The best dinosaur books for the Festive Season
Christmas in our house always involves the gifting of books. For our Little Dinosaur Aficionado, this normally means at least one dinosaur book, preferably a dinosaur Christmas book. So here’s our list of the best dinosaur books for the festive season.
Does St Nicholas visit your house?
St Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, repentent thieves, brewers and pawnbrokers. And children of course. It is a very mixed group.
If our LDA is on his nice list, she will wake up in the morning on 6 December and find gifts instead of a lump of coal in her winter boots, left for her by St Nicholas.
St Nicholas normally leaves our family members winter pyjamas or slippers, a chocolate Nicholas, oranges and at least one book. For our Little Dinosaur Aficionado, this means at least one dinosaur book, preferably a dinosaur Christmas book.
I’m helping St Nicholas with his shopping and finalising our reading list.
Whether you’re following the 4 gift rule, assisting St Nicholas, Santa or the old witch Befana with their shopping, or just looking for a good read, our list of the best dinosaur books for the festive season will help. Check out our list.
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Dinosaur Christmas books
I’ve found some dinosaur Christmas pyjamas (What do you think of these?), but the book shopping is proving a little more difficult.
Our LDA has so many dinosaur books, and even dinosaur Christmas books. When I asked her which were the best dinosaur books for the festive season, she had difficulty choosing (and did not know what the festive season was…).
But that still left me the quandry of which dinosaur Christmas book would St Nicholas bring this year.
Here are our (her) recommendations.
Dinosaur Christmas
Our LDA loves this book and it was the inspiration for our reindinos!
Santa reminisces about the good old days when dinosaurs used to pull the sleigh. Each dinosaur had its advantages, as well as its problems. The Maiasauras ate the presents when no one was looking… This is definitely one we would recommend.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas?
Are you familiar with this series?
Each book answers a “How to” question in a lovely rhyme, in this case, How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas?
We have a few of the books and this is my second favourite – after How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight.
The Christmasaurus
The Christmasaurus is for older readers who are reading their first novels. Our LDA is not quite there yet.
This book has been praised for its whimsical story, which melds the best of Christmas with dinosaurs. Parents warn it is not for sensitive readers – more than one character dies.
The Dinosaurs’ Night Before Christmas
Our LDA received The Dinosaurs’ Night Before Christmas from St Nicholas two years ago. She loves it. It’s definitely one of the best dinosaur Christmas books.
The book tells the story of what happens when the dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History in New York come alive on the night before Christmas. It comes with a CD, of dinosaur-themed Christmas songs, which our LDA plays ad nauseum during Advent.
A portion of the sales go to the American Museum of Natural History in New York – and I am all for supporting a good cause.
The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas
This book – well the whole series – will not be to everyone’s liking.
It’s a story about a boy who is so greedy and nasty that Santa gives him an “unpleasant” gift – a giant dinosaur egg. If you’re reading this blog, your little dinosaur fan would probably love the gift.
However, what happens when that dinosaur eats Christmas – the tree, the decorations, the presents and the food? And what goes in, must come out…
Dino-Christmas
We don’t have Dino-Christmas yet, but it sounds like our Thanksgiving post, but for Christmas. Perhaps this year?
(Lisa Wheeler (author) and Barry Gott (illustrator) have written numerous dinosaur books, about other dinosaur holidays and sports.)
Dinosaur Christmas
So many dinosaur Christmas books have similar titles…
If your little dinosaur fan loves dinosaurs and strange forms of transport, Dinosaur Christmas is the book for them!
Santa crashed his sleigh and the dinos of Dino Rescue are here to save the day. Think Paw Patrol, but with dinosaurs, as a book.
Tyrannoclaus
Santa Claus is a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and the North Pole is a volcano in this fun Christmas tale. When Santa Claws and his helpers are wrapping the presents for all the dinosaur children, the volcano erupts. An inventive twist on the Christmas classic. We can’t wait to add it to our collection.
Brian the T-Rex and the Christmas Gifts
The images in this book are so cute and the story sounds lovely, too.
Brian the T-Rex (who names a T-Rex Brian?) wants to find the perfect Christmas present for his friends. Can you relate? And I love the fact that the Triceratops is a maths whiz.
Santa Rex
Cordelia has some cretaceous friends over to celebrate the holidays. All the dinosaurs are helping until someone knocks over the Christmas tree…
We have Tea Rex – the illustrations are gorgeous – and can’t wait to get Santa Rex, too or any of the other T-Rex books by Molly Idle. Will this be the year?
Santasaurus
Follow the adventures of Ollie, Molly and Milo this Christmas in a dinosaur version of The night before Christmas: Santasaurus.
I can see I am going to get tongue-tied. You try saying Ollie, Molly and Milo three times fast!
Dinosaurs go Christmas Shopping
We are a fan of the Dinosaurs in the Supermarket (we purchased it at the Natural History Museum in London last year), so when we saw there was a Christmas follow-up, we had to have it.
It’s a fun rhyming lesson in reverse psychology involving your favourite dinosaurs (which are hiding on each page).
Yikes, Santa-Claws!
The Santa Claus in this story is not the traditional Santa you know and love. He’s a big green scaly dinosaur, who squashes the sack full of presents, eats the Christmas tree and tries on all the presents. I must admit, I did have a giggle at the thought of him trying the red shoes.
Santa Claws is a great read for younger kids. If you can get an audio version of it, definitely do – it is read by Lenny Henry, who I have loved since I first saw Chef!
Nessie Celebrates Christmas
I’ve only just discovered this series, but it seems like a delightful story about Nessie the Loch Ness Monster.
She wants to celebrate Christmas like humans do, giving presents to all her friends. Yes, I know, if she does exist, it is probably an eel… but if you can’t believe in imaginary things at Christmas time, when can you?
This is also one of those gorgeous books with a little fish to find on each page.
What about dinosaur books for Hanukkah?
Not everyone celebrates Christmas. But why should little dinosaur fans miss out? We’ve found various books for other religions and faiths, too, starting with Hanukkah.
Dinosaur on Hanukkah
I am not familiar with this book, but anyone who can create a cute rhyming story about Hanukkah rituals and find a rhyme for dreidl is great in my book.
There are dinosaur books for Passover, Shabbat and a visit to Israel, too.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?
We’ve already talked about how much we love this series, so it was great to find out that they have a dinosaur Hanukkah book, too.
Combine this book with a wonderful T-Rex Menorah and some pyjamas
Dinosaur books for other festivities
While the list of dinosaur Christmas books is long, other celebrations during the festive season are not forgotten either.
At least most celebrations. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find one for Kwanzaa (if you know of one, please let us know!).
For the Winter Solstice
Dinosaur Train: Winter Lights
Does your little dinosaur fan love Dinosaur Train? We’d love to go to the concert if the singer of the theme song (Actor Phil Hayes?) ever goes on a tour.
This book would be great for celebrating the Winter Solstice. It would also be great if you have a curious little dinosaur fan who wants to learn about their world.
For Diwali
The Dinosaurs Diwali Adventure
This book is even advertised as being “perfect for children who are obsessed with dinosaurs”. Who doesn’t know at least one of those?
The drawings are simple, but the dinosaurs are quite detailed. I love the colours!
Chinese New Year
The Dinosaurs New Year Adventure
I know Chinese New Year falls after the other celebrations, but with so many recent dinosaurs finds in China, we couldn’t omit Chinese New Year.
The story starts when Mendal, the oldest dinosaur in the land, can’t make it down from the mountains to the forest to celebrate the New Year. The other dinosaurs decide to take the party to him. I love the fact that the dinosaurs are simultaneously their zodiac animal friends.
Best dinosaur books for this festive season
Whether you’re looking for dinosaur Christmas books, Hanukkah books or dinosaur books for another celebration, you’ll definitely find a book for your little dinosaur fan on this list.
And your shopping on behalf of the mythical being will be finished much quicker.
Are you looking for a seasonal dinosaur book this festive season? Or do you prefer ‘any time of the year’ dinosaur books?
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