Welcome friend! Tundra Books and Penguin Random house have put together a fun reading campaign for ages 3-5 years old and my inner child is thrilled! I grew up obsessed with dinosaurs, but I only ever found them in encyclopedias and the DK Eyewitness series — never storybooks. It turns out it’s never too late to enjoy dinosaur stories and the collection of books in Dinos that Read is not only kid-friendly and perfectly aligning with my growing early-years reading focus, it also lets me reimagine dinosaurs in a whole new way.
In this post, I’m highlighting the five books released in the Dinos That Read campaign so far. Four of these are written by the wonderful Linda Bailey and I’ll be sharing my interview with her tomorrow! I’ve read three of these titles already and shared a few lines about each. Let’s dive in!
The Books in the Campaign
Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!)
By Linda Bailey, K-Fai Steele
Chicken Run meets Tiny T. Rex in this funny farmyard tale of a feisty chicken who is sure she is a dinosaur!
Find it on Goodreads.
This book is funny, bold, and adorable — and it will almost certainly be the first “dinosaur book” my daughter reads. If you’re looking for a good laugh and an action-packed adventure, this one is a delight.
Dinos That Drive
By Suzy Levinson, Dustin Harbin
Buckle up for a raptor race, train-faring Titanosaurs and (gulp) a taxi-driving T. rex in this hilariously whirlwind picture book poetry collection for fans of Richard Scarry and Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site!
Find it on Goodreads.
I haven’t read this one yet, but dinosaurs driving cars already breaks my grown-up brain — in the best way. For little readers, who don’t have those fixed ideas yet, this is going to be a wild ride.
The Great Dinosaur Sleepover
By Linda Bailey, Joe Bluhm
A young boy’s disappointing birthday party gets turned upside down with a blast from the prehistoric past in this hilarious, dino-mite picture book adventure.
An unforgettable birthday tale with huge laughs and heart, this newest picture book from acclaimed author Linda Bailey celebrates friendship, inclusion and fun – and is brought to life with magnificent, cinematic artwork from award-winning animation director and illustrator Joe Bluhm.
Find it on Goodreads.
I have so many ideas for a dinosaur birthday party now. If my daughter ever asks for one, I’ll know exactly where to start!
If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
Linda Bailey, Colin Jack
A hugely popular dinosaur picture book adventure, now available in paperback for the first time.
If you happen to have a dinosaur, lying around your living room, and you don’t know what to do with it . . . why don’t you use it as a can opener? It will make a terrific nutcracker too!
Find it on Goodreads.
Silly, imaginative, and endlessly fun, this book encourages kids (and parents!) to dream up all the creative ways a dinosaur could help around the house. Can opener? Dryer? Security system? The possibilities are endless.
Princesses Versus Dinosaurs
By Linda Bailey, Joy Ang
Two popular storybook titans, princesses and dinosaurs, battle to determine who should star in this laugh-out-loud picture book for fans of Shark vs Train and The Book With No Pictures.
Find it on Goodreads.
I haven’t read this one yet, but I’m excited to check out this picture-book battle royale!
Why These Dino Books Work So Well
These books are the perfect starter into dinosaurs. They have humor and giant beasts. They These titles are the perfect introduction to dinosaurs for young readers: funny, imaginative, and full of giant prehistoric friends. They offer a warm, playful entry point that I never had as a kid. The illustrations are bright, bold, and captivating, and I already know my daughter and I will be spending a lot of time with them.
They’re the kind of books that fit effortlessly into a child’s library.
Spotlight on Linda Bailey
Linda Bailey is the author of four books in this campaign, and I’m delighted to share our conversation tomorrow. Here’s a quick peek:
Do you have a favorite book to read aloud to young readers?
Right now, I love reading Lena the Chicken. It’s especially fun to read the chicken sounds aloud. To me, the “cluck-cluck” in most chicken books just sounded wrong. So in Lena, the chickens say “Pdockk-dock-dock!” instead because that’s what Margriet’s chickens said to me when I looked after them. They called it out every time they saw me coming with the scraps. “Pdock-dock-dock-dock!”
Linda Bailey
Why Families Should Explore Dinos that Read Set
I hope you enjoyed this little feature on dinosaur-themed kids’ books. They’re a playful way to spark early learning through a consistent, beloved theme — and they make wonderful gift ideas for toddlers and preschoolers. These books help build a sense of wonder, which is exactly what early reading is all about. Next time you’re at the bookstore, flip through a few and choose the one that makes you laugh.
Huge thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for sharing these books and this campaign with me. I’ll be following it closely! You can bookmark the page for updates here.
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