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Weirdosaurus: Prehistory's Most Peculiar Dinosaurs
Welcome to Weirdosaurus . . . Meet a dinosaur with a built-in megaphone. Learn which dinosaur had sword-like claws. And discover a flying carnivore as tall as a giraffe!
This collection takes a playful peek at over 80 of prehistory’s most peculiar dinosaurs. The great age of the dinosaurs played host to more than its fair share of bizarre beasties. Whether by frill, quill, tooth, or claw, every creature in this book was extraordinarily odd in its own wonderful way.
Organized chronologically, each creature featured includes vital stats and facts, scale diagram, Latin name and translation, and a pronunciation guide. Each chapter describes the most bizarre dinosaur residents of that period, with Philip Bunting’s trademark humour and style, including funny annotations, witty jokes, fabulous facts, and incredible illustrations.
Featuring firm favorites as well as many lesser-known beasts, this is the perfect book for dinosaur-loving kids everywhere. Eye-catching and informative, with dinosaurs as you’ve never seen them before—this is an exciting and entertaining addition to any child’s bookshelf.
This collection takes a playful peek at over 80 of prehistory’s most peculiar dinosaurs. The great age of the dinosaurs played host to more than its fair share of bizarre beasties. Whether by frill, quill, tooth, or claw, every creature in this book was extraordinarily odd in its own wonderful way.
Organized chronologically, each creature featured includes vital stats and facts, scale diagram, Latin name and translation, and a pronunciation guide. Each chapter describes the most bizarre dinosaur residents of that period, with Philip Bunting’s trademark humour and style, including funny annotations, witty jokes, fabulous facts, and incredible illustrations.
Featuring firm favorites as well as many lesser-known beasts, this is the perfect book for dinosaur-loving kids everywhere. Eye-catching and informative, with dinosaurs as you’ve never seen them before—this is an exciting and entertaining addition to any child’s bookshelf.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2025
About the author
Philip Bunting
104 books59 followersPhilip Bunting's work deliberately encourages playful interaction between the reader and child, allowing his books to create a platform for genuine intergenerational engagement, and fun.
Philip's books have been translated into multiple languages, and published in over 25 countries around the world. Since his first title was published in 2017, Philip has received multiple accolades, including Honours from the Children's Book Council of Australia, and making the list for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2018. His titles include Mopoke and How Did I Get Here?
Philip's books have been translated into multiple languages, and published in over 25 countries around the world. Since his first title was published in 2017, Philip has received multiple accolades, including Honours from the Children's Book Council of Australia, and making the list for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2018. His titles include Mopoke and How Did I Get Here?
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 29, 2025
I received this book from Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review.
So I am a big big fan of Philip Buntings books (see my reviews for World’s Most Atrocious Animals: Or Are They?, and World’s Most Pointless Animals: Or Are They? , World’s Most Ridiculous Animals. So when I spotted this one on Edelweiss I just had to get it! I just couldn’t resist. More silliness and fun facts and this time about one of my favourite topics, Dinosaurs!!
Before the book starts we get an introduction in bones/how they looked/how to use the book (all the different terminology you will encounter along with all the rest). I appreciate that Philip Bunting not just showed the dinosaurs I grew up with, but also the ones you see more and more off, the bird-like/feathery ones. Plus, one silly one that looked like a T-rex going to a costume party.
And after that the book starts for real starting with the Triassic Period. Each page features several critters (though there are also pages with just one critter). Each one has a fun illustration (along with some text some that are serious but a lot made me laugh so hard, like not to call Thrinaxodon whiskers or with Pegomastax: when you stand on a Lego Brick), a small description, explanation of their name, some facts and sizes. I really had a lot of fun reading, the short format and the fun illustrations along with the humour make the readability very high and you just want to keep reading. I think my favourite section would be the first one. I know a lot about the other periods but not that much about the Triassic Period, most books just focus on the other periods.
I want to say that I appreciate the huge variety of dinosaurs in this book. I read a whole lot of books about them, or well I used to, and often with books like this they pick a small selection, often a lot of the popular dinosaurs (Stegosaurus/T-Rex/Velociraptor, and that stuff), but Philip Bunting really stuffed this book to the brim + selected some interesting dinosaurs not often featured and I can only applaud.
The illustrations? As always they were fab! I love the colours, I love the way the dinosaurs were drawn.
All in all, if you want a dinosaur book that is a bit more different than normal, don’t get this book if you want to see T-rexes or other super popular dinosaurs, featuring a lot of weird dinosaurs and tons of humour, get this book!
Review also posted on https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
So I am a big big fan of Philip Buntings books (see my reviews for World’s Most Atrocious Animals: Or Are They?, and World’s Most Pointless Animals: Or Are They? , World’s Most Ridiculous Animals. So when I spotted this one on Edelweiss I just had to get it! I just couldn’t resist. More silliness and fun facts and this time about one of my favourite topics, Dinosaurs!!
Before the book starts we get an introduction in bones/how they looked/how to use the book (all the different terminology you will encounter along with all the rest). I appreciate that Philip Bunting not just showed the dinosaurs I grew up with, but also the ones you see more and more off, the bird-like/feathery ones. Plus, one silly one that looked like a T-rex going to a costume party.
And after that the book starts for real starting with the Triassic Period. Each page features several critters (though there are also pages with just one critter). Each one has a fun illustration (along with some text some that are serious but a lot made me laugh so hard, like not to call Thrinaxodon whiskers or with Pegomastax: when you stand on a Lego Brick), a small description, explanation of their name, some facts and sizes. I really had a lot of fun reading, the short format and the fun illustrations along with the humour make the readability very high and you just want to keep reading. I think my favourite section would be the first one. I know a lot about the other periods but not that much about the Triassic Period, most books just focus on the other periods.
I want to say that I appreciate the huge variety of dinosaurs in this book. I read a whole lot of books about them, or well I used to, and often with books like this they pick a small selection, often a lot of the popular dinosaurs (Stegosaurus/T-Rex/Velociraptor, and that stuff), but Philip Bunting really stuffed this book to the brim + selected some interesting dinosaurs not often featured and I can only applaud.
The illustrations? As always they were fab! I love the colours, I love the way the dinosaurs were drawn.
All in all, if you want a dinosaur book that is a bit more different than normal, don’t get this book if you want to see T-rexes or other super popular dinosaurs, featuring a lot of weird dinosaurs and tons of humour, get this book!
Review also posted on https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
December 17, 2025
Packed with lots of information and colorful illustrations, this books lets you explore dinosaurs of different periods.
We would have liked it more if we have had the physical copy because the digital version had a weird formatting, and unlike the Quirky Animals series, the illustrations cannot be made bigger, which makes it difficult to read the annotations. So get your hands on a physical copy!
We would have liked it more if we have had the physical copy because the digital version had a weird formatting, and unlike the Quirky Animals series, the illustrations cannot be made bigger, which makes it difficult to read the annotations. So get your hands on a physical copy!
March 27, 2026
this was SO FUN. I’ve been really struggling with reading the last ten days or so and I managed to read this in one day even though my brain is still pretty foggy right now. It really made me feel joy while reading which is so appreciated right now.
as the author says right at the beginning this book doesn’t just feature ‘weird’ and strange dinosaurs, but also other fascinating reptiles and amphibians from the time of the dinosaurs. I appreciated this because some of these species are less well known and need more love and some of them are just so cool it would be sad to exclude them 😂
I really think this is a great book for kids but also so much fun for adults. I enjoyed the illustrations, I enjoyed thinking about all the weird and wonderful dinos and others that came before us. It was very funny without feeling like it was trying too hard. I also love to see pronunciation guides in a dinosaur books and think more books for all ages should include them.
I have the kindle version and was pretty happy with the accessibility, formatting and readability, especially in comparison to what is often the case with similar books. I don’t have a colour kindle so I read this mostly on the app for the illustrations but it did format pretty well on my kindle itself too.
Overall I would recommend to fans of extinct animals of all ages who want a lighthearted read! I imagine the physical copy would also be a lovely gift.
as the author says right at the beginning this book doesn’t just feature ‘weird’ and strange dinosaurs, but also other fascinating reptiles and amphibians from the time of the dinosaurs. I appreciated this because some of these species are less well known and need more love and some of them are just so cool it would be sad to exclude them 😂
I really think this is a great book for kids but also so much fun for adults. I enjoyed the illustrations, I enjoyed thinking about all the weird and wonderful dinos and others that came before us. It was very funny without feeling like it was trying too hard. I also love to see pronunciation guides in a dinosaur books and think more books for all ages should include them.
I have the kindle version and was pretty happy with the accessibility, formatting and readability, especially in comparison to what is often the case with similar books. I don’t have a colour kindle so I read this mostly on the app for the illustrations but it did format pretty well on my kindle itself too.
Overall I would recommend to fans of extinct animals of all ages who want a lighthearted read! I imagine the physical copy would also be a lovely gift.
April 26, 2026
A well worn subject with a new twist that embeds humour and intriguing facts to shed light on the much loved topic of dinosaurs. Bunting starts with an introduction into bones, fossils and what can and cannot be interpreted from these - especially appearance. This often neglected piece of information give Bunting license to apply his unique sense of the ridiculous throughout with is alternative illustrations of said reptiles which is aptly illustrated via the tongue in cheek 'dinosaurus traditionalus', 'dinosaurus ornis' and the 'dinosaurus ridiculous'! And that sets the tone of the book , whioch is packed iwht fascination information alongside humorous asides, comments and illustrations.
Great fun for the young and old, this well designed book with cream pages to spotlight the brightly coloured extinct animals (including others from the Mesozoic ages) is refreshing and enjoyable to explore. With key points and size caparisons, a chronological sequence, clearly stated factual information and a mix of factual and and nonsense labels on each drawing, kids will love it.
CBCA 2026 Eve Pownall Notable title.
Great fun for the young and old, this well designed book with cream pages to spotlight the brightly coloured extinct animals (including others from the Mesozoic ages) is refreshing and enjoyable to explore. With key points and size caparisons, a chronological sequence, clearly stated factual information and a mix of factual and and nonsense labels on each drawing, kids will love it.
CBCA 2026 Eve Pownall Notable title.
November 18, 2025
This would make any dinosaur-mad child happy. The bright colors draw you in, and the infographics dump tons of random facts about the different dinosaurs of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. The author loves his puns and dad jokes, so there is something for even an adult reader to chuckle over when reading with your kiddos.
December 24, 2025
A really good dinosaur/lizard (because a lot of the regular names are calling them lizards!) book. I am so glad Phil included how to pronounce the names of them all as well. Educational and funny. (Will I retain any of this information? No.)
January 14, 2026
This is wonderfully brilliant!
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February 4, 2026
Pictures of weird dinosaurs for kids and plenty of jokes for the adults. I hadn't heard of most of these dinosaurs.
February 26, 2026
Really cool book about all the neat-o dinos that existed in our world!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews