Dinosaur Book Reviews for Ages 4 - 8
What have we Reviewed?
- “How do Dinosaurs.......” Series by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
- Dinosaurumpus by Tony Mitton and Guy Parker-Rees
- DK The Big Book of Dinosaurs
- Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs: The Definitive Pop-Up by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart.
1) “How do Dinosaurs.......” Series by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
This is a fun series aimed primarily at preschoolers and early readers, these books are entertainingly written and well illustrated. They are the stories of ten young “real” dinosaurs and the antics they get up to – the stories are fun for the children to read with the bouncy rhyme and rhythm text and accompanying illustrations. The premise uses dinosaurs instead of children and the stories all revolve around the trials of young children and their often bemused parents, the bad behaviour of the children is negated to good though the stories.
The stories come in two forms, picture books and story board books, and range from 12 to 50 pages, and deal with many of the issues encountered with a young child. We are introduced to the dinosaurs in the endpapers and asked to search for their names in the clever illustrations.
In the series: Picture and Board Books
Picture Books
- How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight.. Our review is below
- How Do Dinosaurs Go To School
- How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food
- How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon
- How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You.. Our review is below
Board Books
- How do Dinosaurs Play with Friends
- How Do Dinosaurs Learn Their Colours
- How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms
- How Do Dinosaurs Count To Ten
- How Do Dinosaurs Love Their Dogs.. Our review is below
- How Do Dinosaurs Love Their Cats.. Our review is below
We do not want to review all the books but rather would like to give you an overview of them so we will look at a few:
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight
Bedtime is often full shenanigans and sneaky tactics to stay up for just five more minutes. Jane Yolen cleverly uses the dinosaurs as the children having temper tantrums, throwing teddies and ROARING for “one book more”, and then she uses the human parents to encourage the dinosaurs into bed with big hugs and kisses, tucking in their tails and whispering “Good night”. What a fun way to help teach your children how to say goodnight.
How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You
In this book the naughty behaviours of the young dinosaurs are followed by an endearing act that reminds their human parents why they love their offspring. The all too familiar situations such as throwing sand out of the sandbox, kicking the seat while you drive, and letting water overflow onto the floor are wonderfully dealt with. The fun format will produce laughs, kisses, and cuddles during or after an exhausting day of many of the same events.
How Do Dinosaurs Love Their Dogs and How Do Dinosaurs Love Their Cats
Anyone who loves dogs or cats will be highly entertained when our favourite little dinosaurs learn how to take care of their muddy pups and handsome hounds, and their kitties. From bathing and feeding to walking and tossing balls, and playing with toys to cleaning out the cat litter, riotous fun ensues as youngsters learn patience and gentleness while sharing time with their beloved pets and learn the good pet owner behaviour.
Our Summary for this Series
Jane Yolen and Mark Teague have a winning formula here and there are lots of lessons they can help with, we personally are looking forward to the “How Do Dinosaurs Go Shopping” – every parent of young children’s worst nightmare. However as that one is not planned yet, we will just await “How Do Dinosaurs Laugh Out Loud” due later this year.
We score this a - 
2) Dinosaurumpus by Tony Mitton and Guy Parker-Rees
This is a read-stamp-shout-giggle-sing-aloud book from the author-illustrator duo. This story is an ever-increasing frenzy until the final few pages, when the "rompers drift together and tumble in a heap until finally the dinosaurs fall fast asleep. A neon Brontosaurus, a dancing Deinonychus and a collection of other dinosaurs gather at the swamp for a dino-stomping party and wiggle, boogie and rumble until exhausted they fall asleep.
Dinosaurumpus! Is so much fun to read aloud. It has a repetitive chorus which makes it really easy for little ones to join in and really participate in the story.
We score this a -
3) DK The Big Book of Dinosaurs
This is The Big Book of Dinosaurs in every sense of the word – large double spread pages, big full color pictures and big oversized type. The text is perfect for under 8’s as it is brief and succinct with child interest selected facts. The book is highly informative, but not highly detailed on individual species. Children can however experience the amazing powers of these prehistoric beasts the jagged teeth of the ferocious meat eaters, the slashing claws of the Deinonychus, and the long-necked Barosaurus that could reach five-story-high treetops and may have had eight hearts. Lifelike illustrations help children to imagine the lives of these dinosaurs and many others.
We score this a -
4) Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs: The Definitive Pop- Up by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart.
Wow! This pop-up book is amazing, although there are not that many pages, those pages are so fantastically put together there is no way this book could disappoint. Each beautifully put together page consists of one large often very complex pop-up accompanied by small booklets each with their own pop-ups. The engineering of the folding is very clever and very well constructed no tabs to tear – that said it is still pretty delicate and most suitable for those children who have great respect for books. Beware incautious hands!
Each page covers various dinosaurs with accompanying text relating to a theme such as 
Triassic or Jurassic periods, it then speculates on the demise of the dinosaurs looking at various theories. The dinosaurs are colourful and often scary looking, with spikes, horns and beaks. Some look every bit like giants -- a large winged archaeopteryx soars toward the sky; the huge brachiosaurus seems to fill the room as it rises out of the book; and the jaws of the fierce T-Rex leap up to take a bite out of you as you turn the page. At least one of the pieces is gory, as it shows one lizard ripping open another in a fight to the death. There's even a volcano erupting and an asteroid hitting the earth. Kids who are dinosaur fans will love it.
Not enough information in here to bore young minds rather just enough to engage them, it is nicely written with a hint of humour.
This book is one that young children will love and be enchanted by; young readers will grab at the facts and yet still be in awe of the remarkable pop-ups. Definitely a book to be bought and treasured for a long time, and one that can become part of a collection as Robert Sabuda has completed several other such books – 2 others which relate to prehistorica - “Encyclopedia Prehistorica Sharks and Sea Monsters” and “Encyclopedia Prehistorica Mega Beasts.”