The best dinosaur books for the Festive Season

Dinosaur Christmas

Our LDA loves this book.

Santa reminisces about the good old days when dinosaurs used to pull the sleigh. Each of the dinosaurs had their advantages, as well as their 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 in the series and this is my second favourite – after How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight.

The Christmasaurus

The Christmasaurus is for older readers, looking to read their first novel. Our LDA is not quite up to it yet.

This book has been praised for its whimsical story, which brings together the best of Christmas with dinosaurs. Parents warn that it is not for everyone though – there is more than one death, which some children will not be ready for.

The Dinosaurs’ Night Before Christmas

We don’t have The Dinosaurs’ Night Before Christmas yet, but we have ordered it for this Christmas (I would buy locally, but it is not that easy to get specialty books in English in Germany at the local shop.)

The book tells the story of what happens when the dinosaurs at the museum come alive on the night before Christmas. It comes with a CD, of dinosaur-themed Christmas songs, which I know our LDA is going to love.

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,

This is a story about a greedy, nasty boy, who is gifted something “unpleasant” by Santa – a giant dinosaur egg. If you’re reading this blog, your child would probably love to get a dinosaur for Christmas, but what happens when that dinosaur eats Christmas – the tree, the decorations, the presents and the food? And what goes in, must come out…

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Dino-Christmas

We don’t have Dino-Christmas yet, but from the description, it imagines what the dinosaurs would do at Christmas time – a little like our Thanksgiving post.

(Lisa Wheeler (author) and Barry Gott (illustrator) have also written numerous dinosaur books, about other dino-holidays and sports.)

Dinosaur Christmas!

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, and 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.

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. Don’t we all have that problem, especially when it has to be perfect, but not expensive? 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 don’t have this book or any of the other T-Rex books by Molly Idle, but the illustrations are gorgeous. I think I might have to order a copy of Tea Rex…

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 actually 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.

Yikes, Santa-Claws!

The Santa Claus in this story is not the traditional Santa you know and love. Not only is he a big green scaly dinosaur, but he 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 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 a plesiosaur or similar prehistoric aquatic reptile… but if you can’t believe in imaginary things at Christmas time, when can you?

This is also one of those gorgeous books, where you have to find a little fish on each page.

Dinosaur on Hanukkah

I am not familiar with this book, but anyone who can create a cute rhyming story about Hanukkah rituals and finds a rhyme for dreidl is great in my book. Diane Levin Rauchwerger also runs a Jewish Mother Goose problem featuring her own songs, so I have a feeling is is good.

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.

For the Winter Solstice

Dinosaur Train: Winter Lights

Does your child love inquisitive dino-kids of dinosaur train? Personally, we’re considering going 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 curious kids who want to learn about their world.

For Divali

The Dinosaurs Diwali Adventure

This book about Diwali 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 Chinese New Year Adventure

I know Chinese New Year is falls a little after these other celebrations, but with so many dinosaurs found in China (we shared a post about it on Instagram), we couldn’t leave out 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 dinosaur are the same times as their zodiac animal friends.