Prehistoric Life

Picture Books | Younger | Intermediate | Young Adult

The books recommended below were published within the last several years and received a 3 rating or better in the Horn Book Guide. Grade levels are only suggestions; the individual child is the real criterion.

Picture Books
Suggested grade level listed with each entry

Pteranodon: The Life Story of a Pterosaur written by Ruth Ashby, illustrated by Phil Wilson (Abrams)
Focusing on the perils faced by this now-extinct creature, this narrative accurately and clearly describes the life cycle of the ancient flying reptile. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

The Magic School Bus and the Science Fair Expedition written by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen (Scholastic)
The tireless teacher steers her school bus through time to introduce her students to various scientific giants (Galileo, Leeuwenhoek, Marie Curie, etc). Grade level: 3–5. 48 pages.

Dinosaur Discoveries written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons (Holiday)
How do we know what we do about dinosaurs? An overview of the discovery and naming of different species. Grade level: K–3. 36 pages.

On This Spot: An Expedition Back through Time written by Susan E. Goodman, illus. by Lee Christiansen (Greenwillow)
Double-page spreads present a spot in New York City at shifting points in time, from the present back through the Ice Age, the age of volcanoes, and more. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Prehistoric Actual Size written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Houghton)
Creatively life-sized illustrations of a variety of prehistoric animals accompany brief descriptions of each. Grade level: Preschool–3. 32 pages.

Boy, Were We Wrong about Dinosaurs! written by Kathleen Kudlinski, illus. by S. D. Schindler (Dutton)
A history of scientific theories about dinosaurs, and how they’ve evolved to fit new and often contradictory evidence. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story written by Lisa Westberg Peters, illus. by Lauren Stringer (Harcourt)
From one-celled sea organisms through modern humans, an accurate rendering of the fossil record of evolution is presented in a cozy family-tree framework. Grade level: K–3. 48 pages.

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs written and illustrated by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart (Candlewick)
Ingenious pop-up pages display spectacular three-dimensional renditions of dinosaurs, which rise from the page with scientifically accurate movements. Grade level: 1–4. 14 pages.

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Mega-Beasts written and illustrated by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart (Candlewick)
This dynamic pop-up volume of prehistoric creatures allows readers to revel in their size and ferocity. Grade level: 1–4. 12 pages.

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters written and illustrated by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart (Candlewick)
The second volume in an imaginative pop-up series takes readers into the sea to marvel at prehistoric marine creatures. Grade level: 1–4. 12 pages.

New Dinos: The Latest Finds! The Coolest Dinosaur Discoveries! written by Shelley Tanaka, illustrated by Alan Barnard (Atheneum)
An up-to-date survey of recently discovered prehistoric creatures and the new research methods used to study them.

I Am an Ankylosaurus written by Karen Wallace, illustrated by Mike Bostock (Atheneum)
A lone dinosaur lays her eggs, guards against predators, and searches for her next meal in this unflinchingly realistic account.

What’s Older than a Giant Tortoise? written and illustrated by Robert E. Wells (Whitman)
The long lifespan of giant tortoises provides the entry point for a discussion of time in terms of the longevity of animals, sequoias, pyramids, and even the earth itself. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Dinosaur Tracks written by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, illustrated by Lucia Washburn (HarperCollins)
Fossils, sedimentary rock processes, and the scientific method are all explicated in this accessible, interactive introduction to what scientists can learn from ancient footprints. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Younger
Suggested grade level for each entry: 1–3

The Day the Dinosaurs Died written by Charlotte Lewis Brown, illustrated by Phil Wilson (HarperCollins)
Dinosaurs meet horrific ends as an asteroid hits Earth in this realistic explanation of their sudden demise. 48 pages.

Dino Dung: The Scoop on Fossil Feces written by Karen Chin and Thom Holmes, illustrated by Karen Carr (Random)
This perky discussion of fossilized feces, employs kid-pleasing low humor and modest, realistic art. 48 pages.

Don’t Know Much about Dinosaurs written by Kenneth C. Davis, illustrated by Pedro Martin (HarperCollins)
A breezy question-and-answer style and cartoon illustrations enliven solid, clearly presented information on dinosaurs and those who’ve studied them. 48 pages.

Mystery Fish: Secrets of the Coelacanth written by Sally M. Walker, illustrated by Shawn Gould (Millbrook)
An accessible but sophisticated look at the decades-old mystery of the coelacanth, a prehistoric fish thought to be extinct but discovered alive in 1938. 48 pages.

Did Dinosaurs Have Feathers? written by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, illustrated by Lucia Washburn (HarperCollins)
A clear and simple survey of what we know about dinosaurs with feathers and their relationship to modern birds. 40 pages.

Intermediate
Suggested grade level for each entry: 4–6

The Beginning by Peter Ackroyd (DK/Dorling)
A wide-ranging, eloquent history explaining the evolution of early life, from the Big Bang, to the age of the dinosaurs, to the last Ice Age and the origin of humans. 144 pages.

Giant Sea Reptiles of the Dinosaur Age written by Caroline Arnold, illustrated by Laurie Caple (Clarion)
Arnold interweaves data about the three major reptile groups that inhabited the oceans while dinosaurs lived on land with accounts of the fossil finds and theoretical advances that helped paleontologists put together the facts upon which the book is based. 40 pages.

Pterosaurs: Rulers of the Skies in the Dinosaur Age written by Caroline Arnold, illustrated by Laurie Caple (Clarion)
The story of the only reptile that ever flew, illustrated with handsome watercolors that capture the diversity of the species. 40 pages.

When Mammoths Walked the Earth written by Caroline Arnold, illustrated by Laurie Caple (Clarion)
How mammoths lived and the ways they provide a lens into the intriguing animals and conditions of the Ice Age. 40 pages.

When Fish Got Feet, Sharks Got Teeth, and Bugs Began to Swarm: A Cartoon Prehistory of Life Long before Dinosaurs written and illustrated by Hannah Bonner (National Geographic)
This scientifically thorough but humorous account of prehistoric life focuses on the time between 444 and 360 million years ago during the Silurian and Devonian periods. 48 pages.

Paleo Bugs: Survival of the Creepiest written and illustrated by Timothy J. Bradley (Chronicle)
Bradley uses crisp graphics to trace the evolution of anthropods from 530 million years ago to the present. 48 pages.

Paleo Sharks: Survival of the Strangest written and illustrated by Timothy J. Bradley (Chronicle)
A chronological tour of extinct shark species accompanied by well-chosen trivia and colorful illustrations. 48 pages.

Exploring the Ice Age by Margaret Cooper (Atheneum)
The daily life of Ice Age humans, along with the science that allows archeologists to imagine it, is explored in an inviting, conversational tone. 93 pages.

Evolving Planet: Four Billion Years of Life on Earth written by Erica Kelly and Richard Kissel (Abrams)
Based on a Field Museum exhibit, this thorough, field guide–like survey of life on Earth from four billion years ago to the present day highlights key animal species. 136 pages.

Who Came First?: New Clues to Prehistoric Americans by Patricia Lauber (National Geographic)
A discussion of evolving scientific theories of the biological and geographic origins of the first Americans. 64 pages.

Scholastic Dinosaurs A to Z: The Ultimate Dinosaur Encyclopedia written by Don Lessem, illustrated by Jan Sovak (Scholastic)
A comprehensive, accurate, and concise compendium of dinosaur information. 223 pages.

Outside and Inside Woolly Mammoths written by Sarah Markle (Walker)
This engaging depiction of the life and habitat of these ancient beasts will inspire further discussion. 40 pages.

Secrets from the Rocks: Dinosaur Hunting with Roy Chapman Andrews by Albert Marrin (Dutton)
An adventurous biography of the fossil-hunter many consider to be the model for Indiana Jones. 64 pages.

Dinosaur Digs by Mary Quigley (Heinemann)
Maps, diagrams, and archival photographs combine with an accessible text to provide insight into the study of prehistoric life. 48 pages.

National Geographic Prehistoric Mammals written by Alan Turner, illustrated by Mauricio Anton (National Geographic)
Densely illustrated double-page spreads chronicle a myriad of creatures, from prehistoric bats to early humans. 192 pages.

Young Adult
Suggested grade level for each entry: 7 and up

Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages written by Thomas R. Holtz Jr., illustrated by Luis V. Rey (Random)
This rich and informative treatment of everything related to dinosaurs covers geology and geologic history, fossil hunting and dating, evolution, prehistoric ecology, and, of course, the dinosaurs themselves in forty-two exceptionally detailed chapters. Grade level: 7 and up. 427 pages.

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