It's official: Dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures are cool. The dinosaur-themed learning activities we have created are some of the kiddos' all-time favorites, and a quick search on Pinterest will verify that our kids are not alone in their dino-mania. Yet, for the Montessori-inspired homeschool teacher, prehistory presents a major challenge. Namely, with Montessori's emphasis on reality-based learning experiences and activities, how does one teach about creatures that have never been seen by anyone alive today? Yes, there are fossils, but most of what we "know" about dinosaurs is speculation. With some creativity, these concerns can be addressed pretty well, but the question of Montessori approved dinosaur books is not so easily answered, especially for younger children.
For this preschool-friendly book list, we wanted to emphasize titles that portray dinosaurs as authentically as possible. So, even with the Cat in the Hat title, or the poetry book, the content is fact-based (except of course for the talking cat). Coloration, stripes, etc. can be as wild as the artists's imagination allows, and the text can still be fact based. With that narrow, slightly confusing definition in mind, let's take a look at some our favorite prehistoric creature books for young children.
DK Readers L0: Meet the Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)
ABC Dinosaurs (AMNH ABC Board Books)
Dinosaur Bones
Wings, Horns and Claws: A Dinosaur Book of Epic Proportions
Prehistoric Actual Size
Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings
Oh Say Can You Say Di-no-saur? (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library)
Dino-Dinners: Packed with dinosaur facts!
As we mentioned above, artists and authors can use their imaginations in ways that just aren't possible when it comes to other natural subjects. We all know what a lion looks like, so the artist is somewhat limited in coming up with exciting ways to depict one. Dinosaurs capture the imagination of adults just as much as they do with children, and as you can see, the artwork they inspire can be truly stunning and beautiful. Let your kiddos' imaginations soar, while still being grounded in the best science of the times, and explore prehistory with them, joined by the most incredible animals that ever walked the Earth. Natural history is fun.
For more advanced children's books about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures read the post below.
If you're looking for Montessori-inspired dinosaur themed gifts and resources for children, be sure to take a look at the products recommended in this post.
For dinosaur activities and printables, be sure to visit the unit study posts below!
Our Montessori-inspired Timeline of Life
If you're interested in purchasing our Montessori-inspired Dinosaur Unit Syllabus, click the link below!
Montessori-inspired Dinosaur Unit Syllabus
If you're interested in purchasing our Montessori-inspired Dinosaur Unit Syllabus, click the link below!
Montessori-inspired Dinosaur Unit Syllabus
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