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Dinosaurus: A Prehistoric Dictionary
This illustrated guide to the prehistoric world features more than 100 phrases revealing the science and natural history of the Mesozoic era!
Learn more about your favorite dinosaurs and discover new ones, such as Yutyrannus, the largest animal with confirmed feathers currently known to science.
Meet other incredible prehistoric beasts, including the Xiphactinus, a fish with vicious teeth that suggest they were predatory from the moment they hatched.
Explore prehistoric events and time to understand the Earth's geological timescale. Investigate the prehistoric planet and what it looks like today. Brush up on scientific terms such as homology, or the features common to species with a shared ancestor.
Each word entry includes a definition, further information and context, and an illustration. Fossil entries also include the pronunciation, discovery date, and range of where the fossils have been found.
With detailed entries and vibrant anatomical illustrations, Dinosaurus is the perfect reference book for the whole family!
Learn more about your favorite dinosaurs and discover new ones, such as Yutyrannus, the largest animal with confirmed feathers currently known to science.
Meet other incredible prehistoric beasts, including the Xiphactinus, a fish with vicious teeth that suggest they were predatory from the moment they hatched.
Explore prehistoric events and time to understand the Earth's geological timescale. Investigate the prehistoric planet and what it looks like today. Brush up on scientific terms such as homology, or the features common to species with a shared ancestor.
Each word entry includes a definition, further information and context, and an illustration. Fossil entries also include the pronunciation, discovery date, and range of where the fossils have been found.
With detailed entries and vibrant anatomical illustrations, Dinosaurus is the perfect reference book for the whole family!
- GenresNonfiction
192 pages, Hardcover
Published October 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 2, 2026
Dinosaurs by Rhys Charles is a limited book. While what is in it is good, the book could have been made much more useful without even increasing the page count. Some examples from Chapter 1, which has introductory comments and then a page or two on 60 dinosaur genera:
1. The Classification section defines the three families of dinosaurs: theropods, sauropodomorphs, and ornithischians. For such seemingly important info, I expected each of the 60 entries would specify the dinosaur's family, such as in the subheading along with "First discovered" and "Range". It does not. The text of most entries does not mention family at all; just a few do.
2. Each dinosaur entry has a picture showing the dinosaur's skeleton and body outline. All these pictures are scale to be about the same size, with no indication of scale despite the dinosaurs ranging from small to immense. Other works on dinosaurs indicate scale in some way with the pictures, such as including an outline of a typical human. The body of the text does mention the size of the dinosaur, but this is far inferior to indicating scale in the picture.
3. Each dinosaur picture shows a complete skeleton. This give the impression that the complete skeleton is known, but in many cases some or much of it is a guess based on what there actually is, and/or a reconstruction based on related lines of dinosaurs. For an extreme example, Qantassaurus is shown with a complete skeleton but so far only a few fossil jaw fragments have been found. The reconstructed skeleton is based on the assumption that is similar to skeletons of other ornithopod dinosaurs.
It would have been much better to shade the parts that are guesses or reconstructions. (Once in a while the body text mentions a skeleton is incomplete, like for Megalosaurus, but this is an inferior way to indicate such info.)
4. If the body text of an entry is short, the extra space in the page is filled up with a repeat of part of the skeleton picture, as the same scale as the main picture. This adds no informational value to the entry.
5. The text is overall good by occasionally confusing. One example is the Tyrannosaurus entry. It it listed as first discovered in 1874, but the text later states that T. rex was "First discovered in 1900." There is no explanation for this discrepancy. (In actuality, a Tyrannosaurus tooth was discovered in 1874 but the first partial skeleton was found in 1900.)
6. The text overuses the words "ideal" and "perfect" in describing features of dinosaurs. For example, the Spinosaurus entry states it has features that "are all ideal adaptations to a life of fishing." Excellent adaptions, certainly. Ideal or perfect? This is less clear.
Overall, there are many better books on dinosaurs. I think this book's best use would be as a starter book for older children.
1. The Classification section defines the three families of dinosaurs: theropods, sauropodomorphs, and ornithischians. For such seemingly important info, I expected each of the 60 entries would specify the dinosaur's family, such as in the subheading along with "First discovered" and "Range". It does not. The text of most entries does not mention family at all; just a few do.
2. Each dinosaur entry has a picture showing the dinosaur's skeleton and body outline. All these pictures are scale to be about the same size, with no indication of scale despite the dinosaurs ranging from small to immense. Other works on dinosaurs indicate scale in some way with the pictures, such as including an outline of a typical human. The body of the text does mention the size of the dinosaur, but this is far inferior to indicating scale in the picture.
3. Each dinosaur picture shows a complete skeleton. This give the impression that the complete skeleton is known, but in many cases some or much of it is a guess based on what there actually is, and/or a reconstruction based on related lines of dinosaurs. For an extreme example, Qantassaurus is shown with a complete skeleton but so far only a few fossil jaw fragments have been found. The reconstructed skeleton is based on the assumption that is similar to skeletons of other ornithopod dinosaurs.
It would have been much better to shade the parts that are guesses or reconstructions. (Once in a while the body text mentions a skeleton is incomplete, like for Megalosaurus, but this is an inferior way to indicate such info.)
4. If the body text of an entry is short, the extra space in the page is filled up with a repeat of part of the skeleton picture, as the same scale as the main picture. This adds no informational value to the entry.
5. The text is overall good by occasionally confusing. One example is the Tyrannosaurus entry. It it listed as first discovered in 1874, but the text later states that T. rex was "First discovered in 1900." There is no explanation for this discrepancy. (In actuality, a Tyrannosaurus tooth was discovered in 1874 but the first partial skeleton was found in 1900.)
6. The text overuses the words "ideal" and "perfect" in describing features of dinosaurs. For example, the Spinosaurus entry states it has features that "are all ideal adaptations to a life of fishing." Excellent adaptions, certainly. Ideal or perfect? This is less clear.
Overall, there are many better books on dinosaurs. I think this book's best use would be as a starter book for older children.
January 9, 2026
Dinosaurus: A Prehistoric Dictionary is a richly designed and thoughtfully curated reference that brings the prehistoric world to life in an engaging and accessible way. Rhys Charles presents dinosaur knowledge in a format that is both educational and enjoyable, making complex prehistoric facts approachable for readers of all ages. The dictionary style structure encourages curiosity and exploration, inviting readers to dip in and discover something new on every page.
What truly elevates this book is the visual storytelling. Savannah Storm’s illustrations add depth, clarity, and excitement, transforming the book into more than just a reference it becomes an experience. The balance between informative text and striking artwork makes Dinosaurus an excellent resource for young readers, families, educators, and dinosaur enthusiasts alike. With its strong presentation and broad appeal, this book has clear potential to reach an even wider audience.
What truly elevates this book is the visual storytelling. Savannah Storm’s illustrations add depth, clarity, and excitement, transforming the book into more than just a reference it becomes an experience. The balance between informative text and striking artwork makes Dinosaurus an excellent resource for young readers, families, educators, and dinosaur enthusiasts alike. With its strong presentation and broad appeal, this book has clear potential to reach an even wider audience.
December 29, 2025
Dinosaurus: A Prehistoric Dictionary is an engaging and beautifully presented reference book that makes learning about dinosaurs both fun and memorable. Rhys Charles delivers clear, accessible explanations that invite curiosity, while Savannah Storm’s illustrations add personality and visual excitement to every page.
What stands out most is the book’s balance of education and creativity. Rather than overwhelming young readers with dense facts, the dictionary style encourages exploration, discovery, and repeat reading. The illustrations elevate the experience, helping children connect names and concepts with vivid imagery that sparks imagination.
This is a standout resource for dinosaur loving kids, parents, and educators alike. It succeeds as both an informative reference and a book children will return to again and again.
What stands out most is the book’s balance of education and creativity. Rather than overwhelming young readers with dense facts, the dictionary style encourages exploration, discovery, and repeat reading. The illustrations elevate the experience, helping children connect names and concepts with vivid imagery that sparks imagination.
This is a standout resource for dinosaur loving kids, parents, and educators alike. It succeeds as both an informative reference and a book children will return to again and again.
December 10, 2025
Lovely informative dictionary giving explanations in short paragraphs on all aspects of prehistoric life including explanations of scientific terms.
March 3, 2026
I loved this - loved the accessible information, loved the illustrations, love the design. Can't wait to share it with my son when he gets a little older.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews