is a great way to introduce your child to the scientific method. The book encourages kids to ask their own questions and create a theory. It discusses a hypothesis and how an experiment is used to test one. It’s an informative book about dinosaurs and introduces scientific concepts in a fun way.
4. My Encyclopedia of Very Important Dinosaurs: Discover more than 80 Prehistoric Creatures
This is a great introduction to the prehistoric world. Your child will learn about the different time periods, what the prehistoric world looked like, and (of course) all about dinosaurs.
My Encyclopedia of Very Important Dinosaurs: Discover more than 80 Prehistoric Creatures is the perfect introduction to not only dinosaurs but the prehistoric world. It includes just the right amount of information and engaging graphics to hold a 5-year-old’s attention. If your child is hungry for dinosaur knowledge and is asking questions about when dinosaurs lived and what the world looked like back then, he/she will love this book.
5. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs
If your child has loved dinosaurs for a while, he (or she) might start asking a lot of questions around this age. A brain that is hungry for knowledge, paired with a love for dinosaurs, can create A LOT of questions. Chances are you don’t have all the answers (unless you’re a paleontologist). That’s where this book comes in.
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs is an encyclopedia of dinosaurs for little kids. It has the answers to all the questions. Including: “How big is that dinosaur?” “What did they eat?” or the simple one my son always loves to stump me with “What’s that one called?”.
Note: This is a BIG book. Use it as a reference. It’s not one to sit and read cover-to-cover.
Fiction-Based Dinosaur Books for 5-Year-Olds
These books are great for a brain break (without really being a brain break). They are all based in fiction, but of course include dinosaurs and creative scenarios surrounding them. They’re fun books that will grow your child’s imagination and reading skills.
6. Jurassic World – Dinosaurs in Your World Field Guide
If you’ve read any of my other dinosaur book posts, you know I love these sound books because my kids LOVE them. They’re always the biggest hit with my boys. No other book can outshine them. So I was thrilled to find this sound book with so many buttons (39 sound buttons).
I typically stay away from Jurassic World books because my kids don’t know anything about Jurassic World. And Jurassic World – Dinosaurs in Your World Field Guide does have some Jurassic World-specific information (like Blue, the Velociraptor and the fictional scenario of dinosaurs in our world). It introduces the different dinosaurs and considers survival amongst dinosaurs in our world. This one is great for the sounds if nothing else.
7. Danny and the Dinosaur
If you’re looking for a fiction book about dinosaurs for your 5-year-old, Danny and the Dinosaur is a fun option for this age group. If your child ever wished his best friend was a dinosaur, this book fulfills that fantasy.
Follow along as Danny and the dinosaur run around town, helping people, and playing with others. There isn’t a lot to learn about dinosaurs in this book – other than that they are big and don’t exist anymore – but it’s a fun book for kids who love dinosaurs. Plus, this book encourages imaginary play, which is great for this age developmentally.
8. The Magic School Bus: In the Time of the Dinosaurs
If you’re feeling nostalgic and want to introduce your child to The Magic School Bus, this is a great dinosaur book. The kids in Ms. Frizzle’s class are surprised by a field trip to a dinosaur dig. But, of course, the trip doesn’t end there. They end up traveling through the time of the dinosaurs and learning about all kinds of dinosaurs up close.
The Magic School Bus: In the Time of the Dinosaurs is a surprisingly great book. I went in not expecting much, but it includes tons of valuable information (especially for a fictional book). I learned a few things that I didn’t know even after reading all the dinosaur books that I have.
This is a fun fiction book for dinosaur lovers and Millennial parents who grew up reading and watching The Magic School Bus.
9. How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Read?
This is the perfect dinosaur book for 5-year-olds who are learning to read. I love this series because it takes common topics for toddlers and preschoolers and makes them into a fun, simple, and educational conversation with dinosaurs.
These are done in such a way that no detail is missed. Each dinosaur is labeled so you have the answer when your child asks “Which dinosaur is that?”. Plus, if your child has loved dinosaurs for a while, they know the most common dinosaurs. This book includes mostly little-known dinosaurs, so they can learn a few new ones.
How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Read? also discusses how to treat books and patiently approach reading. As a bonus, it even provides reading instruction.
10. The Very Real and True Story of What Definitely Happened to the Dinosaurs
This fun story gives a fictional account of what happened to the dinosaurs. When an asteroid threatened their existence, they set off in a rocket ship to find a new planet. So not only does this give your child something to think about when it comes to dinosaurs, but it also gives a great overview of our solar system. Check out the video read aloud on YouTube.
The Very Real and True Story of What Definitely Happened to the Dinosaurs is a fun addition if your child isn’t too serious about the topic of dinosaurs. And a great way to get your child thinking about storytelling and developing creativity.
11. Theo TheSaurus: The Dinosaur Who Loved Big Words
Another fun fiction book about dinosaurs that focuses on reading skills and vocabulary development. This book is about Theo moving and being nervous that he won’t fit in. Theo is different because he loves big words, so he doesn’t always sound like everyone else.
Theo TheSaurus: The Dinosaur Who Loved Big Words hints at a few struggles that children may be facing around starting school, like not fitting in, and does a nice job of introducing new words. Great for expanding your child’s everyday vocabulary and opening up discussions about sensitive topics.
Dinosaur Books for 5-Year-Olds – Quick List
Keep your preschooler reading and learning with this list of dinosaur books for 5-year-olds.
- Hello, World! Kids’ Guides: Exploring Dinosaurs
- Dinosaur A-Z
- Dino Dana: Dino Field Guide
- My Encyclopedia of Very Important Dinosaurs: Discover more than 80 Prehistoric Creatures
- National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs
- Jurassic World – Dinosaurs in Your World Field Guide
- Danny and the Dinosaur
- The Magic School Bus: In the Time of the Dinosaurs
- How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Read?
- The Very Real and True Story of What Definitely Happened to the Dinosaurs
- Theo TheSaurus: The Dinosaur Who Loved Big Words
Related: Dinosaur Books for Preschoolers & Dinosaur Books for Kids
Don’t let your child become lost in the overwhelm of formal learning. Use these dinosaur books for 5-year-olds to keep them learning in their own way.
Does this list seem a little above your child’s reading level? No worries. All kids are different. Check out my list of Dinosaur Books for 4-Year-Olds to see if that might be a better fit.
Want to instill a love of reading in your kids? Don’t forget to sign up for my free email course on raising readers.
