Five roar-some books about dinosaurs

Published on: 16 May 2023

The Deadlands: Hunted author Skye Melki-Wegner shares her favourite dino books for a page-turning – and often hilarious – read.

Illustration from The Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner

Spynosaur by Guy Bass, illustrated by Lee Robinson

Spynosaur is a fast and funny read, starring a super spy transferred into the body of a dinosaur. The rip-roaring plot is accompanied by comic strips and illustrations — and of course, plenty of puns! 

Rex: Dinosaur in Disguise by Elys Dolan 

After being frozen solid in an Ice Age, Rex the dinosaur is bewildered to wake up in the modern world. Hijinks and adventures ensue, as our hapless hero adopts a disguise and tries to integrate into society. 

Illustration: Elys Dolan

Dinosaurs Rock! by Dougie Poynter 

In this entertaining guide, dinosaur facts are interspersed with fun trivia and “roarsome” jokes. The book introduces readers to information about a variety of dino species, as well as covering palaeontology and modern science. 

A Dinosaur Ate My Sister by Pooja Puri, illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan

Esha Verma invents a time machine to win a prize for genius inventions — but before she knows it, her sister has hijacked the machine and hurtled back to the Cretaceous period! This book brims with humour, wacky adventures and fun illustrations. 

Illustration: Allen Fatimaharan

Xtinct: T-Rex Terror by Ash Stone

When a lab accident brings extinct animals back to life — including a T-Rex! — it’s up to Jeevan Singh to rescue them. This action-packed tale draws on the author’s own experiences saving endangered species.

The Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner is out now.